This is Therapy for Men

Hard Times Make Hard Men

A popular saying is, “Hard times make hard men, hard men make good times, good times make soft men, soft men make hard times.”

What does it mean to be a hard man?

Is it the arrogant bravado of the so-called alpha male?

Having a black belt? Tattoos?

Being a billionaire? A doctor or a lawyer?

Will being a hard man help me win the game of life?

Is life a game? Let’s define it: Game Theory is the analysis of the optimal decision-making of independent and competing actors in strategic situations.

Wait, what the fuck does that mean, and why are we talking about games? Let’s simplify: Games are how individuals interact in strategic situations.

Is life strategic? Given the goal is survival, um, yes!

Marriage? Given the most important decision you will ever make is who you spend your life with (and failure is losing half your shit and being told when you can see your kids!), bet your fucking ass it is strategic.

Raising children that grow into capable, competent adults? Kinda fucking important.

There are essentially two kinds of games in this life: finite and infinite.

Finite games are the kinds of games we usually think of, they are designed to end with one winner and one loser. Infinite games are designed to maximize the number of winners and never end.

Finite games are commonly called zero-sum. One winner plus one loser equals game over.

Infinite games are the games of marriage, family, business, and society.

Only one kind of person goes to therapy.

Courageous people go to therapy.

Cows and buffaloes have a profound sensitivity to storms. Cows run away, buffaloes run towards.

By running away from storms cows stay in the storm. The buffalo runs as hard as it can towards the storm.

The fastest way out of it is through it.

Men are made to run at the storms of life.

What I have learned is that a hard man is a certain man.

Certain of the game he is playing, a hard man brings good times… infinite games.

Certainty dwells in the mind. And when it storms, they run at the storm… they become the storm.

Therapy is the place to develop the understanding and skills to run at the storms with the confidence to get through them.

Are you ready? Call me now at (812) 760-5528.