NATIONAL MEN'S HEALTH MONTH BREAKING THE SILENCE: BLACK MEN, MENTAL HEALTH & THE WEIGHT OF NEGATIVE ENERGY BY JOSH PELTIER
The Two Kinds of Energy There are really only two kinds of energy: negative and positive. In the real world, labels like “good” or “bad” are often subjective. But when it comes to energy, the distinction is simple. Negative energy pulls us down. Positive energy lifts us up. I spoke at a high school recently and had the students play a game to recognize the differences between the two energies. At first, they were dumbfounded. No one had ever asked them to name and feel the energy they were carrying. I explained how, when negative energy stays trapped in the body too long, it shows up as things like anger, anxiety, hatred, and burnout. Negative energy is not always a bad thing—it can be misdirected or unprocessed emotions. It builds when we don’t have tools to release or transform it. Positive energy, on the other hand, is light. It feels like joy, love, understanding, gratitude, and peace. It’s the kind of energy that makes us feel connected and alive. Helping young people name what they’re feeling, and understand the difference between these energies, is one of the most powerful things we can do. Mental Health Is Not a Luxury—It’s Survival Black men are more likely to experience mental health struggles, but less likely to receive help. The reasons are complex—stigma, lack of access, mistrust of healthcare systems, cultural expectations. But ignoring the issue only deepens the wound. Seeking help isn’t about being broken. It’s about choosing to heal. It’s about reclaiming energy, clarity, and power. We can no longer afford to pretend that stress, depression, or emotional shutdowns are just part of the Black male experience. They are signs that something needs to shift. And that shift begins with acknowledging the pain and creating space for transformation.
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