When was the last time you laughed so hard your stomach hurt?
The kind of laugh that leaves you gasping for air, slapping a friend’s shoulder, and saying, “Man, I needed that.”

For a lot of men, it isn’t happening enough.

Life gets serious. Work piles up. Relationships take effort. The world expects us to be steady, focused, and responsible. And what feels like all the time.

But if we don’t create space to just be guys, to joke, to laugh, and to loosen up, something inside of us starts to tighten.

We forget how good it feels to be around other men who don’t need anything from us except our presence.

Why It Matters

Being a man isn’t only about providing, protecting, or leading. It’s also about connecting.

And connection isn’t built only through serious conversations or shared hardship. It’s built through laughter: one of the most ancient forms of human bonding.

When men laugh together, we remember that we’re all still figuring it out. Nobody’s got it perfectly together. The guy who looks confident probably doubts himself sometimes, too.

Laughter reminds us we’re human. It knocks the armor off. It tells the nervous system, “You’re going to be ok.”

What “Just Being Guys” Really Means

It doesn’t mean acting reckless or shutting off our emotions. It means giving ourselves permission to relax around each other.

It’s the freedom to:
• Crack a dumb joke and not overthink it.
• Roast each other a little and know it’s coming from love.
• Compete for fun, not ego.
• Laugh about our own mistakes instead of hiding them.
• Share stories that don’t have to be deep, just real.

It’s the kind of easy energy that used to come naturally when we were younger and hanging with our buddies. When we made up games, wrestled, teased, and somehow ended up closer because of it.

That same energy still has a place in our adult lives. In fact, it’s essential.

The Cost of Taking Everything Too Seriously

When men lose access to humor and lightness, life starts to feel heavier than it has to be.

We start measuring ourselves and each other by performance instead of presence.
We forget how to have fun together.
We get lonely.

But a hard truth is that few people want to hang out with a man who doesn’t laugh.

If all our interactions are serious, we lose the spark that makes brotherhood enjoyable. The laughter, the teasing, the little moments of silliness really help deepen connection.

How to Practice “Being Guys” This Week

1. Lead with Laughter. When you’re with friends or coworkers, start with something light. A story. A joke. A shared smile. It changes the tone of the whole interaction.

2. Loosen the Guardrails. Let yourself be playful again. Make fun of your own mistakes. Be okay with looking a little foolish.

3. Don’t Overanalyze Connection. You don’t need every hangout to be a deep talk. Sometimes the best connection comes from trading casual stories, laughing together, and calling it a day.

4. Create Low-Stakes Competition. Organize something fun: darts, poker night, hoops, trivia. Competition builds camaraderie when it’s done with respect and play.

5. Share Joy, Not Just Stress. We’re all getting better at venting and processing pain. But let’s also celebrate what’s good. Talk about what’s working. Laugh about the chaos instead of resenting it.

The Ripple Effect

When men learn to laugh together again, the benefits go far beyond the moment.

Laughter resets our stress levels. It builds trust. It reminds us that we don’t have to be perfect to be accepted. And when you bring that energy home and in your community, everyone around you feels it. Your partner. Your kids. Your friends. Your coworkers.

A man who knows how to laugh deeply is often a man who knows how to live deeply.

Your Blueprint Challenge

This week, make it a goal to laugh with another man each day.

Text a funny video. Tell a story from your past. Plan something lighthearted with your group.

See how it changes your mood, your energy, and your relationships.

Because being a man isn’t about holding it all together 24/7. It’s about knowing when to laugh, play, and enjoy being human together.

So this week, reach out to a few brothers and just be guys.
Roast each other a little. Laugh a lot.
Remember that beneath the seriousness, we all just want to feel alive, connected, and free.

That’s brotherhood. That’s the vibe of EVRYMAN.

Insights

Want More Friends? A Better Social Life? Be Like My 85-year-old Buddy Gerry
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I Took a 30-Day Break From My Smartwatch. Here's What Happened to My Brain.
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