The Lie of Self-Sufficiency - and Why It Quietly Wears Men Downwith Jon Macaskill

Most men don’t experience loneliness the way we expect.
They aren’t isolated. They aren’t withdrawn from the world.
They’re surrounded, by family, work, responsibility, and expectation.
And yet, something feels off.
In this solo episode of Men Talking Mindfulness, Jon Macaskill explores a pattern many men never question: self-sufficiency. Being capable. Handling things. Not needing much. Not asking for help.
At first, it works.
Self-sufficiency builds confidence, reliability, and trust. It makes you the guy people lean on. The guy who doesn’t flinch.
But over time, what once kept you steady starts to drain connection.
Men don’t usually break under this weight.
They flatten out.
Presence fades. Irritability grows. Conversations stay shallow. And the quiet loneliness of “I’m fine” sets in.
Jon names the real cost: not failure, but emotional distance.
The shift isn’t about becoming dependent or oversharing.
It’s about noticing when strength turns into isolation—and choosing connection without losing yourself.
Because just because you can carry it… doesn’t mean you should.