Episode 24 - Men Need Self-Care Too with Constantin Morun
By Jessica Garrison
Our guest this week is very different from most of our visitors on the F.E.E.L Podcast because we are joined by a lovely gentleman named Constantin Morun. He loves to inspire, guide, and empower others, and he is filled with love and passion. Anyone with traits like these are always welcome on the podcast, and it was a treat listening to Constantin to give us a new perspective.
For most men, self-care is not part of their lifestyle, and Constantin was no exception. His version of self-care showed up as food or buying material things. Realizing this wasn’t healthy or helpful, Constantin began including meditation in his self-care routine, as well as taking time off when needed and going to the spa. Men don’t typically go to the spa because it isn’t considered “manly,” but Constantin has seen the positive effects it has on rejuvenating his body and mental health. He says if he could go back and tell his younger self something, it would be to take care of himself more. If you’re reading this now and haven’t begun a journey with self-care, let this be a sign that it’s never too late to treat yourself the way you deserve.
Boundaries begin within ourselves before we begin to understand their impact and express them with others. One example of this showing up for Constantin was when he worked at Microsoft. It was the kind of job that needed him to be available 24/7, and he can see now how unhealthy that was for him. Working overtime isn’t a bad thing as long as you take breaks and don’t burn yourself out. However, work culture has shifted in recent years, and people are realizing there’s so much more to life than a job.
For Constantin, there are four pillars of health: emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual. He grew up in a world where men aren’t supposed to cry, and him not taking care of his emotional health was seeping into his physical health. Even his sleep was affected by not taking care of his emotional health, and it led him down a road of self-sabotage. Constantin says he’s still a work in progress, but he has a clear vision in his head that nothing stands in the way of his happiness.
In supporting others in living unapologetically, Constantin connects more with people who are vulnerable. Although you are responsible for your own actions, others can be influenced by seeing you live your life unapologetically. Some of his relationships have faded, but the ones that were meant to last have been growing stronger than ever.
Constantin has an early memory of asking himself, “Why am I here?” which is a monumental moment for a child. He recalls how he was depressed for years, acting on things that didn’t align with his why. Now he realizes that he can bring more empathy and compassion to the table, and this helps to strengthen his why and his purpose.
Expectations are a ripple effect. Setting them too high can cause self-doubt and hesitation, whereas no expectations means no disappointment but also nothing to work towards or accomplish. It’s important to remember to keep moving forward, even if negative thoughts make their way into your mind. You can overcome these fears or negative thoughts and allow yourself to live out of your expectations.
To accept the layered aspects of himself, Constantin acknowledges where he is and reminds himself that it’s okay not to be perfect. He used to be the type to beat himself up over the small stuff, but life is a journey full of learning and discovery. No one really knows what they’re doing (believe it or not); we’re just trying to live the best life we possibly can. Constantin also says living out F.E.E.L has been surreal. He’s made huge changes in recent years and with that came new connections and cycles for the better.
If you enjoyed listening to Constantin’s episode as much as I did, he has his own podcast you can check out called Unleash Thyself. His resources will be posted on our website, and let us know what you think of this dynamic and inspiring episode!
Ways to Engage: Constantin speaks about toxic masculinity throughout the episode, such as the spa not being considered “manly” and being told not to cry as a boy. Please feel free to share your personal experiences with toxic masculinity, what this means to you, and/or how you work to end it. Everyone should be allowed to openly express their emotions and enjoy whatever they like, despite their sex.