Men, It’s Time to Talk About Emotions: Discover What King Arthur Taught Me About Emotional Strength

Yesterday, I had the most bizarre experience — one that still has me chuckling today. I was pulling into the park, minding my own business, when I noticed something… off.

In the spot next to me wasn’t a car — but a horse. And not just any horse. This one was decked out in full medieval battle gear.

I blinked. Twice. Maybe three times. Thought the sunlight was messing with me. But nope — there he was, adjusting his armor like it was just another Tuesday: King Arthur.

Yes, that King Arthur.

Once I got over the initial shock (and reminded myself it was still 2025), I figured: why not? You don’t pass up a chance to chat with a legendary king.

Especially one who noticed my Mental Health Warrior T-shirt, raised an eyebrow, and asked, “Tell me, good sir… what exactly is this Mental Health Warrior thing?”

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The Warrior Story

I explained to him that for 20 years I struggled with Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. This left me feeling so powerless that I tried to end my life. But in that dark time, I discovered something life-changing: Mental Health is the key to overcoming any challenge in life.

Armed with that knowledge, I created the Mental Health Warrior Program — a bold new SELF-HELP approach that puts YOU in charge — So you can take charge of your emotions, triumph over challenges and build the life you really want!

And in my book I Triumphed over Bipolar, Alcoholism, and Anxiety Disorder by Becoming a Mental Health Warrior, I share my story and lay out the blueprint for becoming a Warrior. A big part of building the Warrior mindset comes from the 15 Warrior Principles — powerful guides that help us boldly step into the unknown territory of facing our emotions and embracing them all.

One principle stands out as a daily guide: Warrior Principle 6: “Talking about your emotions is one of the most powerful weapons to strengthen your mental health.”

Arthur nodded thoughtfully, clearly understanding that when men talk about their emotions, it’s not weakness — it’s strength!

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King Arthur's Wisdom

“I know well the power of managing emotions — in both battle and leadership,” Arthur said. “In my many adventures, it was my willingness to speak about my emotions and harness their strength that led to true success.”

“But as a man — and a king — it wasn’t always easy to share what I felt,” he admitted. “There’s a fine line between fearing you’ll look weak… and staying true to yourself.”

I nodded. I could relate. As a man — especially one who’s been through a lot — opening up can feel like stepping into a battlefield with no armor.

Arthur smiled. “Once I realized how powerful it was to talk about my emotions — how much it helped me in life and in battle — I made the choice to be open and I never looked back.”

I was completely in agreement — and honestly, a little stunned. Here was King Arthur, living proof that emotional strength and leadership don’t cancel each other out.

Then, with the calm authority of someone who has walked both paths, he shared three moments from his journey — each showing how he balanced courage with emotional honesty.

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Example 1: Open Talk Strengthens Connections

“The quest for the Holy Grail was no small feat,” Arthur began. “It wasn’t just the physical trials — it was the emotional toll that wore us down. Many of my knights grew discouraged, believing they would never succeed.

I knew I had to be strong for them — but I also needed to be honest with myself.

So I gathered them at the Round Table and shared my own doubts. I admitted I, too, feared failure… but that those fears fueled my determination rather than stopped it.

By speaking openly about my emotions, I strengthened our bond — and reignited our resolve.”

Our Turn:

In my own struggles, I’ve often felt like I had to put on a brave face — even when I was falling apart inside. For years, I thought silence was strength. But it wasn’t strength… it was isolation.

When I finally started sharing my fears and doubts with people I trust, something shifted. I didn’t just lighten my emotional load — I deepened connection, safety and trust.

And here’s the real surprise: Opening up about my emotions, actually made me stronger. It gave me clarity instead of confusion, support instead of loneliness and courage instead of shame.

Talking about my emotions became one of the greatest sources of power in my Mental Health Warrior life — a strength that carries me through every challenge.

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Example 2: Acknowledgement Keeps Us in Control

"The Battle of Camlann was one of the toughest fights I ever faced," Arthur began. "There were moments when the odds looked impossible, and I could see fear written plainly across the faces of my knights."

“But instead of pretending I felt nothing — instead of acting like fear didn’t touch me — I spoke openly about my concern. I told them it was okay to be afraid… but that fear could not be our commander.”

“By acknowledging our emotions rather than hiding them, we took back control. We turned fear into focus, doubt into discipline and uncertainty into unity. And that made us stronger, not weaker."

Our Turn:

This example hit home for me in a big way.

For most of my life, when depression or anxiety took over, I thought the “strong” thing to do was to push the feelings down, pretend everything was fine and keep marching forward alone.

But that only made the struggle heavier.

Like Arthur, I’ve learned that acknowledging fear — instead of burying it — gives me back the power to face it. Naming the emotion is what stops it from running the show.

And here’s the truth men rarely talk about: Facing your emotions doesn’t make you less of a man — it makes you a stronger Warrior.

These days, I see my emotions as tools — sources of energy, direction, and clarity. Not weaknesses. Not flaws. But powerful allies I can harness when I choose courage over silence.

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Example 3: Honesty and Self Forgiveness

"When I discovered Lancelot’s betrayal, it felt like a dagger to the heart. My first instinct was to react with anger — to cast him out, forever.

But I took a moment to reflect. I sat with the pain, the hurt, the betrayal. And in doing so, I realized something important: anger wasn’t the answer.

By being honest about what I was feeling, I found a path to forgiveness. Not just for him — but for me.

That decision didn’t come from weakness. It came from strength. And it led to a better outcome — not just for me, but for everyone."

Our Turn:

Forgiveness has always been a challenge for me — especially when it comes to forgiving myself.

Whether it’s facing my past mistakes or dealing with people who’ve let me down, my instinct used to be to shut down or lash out.

Arthur’s story reminded me that feeling hurt doesn’t make you weak — and reacting impulsively usually makes things worse.

But when I slow down, acknowledge the pain and when I actually process my emotions instead of pushing them away, I make better decisions. Wiser ones.

This is the power of honest emotional conversations. It has helped me rebuild relationships strained by mental health struggles — and learn to forgive myself for the things I simply didn’t know how to handle back then.

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Wrap Up

As our conversation came to a close, Arthur mounted his horse, adjusting his armor with the ease of someone who’s clearly done this a few thousand times. I quickly tossed him a copy of my book, I Triumphed over Bipolar, Alcoholism and Anxiety Disorder by Becoming a Mental Health Warrior, so he could continue building his Warrior power.

He mentioned something about Merlin and a questionable scheme that needed his attention — then rode off into the afternoon sun like the legend he is.

I stood there for a moment, feeling a renewed sense of strength. It was a powerful reminder: Talking about your emotions doesn’t weaken you — it strengthens you!

With that, I headed home — ready to face whatever life had waiting for me. Because if King Arthur can talk about his feelings and still be remembered as one of the greatest warriors of all time… then so can I — and so can you.

So here’s the message for men — and for everyone:

If you’re struggling, one of the most powerful steps you can take is to talk about your emotions.

Follow Arthur’s example: face them, share them and use them as fuel to build a strong, grounded, Mental Health Warrior life!

Bruce Schutter

Every day is a chance to choose strength — because