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For weeks now, I've been exploring what it means to be a man in 2025. My discussions have touched on everything from dating to entrepreneurship, but my recent conversation with executive coach Kenny Borg uncovered something more fundamental – a challenge that underlies them all.
Kenny introduced me to a concept he calls the "meta-crisis" – not just one crisis, but the unprecedented layering of multiple global upheavals happening simultaneously. Think about it: we're facing political division, economic uncertainty, technological disruption, environmental threats, and a mental health epidemic all at once. This convergence creates something more destabilizing than each individual challenge.
I immediately connected with this. About five years ago, a mentor told me we were experiencing the biggest moment of climate change in history – not just environmental climate, but political climate, economic climate, and social climate all changing at once. "No one knows what to do," he said. At 25, I was floored. Today, I see how this perpetual state of uncertainty affects every man I know.
As Kenny described, the meta-crisis leaves many of us in a constant state of fight-or-flight. We get stuck in our heads, analyzing everything but feeling disconnected from our bodies and emotions. I shared a personal experience from six months ago when, juggling work responsibilities, family time, and relationship challenges, I felt completely overwhelmed – like I was being attacked from all angles, already down and still taking punches.
This always-on state is exhausting, and many men are experiencing it without the tools to process it healthily. Kenny's approach to helping men cope starts with three simple questions: Are you spending time alone without distractions? Are you spending time in nature? Are you spending time with other men?
The first question struck me hardest. Kenny shared how a coach challenged him to take a personal retreat – three days alone in an Airbnb with no plans, no distractions. For a CEO, the idea of disconnecting seemed impossible. But that experience of creating space for himself proved transformative, and now he does it quarterly.
I realized how few men I know who can comfortably sit with their thoughts. When asked how long I could sit in a dark room with no distractions before freaking out, I estimated just an hour. The admission felt shameful – am I that afraid of my own thoughts?
Our conversation turned to the connection between men. I reflected on how "Saturdays are for the boys" were once regular occurrences in my early twenties – days to disconnect from responsibilities and just be carefree with friends. Now at nearly 30, those days are few and far between, maybe once a month. By 45 or 50, I fear they might disappear entirely.
Kenny emphasized that this disconnection – from ourselves, from nature, and from other men – is a major contributor to the growing mental health crisis among men. We're not doing well because we've lost these essential connections.
So what's the path forward? Kenny's approach isn't about escaping these challenges but building resilience to face them. It starts with slowing down and finding your center through practices like meditation. For him, developing a serious meditation practice was transformative, giving him back control of his attention.
I shared how meditation has recently helped me reclaim control over my days. I no longer bring my phone into my bedroom. I wake up to an actual alarm clock and don't check messages for the first 15 minutes. Four hours into my workday, I still haven't checked email or Slack – something that would have seemed impossible six months ago.
The meta-crisis isn't going away. But through intentional practices and deeper connections, we can develop the resilience to navigate it without being consumed by it. As Kenny said, "Regardless of what's happening externally, it comes down to our ability to find our center and connect more deeply to ourselves."
That's a journey worth taking.
