17 Comments

Beautiful bro! The journey to emotional health and healing is hard but worth it.

Welcome to Substack too ✊🏽

Expand full comment
author

That's right, man. I'm feeling every bit of it right now. And appreciate it! I'm loving it so far.

Expand full comment
May 14Liked by Jon Soto

Really enjoyed this, this statement especially stood out to me: “a decent world is created through the decent actions of those living in it. We improve the world by improving ourselves.” — gives me hope that by taking responsibility for our own actions we form the world we wish to see.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Ilan, yes that’s the sentiment I carry with myself. We can’t change other people or force the world to change. But we can be the change we wish we saw 🙏🏾

Expand full comment

“I can’t change what happened in my past. But I have the power to write the story of my future, and I won’t waste the opportunity.” This was beautifully written. Thank you for sharing.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Adrianny 🙏🏾

Expand full comment
Jun 9Liked by Jon Soto

This is an incredible story.. we all stay hard and strong

Expand full comment

Beautiful takeaways and notes. It couldn't have been easy to realize and integrate all these. I honor and appreciate your thoughts, there's much to learn from here. Take it from another therapist: you're doing so well! The world is changing with your efforts!

Expand full comment
author

Thanks, Anderson! I'm trying. And that's all we can really do.

Expand full comment

Jon, I’m new to your page but I hit that subscribe button so fast! This touched me so much because it felt like I got to experience the thoughts and emotions of my client. In one of our sessions, I asked him to name some men in his life he can see himself in from a positive perspective. He too broke down reflecting on the realization that he has no role models. He brings this us so often in our sessions that I’ve noted that hit a pain point.

I’m sorry your father left you, and I’m sorry your step father abused you. I ask you to find forgiveness in you heart for both men because they too may lack the “father force” and that’s not YOUR fault. But I applaud you for doing something (therapy and reading) to better yourself! That’s enough right there to make you a role model for other young black men and hopefully you are proud of yourself for it!

I want to come back to this essay to read more deeper into it as a resource for my client, but I had to give you your flowers 💐 because this is beautifully written and articulated!!!

Expand full comment
author

Wow, thank you so much for these kind words. I know that it's not only men that experience a lack of role models in their lives, so I hope my words can help anyone who comes across them. I appreciate the love and know that you are doing wonderful work by helping those who are trying to navigate their own pain.

Expand full comment

Seeing a reflection of self in others’ words is always nice, so the pleasure is all mine! Please continue writing and sharing as you navigate life because you are now the role model for so many, although they may not always tell you!

Expand full comment

Just the title and subtitle are inspiring enough.

Thank you for writing this.

Expand full comment
author

Appreciate that Tyler. And thank you very much for reading.

Expand full comment
deletedMay 30
Comment deleted
Expand full comment
author

Appreciate that Ryan and thanks for reading

Expand full comment
deletedMay 14
Comment deleted
Expand full comment
author

And thank you for reading and sharing those thoughts, Zoe 🙏🏾

Expand full comment