As a kid, I was highly sensitive — full of bright eyes, dreams, and play. But in 1985, everything changed. On a family vacation, my dad and sister were in a severe accident. I thought I had lost my dad. The fear, the chaos, the helplessness, it all hit me at once. My dad and sister would recover, but I didn’t. In that moment, I abandoned myself, merging with him, burying my own needs, and wearing masks to survive.

Through my teenage years and twenties, I performed for love, hid my sensitivity, and numbed my pain with alcohol. I thought that was life, until my thirties, when I began personal growth. But then my marriage ended, and I lost my identity as a man, a father, and a husband. That crushing loss became the catalyst for the work I needed to do.

Through deep self-inquiry, men’s groups, coaching, and relentless inner work, I learned to embrace my sensitivity, feed my masculinity, and reclaim my power. I became a self-led, integrated man. Aware, grounded, and whole.

Empowered Masculinity is not a destination. I still do the work every day, but now when I get off balance I know how to return to my center, stay grounded, and live with integrity. This book is the culmination of that ongoing journey — the tools, practices, and wisdom that helped me get here, and that can guide other men on their own path.