The chase for status is loud. The quiet work of self-worth is louder. We sit down with midlife self-love coach Jonathan Ashley to unpack how men can build genuine confidence without the scoreboard—by caring for the “emotional six-year-old” inside, stepping into the observer’s seat, and practicing non-attachment so expectations stop running the show.

Jonathan shares a practical framework: self-love as the bundle of self-worth, self-esteem, self-confidence, self-reliance, and self-discipline, activated through daily reps. We dig into the tools that create emotional scaffolding before life shakes—journaling that names real feelings, meditation and breathwork to calm the nervous system, yoga to connect body and heart, therapy to untie childhood knots, and books that offer language for growth. Along the way, we tackle comparison culture and the myth of the “four sixes,” making the case for moving competition to the court and turning friendship into a refuge for truth.

You’ll hear how service multiplies “emotional currency,” why vulnerability isn’t venting but honest ownership, and how surrender shifts your experience from judgment to peace. With stories, book recs, and hard-won wisdom, Jonathan shows that steady inner worth can survive career swings, breakups, and the internet’s highlight reels. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s presence. Choose one habit today—five minutes of breath, a page of journaling, a call to a friend—and make a deposit into your emotional bank account.

If this conversation helps, follow and share it with someone who needs a steadier inner base. Subscribe for more thoughtful, heart-led growth, and leave a review to tell us what you’ll practice this week.

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