02-18-2026, 05:03 PM
Since 2016, it has been my intent to run AM7 once it was released. My goal was, and is, to reinforce the areas where I'm strong and to fill in the holes of the areas where I'm weak. Over the past 10 years, IML subs have helped me to develop both personally, financially, and career-wise. It hasn't always been a smooth journey, but it's amazing to see my own growth over the past 10 years when I look at my offline journals. And while I'm stronger and more emotionally healthy than I've ever been, I still have a tremendous amount of growth left to accomplish. Now, with AM7 Stage 0 in my possession, I'm about to begin the next phase of my journey.
I've decided to run the protocol for those that need Stage 0. There are several reasons for this:
1. PRAv1, PM, and Ultra Success - These are three of my most recent and favorite subs all in one convenient script.
2. The writeup's list of items that indicate when someone should use Stage 0 had several items that stirred something in my gut. I'll get to those shortly.
3. I want to make sure I have an adequate foundation to extract the most from each of the future stages. I fully expect AM7 to challenge me. I owe it to myself to be ready for that challenge. And as I noted above, I've been waiting a long time for this. So, I intend to do it right.
When Shannon first mentioned Stage 0, I was intrigued. Honestly, I didn't feel like I'd be a candidate for needing it. I'm in my late 40s. I was raised in a part of the U.S. where masculinity isn't frowned upon. I grew up with both parents present. My dad is a masculine man. I wasn't exposed to the internet until I was out of high school and even then, social media wasn't a thing for several years after that. During my single years, a common weekend for me was drinking, chasing women, and (with the crowd I ran) with there was probably going to be a fight. But, I'm honest enough with myself to see the cracks in the version of me that I pretend (and sometimes believe) I am. That's where AM7 comes in.
Relevant Items from the writeup Q&A:
1. Have social anxiety
- I don't have a tremendous fear of social situations. But, more often than not, I don't care to engage in small talk which can come across as socially awkward, aloof, or intimidating depending on the context.
2. Feel guilt, shame or anything else negative about yourself simply b/c you're a male
- I tend to have negative feelings toward feminine men because they aren't masculine. I also tend to have negative feelings toward men I perceive to be very masculine because I view them as competition. Both of ends of the spectrum stem from an internal weakness on my part. I clearly have a negative opinion of my own masculinity on some level.
3. Believe women are better than, smarter than or otherwise superior to men (or you as a man)
- Consciously, I don't believe this at all. But, I've experienced multiple instances in my life where the woman was more mature than me. In some cases, that could've been purely facade. In some cases, I believe it was genuine. And while I don't consciously believe women are better, smarter, {insert next comparison}, I suspect I have some subconscious beliefs in the opposite direction.
4. Are afraid of women
- I'm not afraid of women in general. But I recently realized that I'm intimidated by women that I find physically or sexually attractive. I recognized this by my behavior. I tend to ignore them. I don't want to give them one ounce of my attention. The issue is that I don't want them to realize that they have power over me. The deeper issue is that I'm allowing them to have that power.
5. Were raised in a female dominated household with a weak father or no father figure present
- This doesn't fit me exactly, but my dad worked out of state a lot during my younger years. Because of that, I had heavy influence from my mom during the formative years.
6. Hide from, avoid, or try to escape adult responsibility
- I accept adult responsibility, but action usually requires significant willpower. I'd like to overcome the source of that resistance.
7. Let yourself be treated badly by others, especially by females
- This doesn't fit me exactly, but I do tend to overperform in an attempt avoid being a burden to others. Being in a management role has forced me to overcome quite a bit of this. But the overperforming tendencies still lie beneath the surface.
8. Prefer to spend your time watching TV, playing games or scrolling the internet to doing anything else
- In my spare time, I tend to watch a lot of TV. When things need to be done, I do them. But as I stated above, it takes a lot of willpower. I'd like to get to the place where my preference and inclination is to spend time engaging in productive activities of some sort. That could be exercise, proactive home maintenance, a side hustle, learning a new skill, etc.
9. Have mommy or daddy issues
- My dad had a short fuse. As a kid, I was afraid of him. In my adult life, I rebelled. After the rebellion ceased, I butted heads with him. Now, in his old age, I pity him. In many ways, I've overcome the issues I've had with him. But I know there are still things beneath the surface that need to be addressed.
10. Have low self esteem, self respect and sense of self worth
- My self-assessment is largely based on output. I'm successful in multiple conventional metrics...wife/kids, good job, nice home, etc. From the outside looking in, I've got a lot to be proud of. But in some ways, I'm still an insecure kid internally.
11. Harbor self hatred
- I don't consciously feel any self hatred. But, it's not uncommon for me to enjoy time alone watching movies/series and to have too much to drink in the process. That's an unhealthy combo of habits that has to stem from something. It could very well be an outward manifestation of self hatred.
12. Are afraid to grow up
- As I mentioned above, in some ways, I'm still an insecure kid internally.
13. Are a shut in because of anxiety
- I don't like to engage in social events. I don't even like to go to the grocery store when it's busy. I don't consciously feel fear and anxiety about it, but I definitely have some avoidance tendencies.
14. Have traumas that work against you as a man.
- With my dad being the quick tempered man that he was and the fear of him that I had as a child, I'm sure there are traumas that still need to be dealt with
I'll begin Stage 0 tonight. I will probably only report bi-weekly or maybe even monthly, depending on whether I feel like I have something to say. To everybody running this thing, cheers, and good luck!
I've decided to run the protocol for those that need Stage 0. There are several reasons for this:
1. PRAv1, PM, and Ultra Success - These are three of my most recent and favorite subs all in one convenient script.
2. The writeup's list of items that indicate when someone should use Stage 0 had several items that stirred something in my gut. I'll get to those shortly.
3. I want to make sure I have an adequate foundation to extract the most from each of the future stages. I fully expect AM7 to challenge me. I owe it to myself to be ready for that challenge. And as I noted above, I've been waiting a long time for this. So, I intend to do it right.
When Shannon first mentioned Stage 0, I was intrigued. Honestly, I didn't feel like I'd be a candidate for needing it. I'm in my late 40s. I was raised in a part of the U.S. where masculinity isn't frowned upon. I grew up with both parents present. My dad is a masculine man. I wasn't exposed to the internet until I was out of high school and even then, social media wasn't a thing for several years after that. During my single years, a common weekend for me was drinking, chasing women, and (with the crowd I ran) with there was probably going to be a fight. But, I'm honest enough with myself to see the cracks in the version of me that I pretend (and sometimes believe) I am. That's where AM7 comes in.
Relevant Items from the writeup Q&A:
1. Have social anxiety
- I don't have a tremendous fear of social situations. But, more often than not, I don't care to engage in small talk which can come across as socially awkward, aloof, or intimidating depending on the context.
2. Feel guilt, shame or anything else negative about yourself simply b/c you're a male
- I tend to have negative feelings toward feminine men because they aren't masculine. I also tend to have negative feelings toward men I perceive to be very masculine because I view them as competition. Both of ends of the spectrum stem from an internal weakness on my part. I clearly have a negative opinion of my own masculinity on some level.
3. Believe women are better than, smarter than or otherwise superior to men (or you as a man)
- Consciously, I don't believe this at all. But, I've experienced multiple instances in my life where the woman was more mature than me. In some cases, that could've been purely facade. In some cases, I believe it was genuine. And while I don't consciously believe women are better, smarter, {insert next comparison}, I suspect I have some subconscious beliefs in the opposite direction.
4. Are afraid of women
- I'm not afraid of women in general. But I recently realized that I'm intimidated by women that I find physically or sexually attractive. I recognized this by my behavior. I tend to ignore them. I don't want to give them one ounce of my attention. The issue is that I don't want them to realize that they have power over me. The deeper issue is that I'm allowing them to have that power.
5. Were raised in a female dominated household with a weak father or no father figure present
- This doesn't fit me exactly, but my dad worked out of state a lot during my younger years. Because of that, I had heavy influence from my mom during the formative years.
6. Hide from, avoid, or try to escape adult responsibility
- I accept adult responsibility, but action usually requires significant willpower. I'd like to overcome the source of that resistance.
7. Let yourself be treated badly by others, especially by females
- This doesn't fit me exactly, but I do tend to overperform in an attempt avoid being a burden to others. Being in a management role has forced me to overcome quite a bit of this. But the overperforming tendencies still lie beneath the surface.
8. Prefer to spend your time watching TV, playing games or scrolling the internet to doing anything else
- In my spare time, I tend to watch a lot of TV. When things need to be done, I do them. But as I stated above, it takes a lot of willpower. I'd like to get to the place where my preference and inclination is to spend time engaging in productive activities of some sort. That could be exercise, proactive home maintenance, a side hustle, learning a new skill, etc.
9. Have mommy or daddy issues
- My dad had a short fuse. As a kid, I was afraid of him. In my adult life, I rebelled. After the rebellion ceased, I butted heads with him. Now, in his old age, I pity him. In many ways, I've overcome the issues I've had with him. But I know there are still things beneath the surface that need to be addressed.
10. Have low self esteem, self respect and sense of self worth
- My self-assessment is largely based on output. I'm successful in multiple conventional metrics...wife/kids, good job, nice home, etc. From the outside looking in, I've got a lot to be proud of. But in some ways, I'm still an insecure kid internally.
11. Harbor self hatred
- I don't consciously feel any self hatred. But, it's not uncommon for me to enjoy time alone watching movies/series and to have too much to drink in the process. That's an unhealthy combo of habits that has to stem from something. It could very well be an outward manifestation of self hatred.
12. Are afraid to grow up
- As I mentioned above, in some ways, I'm still an insecure kid internally.
13. Are a shut in because of anxiety
- I don't like to engage in social events. I don't even like to go to the grocery store when it's busy. I don't consciously feel fear and anxiety about it, but I definitely have some avoidance tendencies.
14. Have traumas that work against you as a man.
- With my dad being the quick tempered man that he was and the fear of him that I had as a child, I'm sure there are traumas that still need to be dealt with
I'll begin Stage 0 tonight. I will probably only report bi-weekly or maybe even monthly, depending on whether I feel like I have something to say. To everybody running this thing, cheers, and good luck!
![[Image: Yes-first-AM7-Journal-masculine.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/RFrgHc61/Yes-first-AM7-Journal-masculine.png)
