Atlanta Men’s Circle

A man paying attention, eventually has to reconcile between where his ego-focused decisions and environment have taken his life (troubles or chaos included-if any), and the dissatisfaction, unsettledness and questioning felt within. Disconnection, feeling stuck and yearning for authenticity are other common experiences.

If serious, he’ll immediately recognize how much time he spends masked-up for the consumption of others; and how many self-truths he’s buried down so deep, he no longer can see many of them. Both conditions are real impediments to lasting change.

• Changing a life is slow hard work, and it starts with “knowing thyself.”

Men’s Work:   Getting real and aware about one’s circumstances, behaviors and deeply set internal drivers begins to grow self-knowing and tease out what really matters. But when and where do men have permission to do this?

Some men hope to skip this step by simply declaring “meaning” or "purpose” or being on the “right path” is what’s missing, and set off to find “it” from self-help books, inspirational podcasts, workshops and trainings. This is bypassing – looking “outward” for something that only grows organically from “within.”

Getting clear about what troubles us, what works and doesn’t work, what we really care about, our true desires and the ways we block our own progress is what tills and fertilizes the soil, which meaning, purpose and resonant-path emerge from.

Our behaviors always to point to important hidden truths, like. . .

• the truth behind reflexive reactivity?
• the truth behind saying “yes” then doing something else?
• the truth behind busyness with things we don’t really like?
• the truth behind loyalties we maintain for “not ourselves,” and what it costs us?
• the truth behind repeating behaviors that only bring trouble?
• the truth behind drifting through life with nothing truly important to care about?
• the truth behind who we’ve become and why we don’t feel whole?

Change Doesn’t Happen Alone:  Literally “who we are” - and most of our issues - were created relationally; and, along with generational and personal histories are baked into our “stories.” These "stories" are set points that won’t change, except relationally. A certain kind of group experience has proven effective at providing the kind of environment change happens in. The Atlanta Men’s Circle is such a group.

Group Experience:  It takes slowing way down, setting defenses aside, being vulnerable and honestly revealing what’s in the heart. Self-reflecting, alongside other’s reflections, often yields “new ways of seeing” - for both speaker and listener - and generates a kind of momentum that carries the entire group further together, than any one man can go alone.

• “It’s ironic that by sharing what I’ve spent my whole life hiding, and hearing others do the same, I feel more connected to myself.”
• “The group gave me the honest, authentic feedback I needed to really understand the impact I have on other people.”

Depth not Performance:  Group space can be entered through countless doorways, a common one being, “what you’re currently living through.” Each man brings what he brings, and the group really listens. Each meeting, a strict-confidential, safe, respectful, judgement-neutral container is created, and no support is given for advice-giving, opinion-giving or lecturing. Members sit in a circle as equals.

No Quick-Fixes:   This particular group started in 2007, met weekly for more than a decade, twice monthly another ½ decade, then online during COVID. 2025-26 saw half- and full day “men’s work” gatherings. Donations help cover Meetup costs. Half-day+ sessions carry a fee. The cadence and scope of future meetings will be determined ad hoc.

Our group facilitation roots go back to the Mankind Project (MKP) (https://mankindproject.org), MKP’s New Warrior Training Adventure (NWTA) (http://mankindproject.org/new-warrior-training-adventure/), the Hero's Journey Foundation (HJF) (https://herosjourneyfoundation.org), and HJF’s Hero’s Journey Men’s Intensive (Men's Journey 2025 - Hero's Journey® Foundation ).

Note:  This is not a therapy group, advocacy group, religious group, anti-religious group, social group, MLM group, or a resource for an ego’s drive to “win” at life. We follow no guru or charismatic leader. 

We simply are men who support one another in finding healing, clarifying needs and wants, setting direction and growing self-awareness. All of it is in-service of members finding themselves in a life worth living - vital, fulfilled and authentically free.

David B., Organizer,
Men’s Circle for Authentic & Truthful Living,
aka Atlanta Men’s Circle