Divine Feminine Seeks Divine Masculine
The Difference Between Wounded and Divine Masculinity
“Love her, but leave her wild” – Atticus
In This Edition:
Leaving the phrase “toxic masculinity” behind
Advice on love, straight from the sea
& More reasons to love Costco
Why Corporate Culture Damages Modern Relationships
SPOILER ALERT: Corporate America is f*cking up our relationships. How do I know? Because almost every client ends up talking to me about their love life. Women skirt around a truth they think I’ll be surprised to hear: that part of why they’re seeking change is that their career has led them away from what they truly want in life.
There are no two people who desire the exact same thing. Yet, there are common denominators of a traditional sense of home-life that I see women yearning for.
🤍 For some, it’s children and a husband.
🤍 For others, it’s a life partner and the freedom of travel.
🤍 For all, it’s being loved, cherished and respected by someone they love and cherish back.
The next thing I hear is even better. Because women say it to me as if they’re embarrassed:
“Men can’t handle my success”
It’s quite the conundrum we find ourselves in. Women have achieved a level of independence that’s shaken up the gender dynamics in relationships in ways we have not yet fully reckoned with. Women no longer need marriage out of necessity. Women are not seeking relationships with the aim of financial stability.
We’re providing that for ourselves.
But here’s the secret: the women I work with are craving someone who will allow her to soften into her feminine and let her guard down. A relationship that will both celebrate her strength and be a safe space for her to relax into.
She is seeking the divine masculine: that is, masculinity in its purest, most authentic form. (Maybe you can relate?)
It’s not whatever Mark Zuckerberg is advocating for, but rather a man who has integrity, offers emotional and psychological stability, is disciplined, present and fiercely protective.
Men are suffering in our country. It’s abundantly clear that, complementary to empowering women, there is an urgent need to re-engage men. The concept of “toxic masculinity” itself is dangerous, having confused our culture into thinking that masculinity is the enemy.
Let me be clear: the insecure masculine – overly aggressive, controlling, avoidant – is the problem. These traits show up in the same man who contributes to abusive and unstable environments, creating generations of pain and trauma. This is the wounded masculine.
The good news is that the very term “wounded masculine” implies that it can be healed. While on my way to a divine feminine event this week, I couldn't help but dream of starting an academy for men. To help men heal the wounded and step into the power of the divine masculine.
Luckily, there are experts doing great work for men already. My focus? Continuing to hold space for women, who have been in masculine, highly corporate environments, as they heal their feminine.
Because only when we are in our feminine do we have space for the divine masculine.
What I’m L♥️VING
Costco, who continues to double-down on their DEI strategy, saw their price rise >13% since January 21st (when executive orders removing DEI were signed). The S&P 500, an index reflecting the broader market, increased only 1% in the same period. A reminder to vote with your dollars.
This HBR research on the positive outcomes people experience from taking sabbaticals, and this article that helps you make the case for taking one.
This viral LinkedIn post making the case for human career paths, calling us to normalize career breaks for both women and men
This definition of love, which ties so well into why I love being a coach, and why I choose to nurture love
A New Vision: Partnering with Integrity
Three years ago, I embarked on a 10-day voyage to deliver a sailboat from the Caribbean to Newport, RI. You may have heard this story before. What you might not know is that I was reeling from heartache at sea.
We’ve all been there, yeah? (Well, maybe not the “at sea” part.)
As I wiped away tears while on watch, I was given a letter that would change my course in life – time and time again.
The letter presented a very simple framework for how to navigate relationships. While I couldn’t understand then exactly why it was given to me, I know now that it was exactly what I needed to hear.
So this Valentine’s Day, I’m sharing the best advice I’ve ever received in love & relationships.
Respect - Respect yourself by knowing your values and honoring your sense of self-worth. Respect in a relationship means your needs are recognized and you are being seen, heard and loved.
Expect - At the basic level, expect kindness. Expect to be treated the way you want to be treated. Expect the best for yourself.
Compromise - (carefully!) Compromise is required in all relationships, but never compromise on your core beliefs, dreams or values. As soon as differences are revealed, adjust or move on.
Simple. Effective. Yet somehow, I desperately needed to hear all of that. If you did too, let’s chat.
If you read this far, I want to remind you that while you can certainly buy yourself flowers, you also deserve to receive them.
Cheers & love,
Michelle
