Have you ever felt lost in your own skin, or like a puzzle piece that doesn't fit? Feel the weight lift as you join us in a poignant conversation with Michael Mammina, a master life coach who has navigated his way through these feelings and has emerged as a beacon of inspiration. In this episode, he candidly shares his personal journey of coming to terms with his sexuality, encountering severe bullying, and grappling with the feeling of being an outsider. Despite his outward success, Michael felt an internal void until he discovered the concept of the 'shadow' and its profound impact on our lives.

Our discussion is not merely a narration of Michael's journey but resonates with every individual who has felt different, out-of-place, or trapped by their own fears. We delve deep into the impact of shame on the LGBTQ community, the stages of coming out, with a special focus on the 'avoidance stage' and 'overcompensation stage'. At the heart of our conversation is the importance of self-love in leading an authentic life and the influential role of support in weathering life's storms.

Throughout our exploration, Michael imparts practical advice and tools for self-acceptance, personal growth, and creating safe spaces for those coming out. This episode will serve as a gentle reminder that it's never too late and there's never a wrong time to seek help, learn to love ourselves, and live our best lives. So, buckle up for an inspiring journey into self-discovery, acceptance, and transformation, and remember to soak up each moment, seek support, and just breathe.

Resources Mentioned

The Dark Side of the Light Chasers By Debbie Ford

The Velvet Rage by Alan Downs PhD

About our Guest:

Michael Mammina is a Master Life Coach with multiple certifications and global professional experience, whose passion is to create the space for successful people to increase their self-worth and net worth while achieving their desires. Self-worth is a dynamic of emotional and mental health that is often sadly neglected. Unless you truly value yourself, you won't have the motivation to exercise, get enough sleep, eat healthfully, and care for yourself. Michael helps people uncover and own their inherent self-worth while holding them accountable to take action, and co-creates the safety to reach inside and see what is holding them back from their dreams.

Discover that you are truly perfect, whole, and able - exactly as you are with no limits.

https://michaelmammina.com/

Get your Free eBook to help listeners learn 5 simple steps to get them toward the life they desire. Methods to break through the obstacales that are holding them back at https://michaelmammina.com/5steps/

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

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At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ+ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and foster courageous, compassionate connection.

If you’re in the thick of parenting, allyship, or pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heart-warming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.

Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in—I see you. And I’m so glad you’re part of this journey.

Takeaways:

• The journey of self-acceptance often begins with recognizing and addressing our inner shame.
• Finding a safe harbor and supportive community is vital for LGBTQ youth coming out.
• The process of discovering one's identity can be filled with deep internal struggles.
• Embracing vulnerability allows individuals to connect more authentically with themselves and others.
• First loving oneself is essential to living authentically and supporting others in their journeys.
• Shame can be a powerful motivator that drives behaviors, often leading to overcompensation.

Links referenced in this episode:

• michaelmamina.com
• chrysalismama.com

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive space where a mom and mental health advocate offers guidance on parenting with empathy, inclusion, love, and open-minded allyship, fostering growth, healing, connection, and empowerment within the LGBTQ community while addressing grief, boundaries, education, diversity, human rights, social justice, and the power of human kindness through a lens of ally support and community engagement.

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