Hidden Prisons
New York Times bestselling author and resilience expert. Weekly newsletters to help everyone unlock their hidden prisons.
The Moment that Set the Tone for 2026
Hello, I am writing this newsletter from Bodrum, Turkey, where I’ll be a featured speaker for Harvest Series’ 10-year celebration. Being here on the Aegean Sea has me reflecting on the path that carried me from Detroit to global rooms I once didn’t even know existed. But that’s the power of being present. When you stay in alignment with big ideas, magic can truly happen. This year of imagination began back in my hometown Detroit, inside the newly renovated Michigan Central Station, at the...
Hidden Prisons: The Version of You Still Waiting
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” — Carl Jung PERSPECTIVE There are two versions of my dream. The first was born in solitary confinement, when I wrote my first book and imagined a life that, at the time, felt almost impossible to claim. That dream was fiction. It was always fiction. It was the dream of creating worlds out of nothing but language, memory, instinct, imagination, and nerve. It was the dream of writing stories so alive they could leap off the page and...
Hidden Prisons: The Poison That is Anger
"Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured." — Mark Twain PERSPECTIVE I know anger intimately. It was once my armor, my fuel, my defense against the world. But over time, I learned that holding onto anger doesn’t just burn others, it corrodes you from the inside out. It keeps you stuck, replaying old wounds and past betrayals, as if reliving them will change what happened. Twain’s words are a reminder that anger, when...
Hidden Prisons: Finding Your Anchor
"He who has a why to live can bear almost any how." — Friedrich Nietzsche PERSPECTIVE Purpose is the difference between surviving and living. When I was at my lowest—alone in a cell, drowning in regret—what pulled me through wasn’t just hope. It was having a reason to keep going. A vision beyond my current reality. Nietzsche’s words remind us that the hardships we face are bearable when we have a strong enough “why.” If you don’t know what you’re fighting for, every setback feels like a...
Hidden Prisons: Developing Strength Through Resistance
"Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one." — Bruce Lee PERSPECTIVE There was a time in my life when I wished things had been easier. Less pain, fewer struggles, a different path. But over time, I realized that the strength I built came from those very struggles. Comfort never made anyone grow. Challenges did. Bruce Lee’s words remind us that seeking ease won’t make us stronger—endurance will. Strength isn’t given; it’s developed through resistance,...
Hidden Prisons: Don't Forget About the First Stone
"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." — Confucius PERSPECTIVE Big change doesn’t happen all at once. It happens through small, consistent actions. I’ve seen people give up on their dreams, not because they weren’t possible, but because they expected instant results. They saw the mountain and forgot about the first stone. Confucius’ words remind us that every big transformation starts with small steps. The key to breaking free from any prison—mental, emotional,...
Hidden Prisons: Are Your Limits Real?
"There is no man living who isn’t capable of doing more than he thinks he can do." — Henry Ford PERSPECTIVE Most of the limits we believe in aren’t real. They’re mental barriers, built from past failures, self-doubt, and the fear of stepping beyond what feels comfortable. I’ve seen men in prison who thought they had nothing left—until they were forced to tap into a strength they didn’t know they had. Ford’s words remind us that our potential is rarely fully realized. We stop at what feels...
Hidden Prisons: What is Your “Why?"
"He who has a why to live can bear almost any how." — Friedrich Nietzsche PERSPECTIVE Purpose is the difference between surviving and living. When I was at my lowest—alone in a cell, drowning in regret—what pulled me through wasn’t just hope. It was having a reason to keep going. A vision beyond my current reality. Nietzsche’s words remind us that the hardships we face are bearable when we have a strong enough “why.” If you don’t know what you’re fighting for, every setback feels like a...
Hidden Prisons: What Feels Impossible Until You Start?
"It always seems impossible until it’s done." — Nelson Mandela PERSPECTIVE Every breakthrough in history was once considered impossible. Every major personal transformation — whether escaping the streets, rebuilding a life, or breaking generational cycles — looked out of reach at some point. I know because I’ve lived it. Mandela’s words remind us that the feeling of impossibility is often just the beginning of something great. The work isn’t to avoid doubt, it’s to keep moving anyway. The...
Hidden Prisons: What Mistake Can You Make Right Today?
An error doesn’t become a mistake until you refuse to correct it." — John F. Kennedy PERSPECTIVE Everyone makes mistakes. I’ve made some that nearly cost me my life. But the difference between failure and growth isn’t the mistake itself—it’s what we do after. Some people hold onto their failures like permanent scars, while others learn, adjust, and move forward. JFK’s words remind us that the real danger isn’t messing up—it’s refusing to make it right. Growth isn’t about being perfect; it’s...
New York Times bestselling author and resilience expert. Weekly newsletters to help everyone unlock their hidden prisons.