In this episode we are taking a look at how going through immense pain can lead to discovering your purpose. British radio and television producer John Lloyd struggled with major depression for a decade. He became curious about everything in order to overcome it. Through his struggle, he created an acclaimed BBC show based on curiosity. Diane experienced sexual abuse as a child, rape in high school, abusive relationships, alcohol and drugs. Now she works with Ascent 121. A faith-based organization that helps teen girls who have been commercially trafficked. Emotional pain is something every human experiences. How can we discover our purpose through that pain?

The mom of one of the Columbine shooters, Sue Klebold, could have gone into hiding after the tragedy. She didn’t. She decided that the need to speak out on the importance of mental health was more important than her fears of how the world would treat her. She wanted to prevent these tragedies from happening and believes being aware of the hurt our loved ones are facing is the key. Austin went through an incredible amount of depression and anger starting in middle school. He systematically began numbing his emotions until all he could feel was his anger. When his girlfriend rejected him because he couldn’t feel love, he had to overcome his fear of emotions and face them. “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than our fear” – Theodore Roosevelt

Shelbi was voted “Best Hair” in high school. When she went go-karting, all of her hair plus 80% of her scalp was ripped off. She’s suffered a traumatic brain injury, fractures, several reconstructive surgeries, deals with debilitating migraines, and is in her early twenties and bald. She had to rework her identity. Dr. Jill Bolte-Taylor was a brilliant neuroanatomist and graduate of Indiana University and Harvard. In 1996 she had a stroke. Jill was reduced to a childlike state and had to relearn and rebuild everything. Including who she was. We know who we are until something life-altering happens. How do we rediscover out identity?