The World of Our Crumbling King – Introduction

In my work with men, I have discovered that one of the most painful struggles we face is living under the shadow of the Crumbling King—that wounded, faltering inner leader who too often takes control of our lives.

When we live at the mercy of this King, life becomes heavy, uncertain, and filled with suffering. My purpose here is to help us recognise him, to understand his nature, and ultimately to loosen his grip on us.

The Crumbling King is not easy to dislodge. Once he settles onto his throne, he slumps there with a weary familiarity, ruling not only through his own weakness but also by surrounding himself with other inner voices—fearful companions who co-create a world of passivity, self-doubt, and despair.

The first step toward freedom is awareness. We must learn to recognise when the Crumbling King is stirring within us. Stress, exhaustion, failure, or loss—all of these can open the gates for him to enter. Our task is to notice his arrival and refuse him the throne.

He whispers:

"I’m not good enough.

I am hollow, collapsing, only pretending.

I’m unwanted. I get in the way.

I have nothing to offer."

We cannot allow this struggling ruler to guide our lives, for he is too broken to lead us anywhere but deeper into hardship. When I find myself under his command, every effort feels strained, every mistake magnified. Life becomes an endless uphill climb, a weight too heavy to bear. I feel inadequate for joy, for success, for even the simplest victories.

In those moments, I believe nothing will change—because I no longer believe in myself. I feel stuck, ashamed, and painfully transparent, convinced that others see me for the failure I fear I am.

He groans:

"I am confused, frozen, disconnected.

I have let everyone down.

My kingdom is collapsing.

It is all burning to the ground."

My aim in this series of blogs and workshops is to equip you so that you can refuse to live under your Crumbling King’s leadership. 

I invite you to join me on the 23rd of September for an online workshop :

↠ Working to Release your Crumbling King

Click here to book