Why Unhealed Emotional Trauma In Male Leaders Limits Success
Updated: Mar 19, 2025
Written by: Jessi Risley, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Society has shaped the leaders of the world by marking their emotional health as a pitfall of unacceptable behavior, an unlikely attribute of great leaders, and opening a doorway of vulnerability that shows dependency or weakness.
As children, males are encouraged to follow the lead of their caregivers, some of whom disassociate from emotional expression, conditioning male children to hide their emotions for a multitude of unhealthy reasons.
How do we, as a society, break the mold of emotional health in world leaders to understand themselves on a deeper level and feel comfortable expressing their emotions?
1. Be understanding of who a person is outside of their status, fame or social impact
Understanding each other becomes an intimate decision to see past the social view of who they have presented for the world’s view. Most of us don’t allow ourselves to be vulnerable on a social aspect for fear of judgment, ridicule, seen as weak ‒ or worse. By changing the stigma of social vulnerability, specifically for men, there becomes an acceptance of healthy expression.
2. Stop hindering the development of emotional health by suggesting unhealthy methods of living
Addiction, adultery, and many other unhealthy methods of living are on the rise due to failed emotional support. When we feel heard and seen in a safe environment, we understand the reasoning behind healthier choices. Addiction, in many forms, has become a standard result of unhealed emotional trauma passed down from generation to generation.
3. Be aware of others’ emotional health and be compassionate about their healing journey
As the light begins to shine on someone else’s healing process, be compassionate to their situation and their strive towards a better existence. Not everyone heals quickly, yet opening a door for communication and expression allows them to adjust to their new inner world with ease.
4. As leaders, emotional health has an impact on the world, not just their immediate surroundings
As men hold leadership roles throughout many corporations, governments and more, their emotional health impacts each one of us. The strength of a leader resides in their knowledge, perseverance, and steadfast ability to serve. What if our leaders felt confident in themselves in a healthy manner, not conforming to the conditioning of generational trauma yet leading with a renewed sense of being and truth?
5. To be successful, one must understand many aspects of self
What if not only understanding the conditioning of unhealed trauma and characteristics, male leaders sought success by understanding who they are beyond their pain? This could be the catalyst to a world of leaders influencing the populous in ways that create positive change ‒ not that of an agenda sought through pain or trauma carried within them.
I believe our world is deserving of the most prestigious leaders, leaders who challenge the past by learning and changing directions for a better future, not reliving the pain of generations before. Erasing the past doesn’t teach us how to become better, it leads to repeating the same mistakes. ‒ Jess Risley
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info!
Jessi Risley, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Jessi Risley is a relationship specialist and psychic medium to high-profile individuals, In 2018, she completed her life coaching and NLP practitioner education that empowered her to help others overcome emotional distress surrounding relationships. Shortly after, Jessi began building a career teaching meditation, how to harness their innate personal power and heal their emotional trauma to better relationships, both platonic and romantic. She uses her natural-born gift to spiritually connect with her clients to offer deep healing transformation. Jessi has been featured in several publications, is a published author and offers customized mentoring for her clients based on their needs.
