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?

Julie found out she was pregnant while in stage three kidney failure. When she was in stage four, she got pregnant with her second child. Struggling to survive and maintaining healthy pregnancies weren’t the only health issues Julie faced. She had juvenile diabetes, diabulimia, and autoimmune diseases. Selena Gomez was diagnosed with Lupus (an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack itself). Early twenties, beautiful, talented, successful, and dealing with a physically and mentally debilitating disease. Both Julie and Selena hit medical roadblocks in their lives, but kept moving forward. How do we continue to fully live our lives when dealing with major health issues?

Seeing three dead children sprawled out on the latrine floor in Auschwitz would cause many of us to shut down. Facing life in prison without parole would cause many of us to give up. But humans have a tenacity to overcome hopelessness after reaching the lowest of the lows. This is called your Pivot Point. The story of Auschwitz survivor Eva Kor, and an interview with former mob boss Michael Franzese, takes a look at their respective Pivot Points. When faced with utter hopelessness, how do we rework our mindset to overcome?

How many of us knows a survivor of Satanic ritual abuse? Lisa takes us inside her life growing up in that world. Forced by her father to participate in group meetings, Lisa suppressed the horrifying images that no child can deal with. In her late twenties, feelings and memories began resurfacing. Her happy life as a wife and mom of three was completely shattered because of her haunting past. 

Harold was drafted at 19. He was always the good kid. Never smoked, never drank, never cursed. When he came back home, he was addicted to drugs, "Would you rather die high? or feel the pain?". Now closing bars every night while doing drugs with his friends, and fighting with his wife daily, something had to give. Harold had reached his Pivot Point. 

What lies beneath the perfect surface of our lives? Everyone sees the sun glistening against the waves, but there is much more hidden underneath. Jeremy was class president and editor of the school paper. He projected the perfect image while dealing with a schizophrenic Mom and alcoholic Father. We project that picture perfect life, but how soon before our sharks rise to the surface and expose us for who we really are?