As we all know, 'be yourself' is the lamest, most generic advice ever. But have you ever stopped to think why we as men would ever stop representing our true selves to begin with? Well, the title of this episode is a strong hint as to why, and my co-host is the man to explain what's up with that. Indeed, Clovis Colley isn't only a certified hypnotherapist in-house here at X & Y Communications, he's been around the block a few times. So what are guilt and shame all about anyway? And what useful purpose do they serve, if any? How do people try to shame us, or even project their own shame onto us? How has the 'toxic masculinity' narrative increased shame, even if under the guise of hoping to reduce it? What does it mean to 'take ourselves too seriously', and how do we pile on the pressure, shame and guilt when we do so? How can you tell when someone is trying to shame you for their own pathetic reasons, read them like a cheap paperback and refuse to let them affect you? How does setting and maintaining boundaries combat against undue shame and guilt? Discover the disastrous but shockingly common way people try to avoid shame only to experience even more of it. Finally, and most importantly, what's the pathway out of feeling undue shame and guilt? You can get 25 minutes on the phone with me free, subscribe to daily advice on getting better with women, score free reports and much more at http://www.mountaintoppodcast.com === HELP US SEND THE MESSAGE TO GREAT MEN EVERYWHERE === We'll keep the solid, actionable content coming...all for free. If you love what you hear, please give us a 'thumbs up' by rating the show (takes one second) and leaving us a review. As we say here in Texas, we appreciate you!