From the beginning, my writing and speaking career has been deeply personal—a mission and, at times, an obsession with alleviating suffering in the lives of others. This bittersweet motivator to free people from pain likely began as a child. Raised in a family shaped by alcohol and mental illness, I witnessed firsthand the ramifications of violence, abuse, and excessive acts of unkindness. My only saving grace was my angel of a mother. Throughout my youth (and still today), her strength led my beautiful sister and me from the darkness as we endured the trauma of a broken home.

While the events surrounding my childhood, along with the suicide of my father, led to years of depression and anxiety, they would eventually become the catalyst for everything I do today. In my 30s and tired of playing the victim, I finally became inspired to mend my emotional wounds, driven by the idea of helping others to do the same. Most of all, the awareness that intentional kindness is a viable pathway toward positive mental health would radically change the course of my life. This began a journey of awakening and my commitment to teaching people how to turn their pain into purpose.

Over the past sixteen years, I’ve had the good fortune to write books, deliver keynotes to hundreds of thousands of people, advocate for kindness, initiate and lead worldwide events, and bring mental health strategies to countless schools and businesses. To say it’s been a dream come true would be a vast understatement—from publishing deals and partnerships to sharing stages with renowned authors and speakers, I’m immensely blessed to see my ideas reach people globally.

However, while I’m honored for the opportunities to support and guide others, this path is not exclusive to me. It makes no difference if you are a kindhearted CEO or just entering kindergarten; anyone can be a source of encouragement. Therefore, the bigger picture of my work is that each person views their past challenges as a way to lead others into the light. Whether it’s a divorce, depression, or surviving a dysfunctional family, once on the other side, we can use our newfound wisdom to support others. This approach purifies the heart and strengthens the mind, ensuring our hardships hold meaning while simultaneously awakening love in a wounded world.

As I close, I’d be remiss not to mention that although I’m confident in my role as a teacher, I will never claim to have all the answers. Because, in truth, I struggle at times. I fall down and make mistakes. I’ve hurt people. I can be moody and impatient, anxious and angry, and sometimes feel discouraged by the state of the world. And despite decades of working on old trauma, I still get pulled into the darkness, battling unfriendly ghosts from my past.

In other words, I’m human.

But throughout the highs and lows of my 54 years, there’s one thing I’ve always known to be true: choices matter. Especially during hard times. Because, in the end, every decision plays a role in our well-being and the fate of this planet. Bitter or better. Hateful or grateful. Pissed or blissed. Chaos or kindness. Ultimately, it comes down to the head vs the heart. And by choosing the latter, we can discover the path to peace, thus empowering us to shift our lives from tragic to magic. 

I look forward to the day you and I will do this work together. And when we do, I promise this: whatever appears impossible to overcome in your life will again seem achievable. I only ask that you look at yourself compassionately from the heart’s point of view. If you do this, a whole new world of possibilities will open. Sometimes, we only need a fresh perspective and someone to remind us of our inherent worth and unlimited potential.

I hope to be that someone for you one day.

— Michael