Like many men, I found myself becoming a lone wolf not out of choice, but out of necessity. Growing up in a family where my parents were consumed by their own struggles and pains, I learned early on to provide for myself. With no one to turn to or lean on, I embraced this persona as a means of survival—a PROUD lone wolf.
Sure, there were benefits to being the lone wolf. It taught me resilience, self-reliance, and how to hustle my way through life’s challenges. At a young age, I was ahead of the game, and that only reinforced my belief that going it alone was the way to go.
But as the years passed, I began to see—or rather feel—the downside of my lone wolf facade. No close connections, no one to share my wins and struggles with, and worst of all, no one to challenge my beliefs or help me see my blind spots.
It wasn’t until much later that I realized the true cost of my lone-wolf mentality. I was missing out on the richness of deep connections, the growth that comes from vulnerability, and the strength that comes from standing shoulder to shoulder with brothers.
My biggest obstacle when it came to growth was ME. More specifically, my outdated philosophy, which no longer served me.
As they say, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go with others.” A huge lesson that took me decades to learn.
So here’s the thing, fellow lone wolf: While it might feel comfortable to go it alone, and many times even faster, the real growth happens when we step out of our comfort zones, put aside our old beliefs, and embrace the power of community. There’s a whole world of connection, support, and growth waiting for us—all we have to do is reach out and take it.
