I’ve got an inspiring conversation with Michael Unbroken for this edition of the podcast. Michael is a coach and advocate for adult survivors of childhood trauma and, while his story can be hard to hear, he has turned his own journey around serving as a guiding light for others today. We talk about clarity being key to self-discovery and how to avoid growth derailers.

Dive In:

04:00 Hear Michael’s story of childhood trauma (he lived with 30 different families from years 8-12).

08:30 “No excuses, just results.” – Michael

09:30 Brandon explains the difference between resilience and will.

10:00 The double-sided coin of being stubborn. 

11:45 Michael shares how many childhood survivors of trauma suffer from a loss of identity. 

14:00 Where do we begin to discover our identity after trauma? 

15:00 “The thing that keeps you up at night is the very thing you need to do to change your life.” – Michael 

16:30 “You’ve only ever been setup to be terrified of being yourself.” Michael explains how survivors of childhood trauma learn how to adapt to each specific situation, altering their identity until they no longer know who they are.  

18:45 Where do we start to turn things around? Pick up a pen and start writing. “The number one thing you can do is get massive clarity about yourself.” – Michael 

20:30 “Without values, you’re in a car without a GPS on the road to nowhere.” – Michael 

23:30 Keep pushing forward! Attribute your identity to the effort, not to the success. 

25:00 What are common derailers and how do we overcome / avoid them? Michael says, “The difference is discipline.” 

26:45 “A confused mind will always fail.” – Michael 

29:00 Realize your goals change. Be comfortable with that. Ask: “Are you doing this for you?”

31:30 “The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your questions.” – Michael  

35:00 Michael’s Life Hack: “Massive clarity. You have to know what’s acceptable and not acceptable in your life.” 

Show Resources: