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When we feel pressure to sexually perform

Our culture has conditioned men to tie their worth and desirability to performance, output, and…

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Photo by @dylanfox

One of the most common things men share with me is this:

“I feel so much pressure to perform in intimacy.”

This pressure can take many forms:

  • To be the one who’s always rock hard and ready
  • To take charge and lead without hesitation
  • To give their partner multiple orgasms every time
  • To bring a dominant / hot taking energy, no matter how they’re actually feeling on the inside

Even if a man wants to show up differently—softer, slower, more open or maybe not at all—it can feel scary. Because our culture has conditioned men to tie their worth and desirability to performance, output, and control. And intimacy becomes yet another arena where success is measured by how much they do, rather than how deeply they feel.

The Hidden Cost of Performing Sex Instead of Experiencing It

When sex becomes a performance, something gets lost—presence.
Men often tell me that they crave something deeper: connection, attunement, freedom to just be in their bodies without pressure or expectation.

They quietly confide in me that they long for:

  • Being able to show up with a soft or hard cock and still feel seen and adored
  • Being held, caressed, and nurtured—not always the one doing the holding
  • Letting go of control and simply receiving
  • Slowing down and exploring, instead of racing toward a goal

These aren’t weak desires—they are courageous ones. They reflect a deep longing for intimacy that is real, mutual, and liberating.

Unlearning the Pressure, Reclaiming Presence

Dropping the performance script doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a practice—just like any embodied skill. And it can feel incredibly vulnerable to explore.

But presence… true presence… is magnetic. It’s what creates safety, turn-on, and connection that lasts longer than any orgasm ever could.

At BodyJoy Intimacy School, I teach practices that support men to come back home to their bodies. To shift from doing into being. To build erotic confidence not through tricks or techniques—but through trust, breath, and embodied awareness.

Practices like:

  • Belly breathing to reset the nervous system
  • Sensory exercises to awaken pleasure without pressure
  • Non-goal-oriented touch that centers simple pleasures of sensation, not a specific outcome
  • Self-pleasure rituals that invite presence rather than performance

These tools aren’t just about sex—they’re about intimacy with yourself. When you can meet your own body with curiosity and care, you show up for your partners from a place of grounded presence, not performance pressure.

Redefining What Makes a “Confident Lover”

A confident lover isn’t someone who performs perfectly every time.
It’s someone who brings their full self to the moment—truth, flaws, softness, arousal, hesitation, and all.

It’s someone who listens with their body, not just their mind.
Who can say, “Can we slow down?” or “Can I just be held?”  or “How about we go for a walk instead?” without shame.
Who knows that their worth isn’t tied to how many orgasms they give another person, how dominant they act, or whether their erection showed up on cue.

It’s time to redefine masculinity in the bedroom—and beyond.
Not through effort and performance… but through presence, receptivity, and trust.

If You’re Ready to Explore Intimacy Without Performance Pressure…

BodyJoy’s on-demand courses and guided practices are designed for men who want to show up more connected, attuned, and confident in their erotic lives—without having to play a role as a performer.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Reconnect with your body as a source of wisdom and pleasure
  • Practice presence through simple yet powerful somatic exercises
  • Cultivate intimacy that feels real, nourishing, and free of pressure

You don’t need to be anyone else but you – moment to moment—your presence is enough.

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Charla Hathaway is a PhD. Sexologist, Certified Sexological Bodyworker, Surrogate Partner Therapist, and founder of Austin’s BodyJoy Intimacy School.
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