5 min read IT’S SUNDAY NIGHT , and a client I’ll call David has already planned the entire upcoming week. He meal-prepped, got a workout in, and listened to a Chris Williamson episode about discipline. He sat at his kitchen table with his laptop open, seeing an entirely packed calendar. But the sight doesn’t leave him feeling accomplished. It makes him feel dread, and he can’t explain why. David isn’t just one guy. He’s a composite of so many men I see in my office. By every metric they track—their WHOOP scores, macros, and performance reviews—they are performing. They have a workout routine, morning routine, and an impressive reading and podcast list. They are confident that they’re doing the work. Except they aren’t. My clients often arrive during difficult times: A divorce, a layoff, or a struggle with dissatisfaction in their lives. In early sessions, they often talk about everything else. They discuss work stress, conflict with partners, and anxiety about major presentations and meetings.…