Some of the smartest people that I know are the un-healthiest people I know. I am not talking about physical health but instead emotional health. Men generally live in a world that affirms intelligence, motivation, and accomplishment as the Holy Grail of success. These things are very important, but what I have seen is that they don’t always lead to success or the kind of life that men are after.

I find it interesting that when I meet with some successful entrepreneurs they may have a great system in place for expanding their business, but they have no plan to take care of their own emotional weaknesses. When men do not have a process for this they often end up leaving many emotional vacuums such as how to handle pains they have experienced in the past or how to emotionally connect with their wife or children.

I know what you are thinking: This is some goofy touchy feely stuff from a guy who lives in Boulder, CO. Let me wrap it in bacon for you so you will eat your vegetables. If you truly want to accomplish the goals you have set and feel joy while doing it, then emotional health is a must. The strongest men I have ever known are able to admit weaknesses, not hide from them.

The journey of emotional health is a long one and I know that one blog will not answer all of your questions and that is not my goal. I want you to read this blog and be able to do one thing, admit that you are emotionally weak. The doorway to having emotional health is being able to admit your weaknesses in this area. For many men this is going to be extremely hard. I challenge you to put ego aside and begin to engage your emotional weaknesses like you do with many other weaknesses you have in your life.

I have never met the man who has emerged from his family of origins emotionally whole. The only emotionally whole man the world has ever known is Jesus. To admit that we are not emotionally whole is key to many things but most importantly it is key in your relationship with God. The beauty of the cross of Christ is that it exists for broken people. By admitting our brokenness and accepting that Jesus was/is the only perfect man is the key to starting the process of engaging our emotional weaknesses.

I challenge you to admit your weaknesses to trusted friends or, if married, to your wife. If you don’t even know where you are emotionally weak, then ask these trusted people. This process is not clean, it’s messy and can take a long time, but I promise it is worth it.

Recommended resources for further study: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by: Peter Scazzero; The Advantage by: Patrick Lencioni

Matt Patrick is the lead pastor of The Well Church in Boulder, CO. Before planting The Well Church, Matt helped replant a mountain town church. Matt has lived in Colorado most of his adult life and has a passion to raise up and train church planters all throughout the Rocky Mountains.