Men’s Circle | I've Got This... But Do I Have to Do It Alone?

Monday October 5, 2026
7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Doors open at 6:45 PM
Little Burgundy, Montreal
Limited to 8 men

Many of us learn to face life's challenges by staying strong, finding solutions and moving forward.
Don't complain.
Figure it out.
Stay positive.
Handle it yourself.
Those messages can help us develop resilience, independence and responsibility.
But what happens when the same qualities that help us become capable also make it harder to let other people see us when we're struggling?
When does self-reliance serve us?
And when does it quietly become a way of carrying everything alone?
This MENTRaL circle invites us to explore how we've learned to respond when life becomes difficult.
Not to judge those strategies or convince anyone to become more vulnerable.
Simply to notice what we do, what those patterns have given us, and what they may sometimes cost us.
Together, we'll explore:
The messages we've absorbed about strength, struggle and asking for support
What we tend to do when life becomes difficult
The ways we protect ourselves when we feel overwhelmed, uncertain or exposed
What self-reliance gives us, and where it may create distance
What happens when another person can witness our experience before we've figured it out
How to listen and be present without immediately fixing, advising or solving
The question is not:
Should I become less independent?
It is:
Can I take responsibility for my life without having to carry everything alone?

This session may resonate if you want to:
Better understand how you respond when life gets difficult
Explore the beliefs that shape how you handle struggle
Notice when independence is a strength and when it becomes a barrier to connection
Become more aware of what you're experiencing before immediately searching for a solution
Practise listening and being heard without needing to fix anything
Develop more intentional ways of connecting with yourself and others
Connect with other men through honest, experiential practice
This is an experiential session rather than a lecture.

The evening may include:

• Breathwork and grounding
• A playful opening exercise exploring the messages we've learned about handling difficulty
• Authentic Relating practices
• Paired exercises in listening, witnessing and present-moment awareness
• Exploration of the strategies we use to protect ourselves
• Circling and group sharing
• Opportunities to share an experience without needing to have it resolved
• Optional social time afterward

No previous experience is required.
You do not need to share anything you are not comfortable sharing, and you are always welcome to pass.
You don't need to arrive with answers.
You don't need to leave with a solution.
Come willing to be curious about yourself, listen to others and explore what becomes possible when we don't have to have everything figured out before letting someone else in.

About MENTRaL
MENTRaL is an experiential space for men who want to become more intentional in how they show up — in their relationships, work, leadership and lives.
This is not therapy, and it is not about fixing men or telling anyone what masculinity should look like.
It is a place to practise presence, connection, emotional awareness, accountability and more intentional ways of relating.

Registration
Capacity is intentionally limited to 8 men so that the group can remain intimate and everyone has space to participate.
If you RSVP and later realize you cannot attend, please update your RSVP as soon as possible so the space can be offered to someone else.
Contribution: Pay What You Can — $20 suggested