In this episode of Raising Yourself Up, host Ben Povlow makes a major announcement about his upcoming spiritual memoir and self-help guide, Waking Up in Handcuffs: Drugs. Alcohol. Trouble. Repeat.

Ben shares the candid story of how this raw project first materialized during a meditation four years ago amid his "Dark Night of the Soul," and how a recent meditation brought a sudden clarity on how to complete it. Merging original voice recordings with present-day reflections and insights from Human Design and the Gene Keys, Ben explores the reality of navigating core wounds, substance abuse, and personal transformation. He also provides updates on his publishing schedule, his podcast roadmap going forward, and his commitment to radical transparency on the path to healing.

Key Takeaways:

• New Book Announcement: An inside look at the origin, structure, and upcoming release of Waking Up in Handcuffs.
• Embracing Core Wounds: How childhood trauma and life struggles connect to addiction, and how facing your truth transforms your life’s purpose.
• Navigating the Dark Night: Reflections on St. John of the Cross, the "passive night," and staying open to divine guidance during periods of isolation and change.
• Podcast Roadmap: What to expect from upcoming episodes, including a chapter-by-chapter deep dive into You Must Be Present to Win.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and follow Ben’s Amazon Author Page to receive alerts for upcoming book releases!

Host Ben Povlow recently released a new book titled, You Must Be Present to Win: A Guide to Spiritual Awakening and Personal Growth. It's available in eBook and paperback on Amazon and other online retailers. 

Click HERE to view the book details. 

Support the show

Thank you for tuning in. I hope you can take some of my knowledge and experience and apply it to your life.

Ben Povlow
www.theselfhelpcompany.com

In this episode, author and certified life coach Ben Povlow introduces his newly released book, You Must Be Present to Win, and sets the stage for a series of deep-dive podcast episodes based on its content. The episode centers on the concept of presence, spiritual growth, finding your true purpose, and learning to listen to your inner guidance.

Key Takeaways

• The Concept of Presence & Quiet Mind: Povlow explains that "presence" involves slowing down and stepping away from modern distractions like social media, TV, and phones. By cultivating quiet time, you create space to notice synchronicities, recurring ideas, and intuitive "God winks" or whispers guiding you toward your life's purpose.
• Meditation & Breathwork: Meditation is presented as a vital tool for direct communion with your creator or source. Start small—5 to 10 minutes a day—and use breathwork as a focal point to quiet racing thoughts and stay grounded in the present.
• The "Human Pendulum" Technique: Povlow introduces a physical intuition exercise called the human pendulum: standing relaxed and asking direct questions out loud to tune into your body's subtle directional leans (typically leaning forward for "yes" and backward for "no").
• Mindset & Manifestation: Your thoughts and spoken words shape your reality. Povlow advises focusing exclusively on what you do want rather than dwelling on negative outcomes, and limiting exposure to outside negativity to ease anxiety.
• Mind, Body, & Spiritual Discipline: True personal growth requires taking care of yourself through proper diet, exercise, and reducing harmful habits (like excessive alcohol or drugs). Taking care of your physical body directly influences your mental and emotional state.
• Looking Ahead: This introductory discussion lays the groundwork for the next dozen podcast episodes, which will break down specific chapters of the book, beginning with Chapter 1: "Flow, Resistance, and the Call to Purpose."

Host Ben Povlow recently released a new book titled, You Must Be Present to Win: A Guide to Spiritual Awakening and Personal Growth. It's available in eBook and paperback on Amazon and other online retailers. 

Click HERE to view the book details. 

Support the show

Thank you for tuning in. I hope you can take some of my knowledge and experience and apply it to your life.

Ben Povlow
www.theselfhelpcompany.com

A candle, a blank page, and a promise to go first—that’s how this chapter begins. Author Ben Podcast shares the unpolished reality of writing a spiritual self-help book by hand at dawn, then reading those raw pages aloud to transform them into a living draft. No edits, no hiding, just a simple ritual that trades perfection for momentum and turns a notebook into a book titled, “Punched By An Angel.”

Ben walks through the full process—meditation with chakra stones, automatic writing, recording, transcription, and light cleanup—so you can see how ideas move from thought to the pages of a manuscript. Along the way, Ben talks about the creative reset that happens when you limit toxic inputs and curate a cleaner media diet. He explains why stepping away from social feeds brought him back to books, focus, and steadier emotions, and how protecting your attention is the most practical form of spiritual hygiene.

From there, Ben gets practical about the body as a vessel: flexibility, hydration, healthy food, and rest as non-negotiables for clear thinking and durable creativity. Ben discusses the shift from brute strength to softness and why feeling well expands your reach. Learn how to turn choices into visible results—plus simple tools like gratitude and affirmations to redirect the mind when it drifts toward fear or scarcity. 

If you’re a creative or a spiritual seeker who’s been stuck, consider this a permission slip: start before you feel ready, choose better inputs, and let practice carry you. 

Subscribe to this show to be notified of new episodes as they are released. Please share this episode with someone who needs a nudge to begin.

What’s one input you’ll change today?

Host Ben Povlow recently released a new book titled, You Must Be Present to Win: A Guide to Spiritual Awakening and Personal Growth. It's available in eBook and paperback on Amazon and other online retailers. 

Click HERE to view the book details. 

Support the show

Thank you for tuning in. I hope you can take some of my knowledge and experience and apply it to your life.

Ben Povlow
www.theselfhelpcompany.com

A quiet hour changed everything. Waking at 3:54 a.m., Ben Povlow kept a promise to sit with stones, breathe, and write longhand—no editing, no second-guessing—guided by Wayne Dyer’s late-night wisdom and a nudge toward automatic writing. What came through is a fiercely honest meditation on surrender, purpose, and the strange way suffering can send us into service. Ben reads those raw pages aloud and unpacks the choices behind them: stay awake when called, follow the current instead of fighting it, and let the next 50 feet of road be enough light to move forward.

You’ll hear a contrast that clarifies the stakes: a night on a jail-cell floor versus a bed in a home once thought unreachable. Gratitude fuels a broader shift from living for self to living for others, with practical anchors like minimalism, simplicity, and attention to the inner life. Ben talks about choosing a path with resistance, separating from the herd, and listening for the quiet yes that returns when the world is still. The language is direct and grounded: trust the process, release the need to explain, stop chasing validation from people not equipped to read your soul, and build a daily practice that keeps you honest.

If you’re drawn to spirituality, creativity, or mindful productivity, this story offers usable ideas: meditate to reduce noise, write before sunrise, develop intuition, and let service set your priorities. We hold to a simple framework—see a little, step a little—and invite you to test it tomorrow morning. If this conversation stirs something in you, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review with one takeaway you’ll act on before sunrise.

For more information about Ben Povlow and his books, you can visit https://theselfhelpcompany.com/bensbook/

Host Ben Povlow recently released a new book titled, You Must Be Present to Win: A Guide to Spiritual Awakening and Personal Growth. It's available in eBook and paperback on Amazon and other online retailers. 

Click HERE to view the book details. 

Support the show

Thank you for tuning in. I hope you can take some of my knowledge and experience and apply it to your life.

Ben Povlow
www.theselfhelpcompany.com

We turn a raw, one-take recording into a blueprint for a new self-help book, tracing a spiritual shift sparked by Reiki, Wayne Dyer’s teachings, and a restless need to write with fewer filters. We share how to get clear on what you want, cut noise, and trust your inner signals.

• dictation-first writing, cycling back, fast transcription
• clarity over resolutions and choosing what to quit
• quitting alcohol as a lever for health and focus
• Wayne Dyer’s The Shift, dharma and midlife transitions
• seven-year life cycles and intuitive guidance
• 30-day mental fast to reclaim attention
• meditation anywhere and minimalist boundaries
• algorithmic addiction, comparison and authenticity
• Europe on a shoestring, loss and self-reliance
• doing the work for purpose, not for money

Leave a review if the show helped you, and go back to our earlier episodes while we build the book

Host Ben Povlow recently released a new book titled, You Must Be Present to Win: A Guide to Spiritual Awakening and Personal Growth. It's available in eBook and paperback on Amazon and other online retailers. 

Click HERE to view the book details. 

Support the show

Thank you for tuning in. I hope you can take some of my knowledge and experience and apply it to your life.

Ben Povlow
www.theselfhelpcompany.com

Host Ben Povlow recently released a new book titled, You Must Be Present to Win: A Guide to Spiritual Awakening and Personal Growth. It's available in eBook and paperback on Amazon and other online retailers. 

Click HERE to view the book details. 

Support the show

Thank you for tuning in. I hope you can take some of my knowledge and experience and apply it to your life.

Ben Povlow
www.theselfhelpcompany.com

Self-help author Ben Povlow shares a practical 30-day mental fast to cut toxic inputs, set boundaries, and create space for focused growth. By replacing news cycles and drama with books, podcasts, and quiet, Ben details how to shift your mood, build habits, and reclaim time for real goals and success.

• defining a mental fast and why 30 days matters
• how inputs shape mood, focus, and habits
• social media and news detox strategies
• replacing negatives with books, podcasts, and audiobooks
• using saved time for skills, credit building, and health
• setting boundaries with drama-heavy people
• daily check-ins to spot triggers and track energy
• committing to small swaps that compound over time

Learn more about Ben and his books at https://theselfhelpcompany.com

Host Ben Povlow recently released a new book titled, You Must Be Present to Win: A Guide to Spiritual Awakening and Personal Growth. It's available in eBook and paperback on Amazon and other online retailers. 

Click HERE to view the book details. 

Support the show

Thank you for tuning in. I hope you can take some of my knowledge and experience and apply it to your life.

Ben Povlow
www.theselfhelpcompany.com

Looking for a reset that actually sticks? Self-help author Ben Povlow opens up about losing 22 pounds at 48 by cutting liquid calories, reading labels, and building a simple routine that survived weekends and setbacks. No crash diets, no punishing programs—just honest adjustments that compounded into visible results and less daily pain.

We start with the messy middle: the cycle of weekday progress erased by beer and late-night ice cream. The shift came from one decisive weekend of saying no and keeping the workouts going. From there, Ben walks through dropping sugar and even “healthy” sweeteners, swapping fast food for cleaner meals, and choosing ingredients with short, readable labels. Managing acid reflux became a practical filter for greasy and fried foods, and once the heartburn eased, energy returned and weight moved.

Motivation had real anchors. A simple fact—each pound lost can take roughly four pounds of pressure off your knees—made every choice feel worthwhile. A Survivor audition added a spark to train for strength and endurance, even with limited time and a modest gym. Ben details how he started with 20-minute sessions on a treadmill and light weights, then gradually scaled to three longer workouts a week with walking on off days. Recovery mattered, so the plan focused on repeatability over perfection.

We also unpack the nutrition side without dogma: using a tracker to learn macros, reintroducing healthy fats like avocado and yogurt, avoiding starvation tactics, and experimenting with small supplements. When the scale stalled, he changed one lever at a time—protein intake, steps, sleep, or weekend habits. The result is a sustainable loop where early wins make discipline easier, cravings shrink, and identity shifts from “trying” to “consistent.”

If you’re ready to trade extremes for momentum, start with one cut—beer, soda, or late-night sweets—and pair it with 20 minutes of movement, three times a week. Subscribe for more practical guides, share this with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review to tell us the first habit you’ll change.

Learn more about Ben and his books at https://theselfhelpcompany.com

Host Ben Povlow recently released a new book titled, You Must Be Present to Win: A Guide to Spiritual Awakening and Personal Growth. It's available in eBook and paperback on Amazon and other online retailers. 

Click HERE to view the book details. 

Support the show

Thank you for tuning in. I hope you can take some of my knowledge and experience and apply it to your life.

Ben Povlow
www.theselfhelpcompany.com

Author Ben Povlow returns after a long break with a wider mission: practical self-help for every age built on lived experience, not scripts. Health, money, goals, sobriety, travel, and spiritual growth come together to help you stop outsourcing happiness and start building it inside. Here is what you can expect from this show in 2026.

• expanding the audience beyond teens to all adults
• unscripted format rooted in personal experience
• sustainable weight loss and daily health habits
• simple money wins and values-based spending
• clarity on goals and removing friction
• addiction, sobriety, and authentic self
• spiritual growth, intuition, and faith
• self-care for body and mind through better inputs
• travel as a confidence and perspective builder
• radical honesty, less judgment, more uplift
• new self-help book in progress aligned to themes

Subscribe so you can be alerted when new episodes are released.

Learn more about Ben Povlow and his books at https://theselfhelpcompany.com/

Host Ben Povlow recently released a new book titled, You Must Be Present to Win: A Guide to Spiritual Awakening and Personal Growth. It's available in eBook and paperback on Amazon and other online retailers. 

Click HERE to view the book details. 

Support the show

Thank you for tuning in. I hope you can take some of my knowledge and experience and apply it to your life.

Ben Povlow
www.theselfhelpcompany.com

Our circumstances consist of 3 phases, where we have been, where we are now, and where we are going. We can't change our past, but we can change our future. In this episode, certified professional life coach Ben Povlow breaks it down in a quick and easy way to understand how to get results fast.

As a special thank you for checking out this show, The Self-Help Company wants to give you a free self-improvement ebook every week. Join the FREE ebook of the week club today by going to www.theselfhelpcompany.com

Host Ben Povlow recently released a new book titled, You Must Be Present to Win: A Guide to Spiritual Awakening and Personal Growth. It's available in eBook and paperback on Amazon and other online retailers. 

Click HERE to view the book details. 

Support the show

Thank you for tuning in. I hope you can take some of my knowledge and experience and apply it to your life.

Ben Povlow
www.theselfhelpcompany.com