Have you done a financial self checkup lately?

If you were to ask a lot of folks the last time they did any maintenance on their finances, you’d probably get some confused looks. 

The fact is, some regular self-reflection when it comes to money matters is absolutely critical if you hope to reach your life goals and keep your family protected should the unexpected happen. Today Charles reminds us to ask and answer several questions that can help us prepare for a more financially secure future.

Men are generally pretty bad at making friends—at least with other guys.

Especially as we get older, men often have fewer close male friendships. Yet, according to research, we crave intimacy in our friendships just as much as women.

Worst of all, this lack of close relationships could be very, very bad for us. Prolonged loneliness can have serious consequences for cognition, emotion, behavior, and health—and may even speed up physiological aging.

Growing up, most men are pretty motivated to learn how to approach and talk to women. It’s a natural part of becoming an adult (heterosexual) male—and even though it’s far from easy for everyone, the rules of engagement are clearer. For this reason, many men find that in their adult years, they are still far more comfortable talking to women—even in a platonic situation.

If you crave more male friendships in your life but feel anxious or uncertain about how to do it, don’t worry—there is hope.

Many myths exist about the risks of masturbation, however none of these have been proven. There are many myths about masturbation. Even though many of these have been debunked several times, they seem to resurface time and time again. Most claims about masturbation are not backed up by science. There is often no scientific evidence to show that masturbation causes any of the adverse effects suggested.

Some people may feel embarrassed, guilty, or ashamed when talking about masturbation. But masturbation is normal, healthy, and not something to feel guilty about.

See if you’ve heard of some of these myths. You might be surprised.

*Support The Barbershop Group podcast by going to www.anchor.fm/thebarbershopgroup. Select $4.99 or $9.99 for your monthly contribution*

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You can also follow The Barbershop Group on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for informative news, research and daily inspiration for men and those who love them.

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Today The Barbershop Group speaks with 3 men connected to the Gaza strip in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).

As many of you know, there have been countless protests around the world in support of the Palestinian people’s right to life and to avoid further displacement as Israeli settlers expand throughout the area.

Concurrently, citizens are struggling to find shelter and food as their homes are being demolished by Israeli Defense Forces targeting suspected Hamas outposts.

Mohamed, Tariq and Yusuf get candid, opening up their emotional lives to give listeners and viewers a peak into the psychological trauma they endure.

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Suggested Reading:

“A Peace to End All Peace” by David Fromkin

https://www.amazon.com/Peace-End-All-Ottoman-Creation/dp/0805088091

In This Place Together: A Palestinian's Journey to Collective Liberation

https://www.amazon.com/This-Place-Together-Palestinians-Collective/dp/0807046825/ref=asc_df_0807046825/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=509436355622&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7827778474900102267&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016881&hvtargid=pla-1227160367699&psc=1

The perfect apology consists of six steps. Master them and learn how to repair mistakes before they turn into constant conflicts and cause irreparable damage. Understanding these six steps will allow you craft an apology that really, truly means something.

Learning to work smarter, not harder can improve your productivity and performance while increasing your overall job satisfaction. It can also make you a valuable asset to the organization for which you work, increasing your job security. Implementing the strategies necessary to work smarter, not harder takes some practice and development. Check out these 12 ways to work smarter instead of pushing yourself to the brink of burnout.

A chance encounter with a neighbor leads to a great deal of depth and honesty. Sometimes our Higher Power puts people in our way when we need them the most. Enjoy this quick story from Charles about an emotionally lost man who never came to terms with his own pain.

*Support The Barbershop Group podcast by going to www.anchor.fm/thebarbershopgroup. Select $4.99 or $9.99 for your monthly contribution*

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You can also follow The Barbershop Group on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for informative news, research and daily inspiration for men and those who love them.

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WATCH on YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/6sdQx5lLSLY

LISTEN on your PODCAST App:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-barbershop-group/id1309669109

https://open.spotify.com/show/34l7nA8skXKE9r1sHDgo9e

https://play.radiopublic.com/the-barbershop-group-6rVxn9

https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8xNmI0ZmQwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz

Today Charles and Dr. Poulter discuss several aspects of poor and healthy self-esteem for men. We have all heard of it before but we may not be able to explain what self-esteem is or how it originates for each of us. Esteem is one of the most crucial aspects of our being. It can easily become a major part of our life’s story.

For people with good self-esteem, normal ups and downs may lead to temporary fluctuations in how they feel about themselves, but only to a limited extent. In contrast, for people with poor self-esteem, these ups and downs drastically impact the way they see themselves.

We’ll take a look at:

What is Self-Esteem?

Poor vs. Healthy Self-Esteem

Where Does Self-Esteem Come From?

What Does Your "Inner Voice" Say?

Three Faces of Low Self-Esteem

Consequences of Low Self-Esteem

Three Steps to Improved Self-Esteem

Be sure to check out the resources on self-esteem below.

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Purchase The Shame Factor today!

https://www.amazon.com/Shame-Factor-Deepest-Fears-Yourself/dp/1633885224

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Self-Esteem: A Proven Program of Cognitive Techniques for Assessing, Improving and Maintaining Your Self-Esteem by McKay, Matthew and Patrick Fanning. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 2000.

Born to Win: Transactional Analysis with Gestalt Experiments by James, Muriel and Dorothy Jongeward. Perseus Press, 1996.

Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life by Martin Seligman. New York: Pocket Books, 1998.

The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions by C.K. Germer. New York: Guilford Press, 2009.

Self Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurities Behind by Kristen Neff. Harper Collins, 2011

*Support The Barbershop Group podcast by going to www.anchor.fm/thebarbershopgroup. Select $4.99 or $9.99 for your monthly contribution*

=====================================================

You can also follow The Barbershop Group on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for informative news, research and daily inspiration for men and those who love them.

=====================================================

WATCH on YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/bjoYzsx-lCA

LISTEN on your PODCAST App:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-barbershop-group/id1309669109

https://open.spotify.com/show/34l7nA8skXKE9r1sHDgo9e

https://play.radiopublic.com/the-barbershop-group-6rVxn9

https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8xNmI0ZmQwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz

Today Charles asks Dr. Steve a very personal question directed at him and all of our viewers and listeners. It’s not very often that professional men speak openly about the battles they’ve faced. While some do, it requires the right space and high degrees of comfort for men to open up to strangers. Therapists, life-coaches, medical doctors, financial advisors, etc are no different. We all still struggle with vulnerability and transparency.

Though some of our difficulties opening up may be attributed to any number of factors in society, many men have one particularly painful memory in common.

Take a listen! You may be able to identify with this painful memory too!

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Purchase The Shame Factor today!

https://www.amazon.com/Shame-Factor-Deepest-Fears-Yourself/dp/1633885224

*Support The Barbershop Group podcast by going to www.anchor.fm/thebarbershopgroup. Select $4.99 or $9.99 for your monthly contribution*

=====================================================

You can also follow The Barbershop Group on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for informative news, research and daily inspiration for men and those who love them.

=====================================================

WATCH on YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/wiyBk_46IGo

LISTEN on your PODCAST App:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-barbershop-group/id1309669109

https://open.spotify.com/show/34l7nA8skXKE9r1sHDgo9e

https://play.radiopublic.com/the-barbershop-group-6rVxn9

https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8xNmI0ZmQwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz

Today Charles and Dr. Steve talk about the grim reality of men, anger, acting out and violence. In the wake of the recent Colorado and Indiana mass shootings and increased road rage incidents around the country, its becoming apparent that men may need to pressingly consider how anger and rage impact the lives of countless people.

John Bradshaw, author of “Healing The Shame That Binds You” wrote that we often overlook rage as an addictive emotion that is often the result of one or more family members grappling with other shameful, debilitating emotions. Psychologists say unchecked anger can often grow into rage and Dr. Poulter has an interesting take on how rage develops right in front of us despite our good intentions.

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Purchase The Shame Factor today!

https://www.amazon.com/Shame-Factor-Deepest-Fears-Yourself/dp/1633885224