Speak Up Reflections
Thoughts and practical takeaways from the conversations we are having at Speak Up Cambridge.
These reflections are not transcripts of what is shared in the room, and no one is identified. They are a place to explore the common patterns, questions, and insights that come up when men have honest conversations about life.
You do not need to have it all figured out to begin looking underneath what is going on.
WHY DOES EVERYTHING FEEL LIKE A FIGHT?
Why does life sometimes feel like such a fight? This Speak Up Cambridge reflection explores control, people-pleasing, attachment, familiar relationships, giving and receiving, and what may actually be getting triggered underneath it all.
Why Do I Keep Reacting Like This?
Why do the same situations keep getting under your skin? This Speak Up Cambridge reflection explores triggers, attachment, distraction, forgiveness, connection and what may be sitting underneath the reaction.
I CAN’T AFFORD THAT
A night that was supposed to be about money ended up going through suicide, connection, unspoken expectations, relationships, spooning, Porsches and what we actually want. A reflection from Speak Up Cambridge Men’s Group.
When Your Kids Don’t Do What You Want
What happens when your child doesn’t do what you want? This reflection explores punishment, respect, control, connection, anger and why working on yourself may change more than trying to change your kids.
Why Won’t Your Mind Switch Off?
Why does your mind keep racing when you want to relax? A Speak Up Cambridge Men’s Group reflection on overthinking, body tension, being present and what may sit underneath it.
What’s Fuelling You and What’s Draining You?
What drains us isn’t always the job, relationship or situation we blame. Sometimes it’s the pattern underneath it — chasing, proving, solving, resisting or carrying things that were never ours to carry.
Getting Back to Your Body: Seeing the Patterns Beneath the Surface
Getting back into your body is about more than noticing physical sensations. It can help you recognise the identities you are trying to maintain, the pain you are moving away from, the relationship patterns you repeat and the places where you may be giving your power away.
How Men Lose Themselves in Relationships
We often lose ourselves in relationships not because we do not care, but because familiar patterns, old wounds, and survival responses quietly take over.
When the Path to Purpose Isn’t a Straight Line
Sometimes we walk away from the very things we say we want because they do not arrive in the form we expected. A reflection on purpose, money, fear, and learning to trust the next tack.
What Sits Underneath the Reaction?
Anger is often the visible reaction, not the whole story. A reflection on pressure, overwhelm, asking for help, and what can sit underneath the light turning on.