Gents Weekly: Freedom
Issue #7: The manliest newsletter on the internet • February 23, 2026
Welcome to issue #7 of The Gents Weekly, a newsletter for the modern man.
Every Monday, you’ll receive a weekly roundup of inspiring ideas + products to help you become a better man.
Brought to you by the men of Gents Journey — Dean Bokhari, Stephen Seidel, and Matt McManus.
Let’s dig in…
📝 THE MESSAGE
A timely piece from the gents.
↓
Issue #7 of Gents Weekly is all about FREEDOM.
What is freedom, anyway?
Most men define freedom by what they can get away from…
They want to get away from the bills.
They want to get away from the 9-to-5.
They want to get away from the expectations of others.
But if your definition of freedom is purely escapism, you aren’t really free… You’re just a runaway.
True freedom isn’t about running away from the pressures of life. True freedom is about discipline.
Or, as the author Jocko Willink puts it: discipline equals freedom.
Here are a few ideas for you to bring more disciplined freedom into your life as a man:
1. Constraints create freedom.
We think more options make us free. In reality, an abundance of choice leads to “decision fatigue” and paralysis. The freest man in the room is often the one with the most restrictive lifestyle — a lifestyle he deliberately chose…
He’s the guy who’s decided what he eats.
He’s the guy who’s decided when he works.
He’s the guy who drags his ass out of bed at 5am to get a workout in before his wife and children wake up.
Decide in advance what you want your daily life to look like. Then start constructing it. Deliberately. Create boundaries and don’t waiver from them. Get into a solid routine and stick with it.
2. Emotional freedom.
The ultimate form of freedom is the ability to choose your attitude in any given set of circumstances.
If it ruins your day when someone cuts you off in traffic, you’re not free. You’re a slave to your environment.
Emotional freedom is found in the “gap” between what happens to you - and your response to what happens to you.
When your feeling emotionally out of control because of something that happened to you, pause… Take a beat. Ask yourself how you actually want to feel, then choose to feel that way.
3. Freedom as capability.
You aren’t free to help someone if you’re broke. You aren’t free to hike a mountain if you are physically stagnant.
Freedom isn’t given to anyone; it’s earned through the accumulation of competence.
The more skills you master, the more “permissionless” your life becomes.
What do you need to learn/start/do/become in order to bring more freedom and autonomy into your life? The more capable you are—in business and in life—the less you need to depend on others to tell you what to do or how to do it.
Freedom is a practice, not a destination.
It’s found in the ritual of the early morning, the integrity of your word, and the courage to say “no” to the good so you can say “yes” to the great.
So, stop looking for the exit sign and start looking at your daily habits…
That’s where your freedom is actually hiding.
Lastly, here’s my personal definition of freedom:
Freedom is being able to do what you want, when you want, where you want, and with whomever you want.
— Dean Bokhari
Co-founder, Gents Journey
📰 THE MOMENT
Sh*t that’s happening now, ICYMI
↓
I created The Cartoon, a course in character development that plays like a game, to find the version of myself I'd lost somewhere between becoming a dad, chasing a career, and learning how to be a functioning adult. Not lost in the dramatic, rock-bottom way. In the quiet way. The way where you look in the mirror one day and think, "Who the fuck is this guy?" I knew I was performing (good dad, reliable friend, working actor) but I didn't know who I was underneath all of it. So I built this game to go back and find him. It worked. And honestly? Creating it, living it, sharing it was some of the most fun I've ever had as a man. I remembered what it felt like to be cool, to be me, without apologizing for it. Now I'm releasing it for you. This isn't sitting in a room talking about your feelings. It's doing shit: finding sneakers you've never worn, making playlists that move your soul, sweating daily, cleaning out your closet, writing letters to people who'll never read them, meeting yourself on a beach. The goal? Reconnect who you were with who you are now so you can move forward as who you've always wanted to be. It's weird. It's fun. It works. The course drops this week. Here's the first video to get you started. Let's go get you.
Can’t wait for you to start playing the game this week. This is going to be really fun.
— Matt McManus
Co-founder, Gents Journey
👊 THE MOVES
Media for men.
↓
Watch | How to Manage Your Growing To-Do List
Watch the video on the new Gents Journey YouTube channel (and remember to subscribe!), but here’s the core idea behind it:
The Freedom of Showing Up
In a world that constantly pulls at your attention, freedom isn’t about having less to do — it’s about choosing how you show up every day.
Every morning, you have a choice.
You can let the noise dictate your day. You can let your text messages and notifications pull you in one direction, or …
Decide what deserves your time, focus, and energy on your own terms.
We all get the same 24 hours. The difference between feeling stuck and moving forward isn’t talent; it's about choosing an intention and taking action.
Take out a pen and write down what tomorrow looks like, while doing the following:
Write down your tasks — and how long they will actually take.
Rank each one: Low, Medium, or High importance.
Then decide: Do. Delegate. Delete.
Cross out anything with a
LoworDeleteLabel.Start tomorrow strong with a “High” impact task labeled “Do” that lights you up.
(RINSE & REPEAT)
Not everything deserves your attention.
Some tasks move you toward your goals.
Some belong to someone else.
And some simply don’t belong at all.
Do. Delegate. Delete.
It’s not about clearing your calendar, but freeing your mind.
Thoughts come and go. Some helpful. Some not. You can’t always control which ones appear, but you can control how you respond.
Here’s a simple question to ask yourself from our Journey Deck: If emotions were the weather, what’s today’s forecast?
Give Yourself the Gift of Freedom
You can’t change the weather, but you can control how you respond when life throws you a mean Charlie Hough knuckleball.
So going forward, let’s remember:
Do the most important thing first.
Delete one thing that no longer serves you.
Delegate it if it doesn’t require your unique gifts.
Plan early. Act intentionally. Live freely.
Take the wheel, as you respond thoughtfully and intentionally, and fly free like a bird.
Here’s a favorite song of mine that comes to mind. (Rock & Roll !!)
Comment if you knew the song in advance, or have a better “Freedom” track.
— Stephen Seidel
Co-founder, Gents Journey
🔗 MEANINGFUL MENTIONS + MAGIC LINKS
Fun stuff you’ll dig.
_
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (Group Favorite!)
Get quick shots of inspiration for men - subscribe to the Gents Journey YouTube channel
💻 REAL MEN HAVE A COACH IN THEIR CORNER
Stop playing small, step into the man you know you are.
_
We’re looking for ten men who want coaching and guidance to level up in life + work. If that’s you, fill out this form, and we’ll be in touch.
Until next week,
—The Gents
Inspired? Share this newsletter with another Gent you think it could help.