Do you feel constant stress? Are you exhausted and suffering? According to our guest today, author and teacher Blake Bauer, you were NOT born to suffer. He has helped thousands of people find freedom through what he practices and teaches about self-love. Blake grew up in Chicago under very tough circumstances. His parents divorced and he was surrounded by abuse, drugs, and addiction. By the time he reached high school, he was a user of drugs and alcohol himself as a way to cope and numb his own pain. He was running away from his problems, and he admits he couldn’t ask for help. He had no healthy models around him, so he learned unhealthy coping mechanisms. He learned how to hurt himself through self-destructive tendencies in order to survive.   Finally, after a night of heavy partying, he realized he had to find a way to heal, or he would die. He had taken drugs and was drinking and found himself asleep in his car in front of a freight train. He admits that he had a big ego and being a teenager at the time, he thought he was invincible. When the police found him, he didn’t realize what was happening. He was arrested with a DUI and they found drugs in the car. At this time, he was a senior in high school and a superstar football player. He was the captain of his team and had multiple offers to play at colleges. The coach found out about his DUI and kicked him off the team. Blake’s identity and his world were crumbling. He lost his football friends and felt so ashamed of his behavior.  He was often suicidal. This pain was so strong, and he desperately sought out answers to find freedom from his suffering. He had no idea what to do. He began looking for answers as to how to heal. He asked himself, what is the purpose of it all? He was in so much trauma but took accountability for everything that was happening. He felt so sick inside. All he wanted to do was find relief. Slowly, with mental strength, he began to explore healthier options. He learned to eat healthy, take vitamins, do yoga, and meditate.  He did not go back to drugs and alcohol. He grew up around extreme addiction and saw how devastating it could be.  He realized he was following in the same pattern, and he knew he had to change. His healthy pride kicked in and he overrode his genetic and environmental influences. Blake talks about how he attended five different universities as a seeker. He sought out teachers and authors who could help him heal. Practices became a major part of his healing.  He could feel the power in yoga and meditation. He studied psychology as well as traditional Chinese Medicine, including acupuncture and energy healing. Blake also discusses how he is not a victim. He takes 100% responsibility for his actions. He started going to workshops and retreats to continue to find answers. He knew he had to heal, or he would die. When he was in his early 20s, he began teaching meditation in the back of a vitamin store where he was working. He could see that most forms of disease stem from not loving ourselves. We never learned how to do that as children. He linked how our thoughts and emotions can lead to disease or to healing. He was in so much pain when he was younger, but he knew it didn’t have to be that way. He decided to write a book and was rejected by more than 100 agents and publishers. He eventually self-published and it became a #1 self-help book in Australia where he was living. His international bestseller is “You Were Not Born to Suffer: Overcome Fear, Insecurity and Depression and Love Yourself Back to Happiness, Confidence and Peace.” So how can we live in a way to alleviate suffering? By learning to love ourselves! If you learn to love yourself, you’ll have access to everything you need inside. You can learn to value yourself and develop self-respect. Blake explains that you are either hurting yourself or helping yourself with your thoughts. He shares ways to take care of yourself and develop habits so you too can heal! Info: www.unconditional-selflove.com