Insecurities, believe it or not, affect both men and women of all ages and cultures equally. The pressure on men to be successful, be the responsible head of a family and basically be a ‘man’ is enormous. Male insecurities are more often than not, dusted beneath the carpet and not acknowledged or addressed correctly. Physical, emotional and financial insecurities top the list of the most common male insecurities and without having to feign braveness, let us list some of these common fears faced by men.

Physical insecurity
To be of a particular height and weight, to have toned abs like celebrities and sports stars with specific sizes of chest, waist and biceps, to have a head full of natural black, brown or blond hair, to have a penis in a particular shape and size and to perform in the bedroom exceptionally well, or to not have a paunch, or not have excess body hair or a physical disability, or not matching the particular color of eyes or shape of nose with a greatly admired idol, are all ideas thrust upon men either by society or by themselves. But it is ridiculous to want to look like someone else, while the focus should actually be on being fit and healthy. Men are mostly judged on the way they look, walk as well as their bank balance too.

Emotional insecurity
‘Men don’t cry’ is a myth. Men worry about being liked by their parents, partners, bosses, and friends. They might be shy to open up to strangers, take the first step in a relationship, discuss or even acknowledge they have issues, fear about being judged wrongly, it is all there in their minds. While being dominant, getting angry, having an ego, appearing strong in all circumstances, are considered typical traits of men, it is completely normal to be different from this stereotype that the society has engulfed the men. Being compassionate, patient, forgiving, thoughtful and sensitive is perfectly normal for men too. Men do have emotional needs which are mostly looked down upon by the traditional society we live in.

Financial insecurity:
To be the breadwinner of a family, and supporting others financially in the present and providing for everyone’s future needs too, can be a huge burden on men. Making sensible plans with the available money to meet growing needs and working sincerely in a chosen profession with passion should automatically answer your needs. Also, accepting that other adults in the family are capable of being financially independent is only fair to yourself.

The current trend is to spend billions of dollars on treatments, corrective procedures, therapy sessions with psychiatrists and yoga teachers who charge the Earth and then some, and consult outrageously expensive freelance advisors to improve the earnings from your business or investments. These common male insecurities should be curbed as it may affect the men. Ultimately realizing and understanding that every man has a specific genetic code and is a unique individual in his own right, and comparisons are unfair is what matters. Be kind, to you first.