4 Reasons Why Successful Men May Make Horrible Husbands
Photo by Razvan Chisu on Unsplash
We’ve all heard the statement, “Find a successful man, and marry him. You’ll live happily ever after. And you’ll have everything a girl can desire!”But is that actually really TRUE? So true that you would be willing to invest your entire future on this fairy tale belief you learned as a child?
4 Reasons That Should Give You Pause
Here are 4 startling reasons that should give you pause. And if you’re already married to a successful man, reason to shed a concerned tear or two:
1) He Loves His Office
Now this one may seem a bit obvious. He loves his career, and he’s good at it (if you wondering, ask him and he will likely tell you with some bravado about how good he really is). As a result, he just has to spend long hours at the office. You’ve even told yourself that he’s doing it for you and the children. But is that really true? And does it make you feel any better about your future?
2) Daddy Issues
While the workaholic thing may have seemed rather obvious, struggles with daddy may come as a bit of a shock. Does this successful man who appears to have all the bases covered struggle with daddy issues? Yup. Your handsome husband that seems to be the rock that no one can penetrate? Yes indeed! He is likely using excessive work hours to hide from his past and the deep feelings of loss he experienced from his disconnected father.
3) He Doesn’t Like Himself
Although he won’t probably cop to this, all that charm that he seems to be able to call on at parties may not be real. His ability to close those business deals may be just a cover. Successful men often are unable to look inside. Why? Because they don’t like what’s inside or they’ve never really looked there. They’re also fearful that others will discover that they’re really not all that secure. As a result, they must work harder to cover their insecurities and fears that they will ultimately fail.
4) The Stage Sucks
Being a successful man comes at a cost. This cost often shows up in how he treats his family. Being on the stage requires that he gives ALL to things that ultimately don’t really matter as much as others. While wives and partners want his total attention, he can never really provide it. He’s constantly thinking of bettering himself through work. The problem is that he’s like the gym addict who believes that one more hour on the treadmill will make him feel better about himself. The perplexing challenge is that when you don’t like yourself on the inside, all the sculpted abs in the world will never be good enough. EVER!
Three Things That Can Really Help
You may be asking yourself, "Who would want a man with these challenging issues?" while simultaneously thinking, “you just described my husband.” Well, what’s a woman, wife, or partner to do?
Here are three things that can really help:
1) Get off the Treadmill
Success is like a treadmill. It’s quite easy to get on one but difficult to get off. Being on the treadmill of success will never produce true happiness. Getting off that treadmill requires a concerted effort on the part of the success-addicted male. This focus includes learning to live a balanced life. One with healthy boundaries that become rock-solid as they’re gradually implemented. One that includes consistently putting his wife or partner highest on his list of critical priorities. Nice!
2) Seek Counseling
Searching for a solid therapist with experience in working with overachieving males may seem obvious. The challenge is that it will also seem weak to a success-saturated man. The daddy issues mentioned earlier likely included the “success at all costs” mantra so common in men. Counseling that includes a huge focus on putting the past beyond the “rearview mirror” is critical.
3) Look North NOT South
In other words, look to the future, not the past! Most relationships where successful men avoid key responsibilities is that they will continue to hide at work until reality sets in. That awful moment where what really matters in life has passed them by. Don’t allow it! You can’t change yesterday, but you can certainly change today. And more importantly, tomorrow and your future by being home and totally “present” tonight!
To schedule individual therapy, couple’s therapy, or marriage therapy in Utah, contact Wasatch Family Therapy by texting or calling 801.944.4555 or emailing us here.
This post was originally written by Michael Boman, LCSW but was later updated by the Wasatch Family Therapy Team.
