Men’s Circle | The Inner Judge’s Verdict: Guilty of Taking Life Too Seriously
About the event
Monday, September 14, 2026 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM Doors open at 6:45 PM Little Burgundy, Montreal Limited to 8 men
Ever notice how quickly your own mind can put you on trial? You said the wrong thing. You should be further ahead. You looked stupid. You should have handled that better. You’re not doing enough. For a lot of men, that inner commentary becomes so familiar that we barely notice it anymore. But constant self-judgment has consequences. It can make us overthink, hold back, become defensive, avoid taking risks, or take ourselves so seriously that there’s very little room left for curiosity, spontaneity or play.
This MENTRaL session puts the Inner Judge on trial. Not to destroy it. Not to pretend self-criticism never serves a purpose. But to notice when that voice is actually useful, and when it has simply taken over the courtroom. Through conversation, movement, Authentic Relating practices, humour and experiential exercises, we’ll explore what happens when we create a little more distance from the stories we constantly tell ourselves. Sometimes growth comes through discipline and serious reflection. Sometimes it comes from realizing: Maybe I don’t have to believe every thought that puts me on trial. And sometimes the most freeing response is simply being able to laugh at ourselves.
Session Flow: Each MENTRaL session evolves with the group and may include:
• Grounding breathwork and movement • A playful relational icebreaker • Meet the Judge • Authentic Relating games exploring self-judgment and perception • Mock Court: Putting the Inner Judge on Trial • Reflection and group exercises • Sound exploration • Circling and group sharing • Optional social time afterward
About MENTRaL MENTRaL is an experiential space for men who want to become more intentional in how they show up — in their relationships, work, leadership and lives. This is not therapy, and it is not about fixing men or telling anyone what masculinity should look like. It is a place to practise presence, connection, emotional awareness, accountability and more intentional ways of relating.
Registration Capacity is intentionally limited to 8 men so that the group can remain intimate and everyone has space to participate. If you RSVP and later realize you cannot attend, please update your RSVP as soon as possible so the space can be offered to someone else. Contribution: Pay What You Can — $20 suggested
