Modern Masculinity Under Pressure and How Men Can Reclaim Vitality, Virility, and Their Well-Being
- Brainz Magazine
- Jun 27
- 5 min read
Written by Janie Terrazas, The Mindfulness Coach
Janie Terrazas is a Mindfulness Coach and creator of PazMesa, a self-mastery guide to help you access inner peace, joy, vitality, and prosperity through mindful living and unconditional loving.
June is recognized as Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, but this is a conversation we must elevate year-round. Now more than ever, it’s vital we shine a compassionate light on the invisible burdens men carry, pressures that quietly erode their vitality, virility, and connection to self, others, and purpose.
From silent struggles with depression and loneliness to the overuse of digital escapism and the growing confusion around modern masculinity, today’s men face a convergence of cultural and neurological challenges unlike any previous generation.
As a mindfulness coach and creator of the PazMesa Self-Mastery Program, I’ve had the honor of guiding men through deeply rooted transformation, supporting them as they shed outdated scripts and reconnect to their natural state of strength, purpose, and peace. The goal isn’t to fix men. It’s to free them to remember, restore, and reclaim what modern life has depleted and empower them to live fully alive.
In my upcoming eBook, Modern Challenges to Men’s Vitality, Virility, and Relationships, I highlight the most pressing issues sabotaging men’s well-being and offer a clear, science-backed, soul-aligned path forward.
Why men’s health is in crisis
Let’s start with the facts. Across the globe, men are experiencing:
Record-high suicide rates, especially among middle-aged and older men.
Rising addiction to pornography, video games, and social media as coping mechanisms for emotional numbness and disconnection.
An identity crisis fueled by polarized gender ideologies and the collapse of male initiation rituals.
Declining testosterone levels and increased rates of erectile dysfunction even among young men.
According to a study from Harvard Health Publishing, even 20-30 minutes in nature can significantly reduce cortisol (the stress hormone), yet most men spend their days glued to screens, disconnected from tribe, spirit, and body. This chronic overstimulation leaves men “wired and tired” emotionally exhausted, mentally scattered, and physically depleted.
The hidden costs of digital dopamine
From a neuroscience perspective, constant stimulation through porn, dating apps, and video games hijacks the brain’s reward pathways, conditioning men to seek novelty rather than depth. Over time, this leads to:
Difficulty forming or maintaining healthy, romantic REALationships.
Burnout from “hustle culture” and performative masculinity.
Lack of motivation for real-world challenges.
Psychologically, this creates what I call "the slow fade of the soul." A man may appear high-functioning, but inside he’s fighting quiet desperation.
Neuroscience insight by Dr. Andrew Huberman
“Modern digital dopamine hits like social media, porn, or endless scrolling create rapid, shallow peaks that ultimately lower your baseline motivation and impair focus over time.”Dr. Andrew Huberman explores how repeated dopamine spikes “stack” with content and behavior, rewiring our reward circuitry and diminishing satisfaction from everyday life.
For a deep dive, check out his “Controlling Your Dopamine for Motivation, Focus & Satisfaction” podcast episode packed with practical tools for resetting your dopamine system.
The emotional price: How these habits are stunting empathy, compassion, and connection
For generations, men have been taught that emotion equals weakness, except for one socially acceptable outlet: anger. As a result, many have become emotionally illiterate, suppressing sadness, fear, or tenderness in favor of stoicism, sarcasm, or aggression.
When men use digital escapism to numb out rather than tune in, it doesn’t just erode focus and vitality; it atrophies the neural networks responsible for empathy and relational sensitivity. Research shows that chronic overstimulation, emotional suppression, and dopamine hijacking lead to:
Shrinking gray matter in areas tied to compassion and moral reasoning
Decreased mirror neuron activity (which supports empathy and bonding)
Impaired impulse control and emotional regulation
In other words, the very habits many men use to cope are biologically and spiritually stunting their capacity to connect. This disconnect isn’t just personal, it’s societal. Women, children, and communities need men who are emotionally present, safe, and self-aware.
We need men who know how to protect and provide from a foundation of emotional maturity, not dominance or fear. We need gentlemen who embody both strength and softness, who understand boundaries and vulnerability, who can co-create peace in a partnership and stability in a family.
Becoming relationally savvy is not a luxury; it’s an act of service and evolution. And it begins with one radical commitment: to mindfully feel.
What the modern man needs
Contrary to the status quo, men don’t need more hustle, more dominance, or more shame.
They need:
Permission to feel: Emotional literacy (EQ) is the foundation of resilience and healthy REALationships.
Real connections: Brotherhood, mentorship, and healthy intimacy heal what isolation cannot.
Purpose beyond performance: Meaning and inner fulfillment fuel vitality more than metrics ever will.
Spiritual & somatic renewal: Men must reconnect to breath, body, nature, and soul to truly thrive.
Balanced masculine energy: Polarity isn’t about rigid gender roles; it’s about energetic harmony.
A new way forward: Mindful masculinity with PazMesa
PazMesa, meaning “Peace Within,” is more than a framework; it’s a lifestyle, a way of being. My approach combines ancient wisdom with modern science to restore balance to a man’s mind, body, heart, and spirit. With tools like breathwork, somatic practices, grounding rituals, and self-reflective journaling, men can rewire their nervous systems, reclaim confidence, and relate from a place of authenticity. From presence, not performance.
I invite all men and those who love them to reflect:
“Where have I traded self-dignity and my vitality for validation? And what would it mean to live and love from wholeness instead of woundedness, from responsivity instead of reactivity?”
Final thought
We don’t heal masculinity by demonizing it or defending it blindly. We heal it by mindfully bringing it back into balance, rooted in integrity, equanimity, openness, and conscious power.
When men remember their sacred strength, everyone benefits: partners, families, communities, and generations to come. Let’s honor Men’s Mental and Emotional Health not just with awareness, but with action, and create a safe space for men to rise well, rise whole, and rise wise.
Read more from Janie Terrazas
Janie Terrazas, The Mindfulness Coach
Janie Terrazas, known as The Mindfulness Coach, transformed her media career into a life coaching and wellness advocacy mission after a spiritual awakening in 2011. As the creator of the PazMesa Self Mastery Program and the force behind Rise Above TV, she fosters balance and mindfulness in others. Her triumphs and trials deeply shape her coaching as she helps clients address stress, trauma, and safe relationship building. Janie combines spiritual depth with actionable strategies to guide individuals toward a joyful, vital life. Her coaching transcends conventional methods, empowering clients to find peace and purpose within. Janie's empathetic and innovative approaches offer a safe self-discovery roadmap to authentic living and loving.
