The great thing about refusing to feel feelings is that, once you've denied them, you don't have to take responsibility for them. Your feelings will be someone else's problem – your mother's problem, your girlfriend's problem, your wife's problem. If it has to come out at all, let it come out as anger. You're allowed to be angry. It's boyish and man-like to be angry.
In "How Not To Be a Boy," Robert Webb discusses the tendency of some men to avoid dealing with their emotions. By refusing to acknowledge their feelings, they shift the burden onto others, such as their family members or partners. This avoidance allows them to escape responsibility for their emotional state, often resulting in unresolved issues that affect those around them.
Webb highlights that while it may feel acceptable to express anger, it is often a misguided response. Society may view anger as a more acceptable emotion for men, which can lead to a cycle where deeper feelings are suppressed. This approach ultimately harms relationships and fails to promote emotional health, emphasizing the importance of confronting and processing one's feelings instead of deflecting them onto others.
