Whole Again: A Fresh Approach to Healing, Growth & Resilience After Physical Trauma Through Kintsugi Mindfulness

Michael OBrien
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Whole Again: A Fresh Approach to Healing, Growth & Resilience After Physical Trauma Through Kintsugi Mindfulness

What if I told you that healing from injury and trauma isn’t about returning to who you were? Whole Again: A Fresh Approach to Healing, Growth & Resilience after Physical Trauma Through Kintsugi Mindfulness gives you the support you need to heal, grow stronger, and embrace who you are becoming. Inspired by the Japanese art of “Golden Repair,” Kintsugi teaches us that even when life breaks us, we can rebuild—stronger, wiser, and more beautiful than before. Listen to discover how to: Overcome self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and perfectionism by shifting your mindset. Build emotional resilience and manage stress through mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding techniques. Cultivate self-love, gratitude, and confidence to support your healing and transformation. I’m Michael O’Brien—husband, Girl Dadx2, son, friend, animal lover, and survivor. After a near-death cycling accident—what I call My Last Bad Day—the metaphor of Kintsugi helped me see that I could be whole again. Today, as a coach, speaker, and meditation teacher, I offer a steady hand to support you on your healing journey and help you fully step into the person you are becoming. Join me every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for micro-episodes designed to help you embrace the Kintsugi spirit within you and truly feel Whole Again. Start your journey now with Episode 190, a fan-favorite on how Kintsugi can transform your healing process.

  1. 1D AGO

    #239 | Give Me Two Minutes...I'll Change How You See Your Trauma Recovery and Resilience

    What if just two minutes could completely shift how you experience your life—no matter what you’re going through? We all get “squeezed” by life—by trauma, pain, illness, or just everyday overwhelm. And what comes out in those moments reveals what’s within. In this short but powerful reflection, Michael challenges you to change your inner story and respond with gratitude, even when the outside is bruised. Takeaways: Explore a fresh way to look at your life through the lens of wonder and odds.Understand how your internal state shapes what you give to the world.Walk away with a clear, inspiring reminder to create ripples of joy—even in difficulty. Take a deep breathe and take 2 minutes to reconnect with the miracle of being here—and the power you have to choose what lives inside you. Discover how to scroll less and live more by taking my Free Smartphone Wellness Audit by clicking phone. Did you know that stickers are wonderful visual cues to help you create healthy habits? You can get one of my free Pause Breathe Reflect sticker by clicking sticker. To discover more and sign up for My RIPPLE EFFECT newsletter by clicking Ripple Effect. We can also connect on LinkedIn. or at Michael@PauseBreatheReflect.com Subscribe to be sure you don’t miss any of the micro-meditations, wellness tips, and guidance that I publish every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:11 am.  If you feel you need more mental health support, please contact NAMI.  With Whole Again: A Fresh Approach to Healing, Growth & Resilience after Physical Trauma through Kintsugi Mindfulness listeners explore resilience through personal stories of trauma, scars, and injury while learning to overcome PTSD, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and perfectionism with self-compassion, self-love, and self-worth. Through insightful discussions on stress management, mindfulness practices, and digital wellness, the show offers practical tools like breathwork, micro-dose meditation, grounding techniques, visualization, and daily affirmations for anxiety relief and stress relief. Inspired by the art of kintsugi, the podcast embraces healing as a process of transformation, encouraging a shift in perspective from worry and being overwhelmed to gratitude and personal growth. By exploring the mind-body connection, micro-dosing strategies for emotional well-being, and holistic approaches to self-care, this podcast empowers listeners to cultivate emotional resilience and live with greater balance and intention.

    2 min

  2. 3D AGO

    #238 | How Gratitude Can Help You Stay Resilient During Your Trauma Recovery

    Can gratitude really make a difference when you’re hurting—or is it just feel-good fluff? In this episode, Michael shares how gratitude—once dismissed as "too soft"—became the foundation of his recovery journey after trauma. Whether you're struggling to find hope or just overwhelmed by everything that feels broken, this mindset shift can help you see what’s still good, still true, and still yours. Takeaways: Discover how gratitude interrupts survival mode and opens the door to healing.Learn why gratitude isn’t about ignoring pain—but sitting beside it.Explore how to practice gratitude without journals, apps, or pressure—just presence. Take a deep breath and learn how the simple act of noticing what’s still standing can move you one step closer to feeling whole again. Discover how to scroll less and live more by taking my Free Smartphone Wellness Audit by clicking phone. Did you know that stickers are wonderful visual cues to help you create healthy habits? You can get one of my free Pause Breathe Reflect sticker by clicking sticker. To discover more and sign up for My RIPPLE EFFECT newsletter by clicking Ripple Effect. We can also connect on LinkedIn. or at Michael@PauseBreatheReflect.com Subscribe to be sure you don’t miss any of the micro-meditations, wellness tips, and guidance that I publish every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:11 am.  If you feel you need more mental health support, please contact NAMI.  With Whole Again: A Fresh Approach to Healing, Growth & Resilience after Physical Trauma through Kintsugi Mindfulness listeners explore resilience through personal stories of trauma, scars, and injury while learning to overcome PTSD, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and perfectionism with self-compassion, self-love, and self-worth. Through insightful discussions on stress management, mindfulness practices, and digital wellness, the show offers practical tools like breathwork, micro-dose meditation, grounding techniques, visualization, and daily affirmations for anxiety relief and stress relief. Inspired by the art of kintsugi, the podcast embraces healing as a process of transformation, encouraging a shift in perspective from worry and being overwhelmed to gratitude and personal growth. By exploring the mind-body connection, micro-dosing strategies for emotional well-being, and holistic approaches to self-care, this podcast empowers listeners to cultivate emotional resilience and live with greater balance and intention.

    7 min

  3. 5D AGO

    #237 | Make Asking for Help during Trauma Recovery Feel Like Strength and Resilience Through a Microdose Meditation

    What if the strength you need right now isn’t in pushing harder—but in softening into support? Many survivors carry silent guilt or shame when it's time to ask for help—believing they’re a burden or not worthy of care. This guided meditation is designed to gently shift that internal narrative and remind you that support is not weakness—it’s connection. Takeaway: Experience a calming microdose meditation that helps you release guilt around asking for help.Anchor into affirmations of worthiness, resilience, and self-compassion.Walk away feeling grounded, supported, and empowered to reach out without apology. Breathe deeply and reconnect with your inner strength—press play now and let yourself be reminded: you don’t have to carry it all alone. Discover how to scroll less and live more by taking my Free Smartphone Wellness Audit by clicking phone. Did you know that stickers are wonderful visual cues to help you create healthy habits? You can get one of my free Pause Breathe Reflect sticker by clicking sticker. To discover more and sign up for My RIPPLE EFFECT newsletter by clicking Ripple Effect. We can also connect on LinkedIn. or at Michael@PauseBreatheReflect.com Subscribe to be sure you don’t miss any of the micro-meditations, wellness tips, and guidance that I publish every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:11 am.  If you feel you need more mental health support, please contact NAMI.  With Whole Again: A Fresh Approach to Healing, Growth & Resilience after Physical Trauma through Kintsugi Mindfulness listeners explore resilience through personal stories of trauma, scars, and injury while learning to overcome PTSD, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and perfectionism with self-compassion, self-love, and self-worth. Through insightful discussions on stress management, mindfulness practices, and digital wellness, the show offers practical tools like breathwork, micro-dose meditation, grounding techniques, visualization, and daily affirmations for anxiety relief and stress relief. Inspired by the art of kintsugi, the podcast embraces healing as a process of transformation, encouraging a shift in perspective from worry and being overwhelmed to gratitude and personal growth. By exploring the mind-body connection, micro-dosing strategies for emotional well-being, and holistic approaches to self-care, this podcast empowers listeners to cultivate emotional resilience and live with greater balance and intention.

    4 min

  4. JUN 27

    #236 | What If Asking for Help Was the Bravest Thing You Could Do? Healing Mindfully from Trauma and Building Resilience

    What if the strongest move you could make during recovery wasn’t pushing harder—but asking for help? We’ve all been conditioned to see self-sufficiency as strength—especially during recovery from injury, illness, or trauma. But this outdated belief often isolates us and delays healing. In today’s episode, Michael shares a powerful mindset shift that redefines what it means to be strong. Takeaways: Discover why asking for help is not weakness—it’s one of the most courageous actions you can take.Learn how reframing your internal dialogue can speed up your emotional and physical healing.Get a simple practice to identify where you need support—and how to ask for it in a way that feels empowering. Take a deep breathe and unlock the mindset shift that could change how you heal—and how you see yourself—in just a few minutes. Discover how to scroll less and live more by taking my Free Smartphone Wellness Audit by clicking phone. Did you know that stickers are wonderful visual cues to help you create healthy habits? You can get one of my free Pause Breathe Reflect sticker by clicking sticker. To discover more and sign up for My RIPPLE EFFECT newsletter by clicking Ripple Effect. We can also connect on LinkedIn. or at Michael@PauseBreatheReflect.com Subscribe to be sure you don’t miss any of the micro-meditations, wellness tips, and guidance that I publish every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:11 am.  If you feel you need more mental health support, please contact NAMI.  With Whole Again: A Fresh Approach to Healing, Growth & Resilience after Physical Trauma through Kintsugi Mindfulness listeners explore resilience through personal stories of trauma, scars, and injury while learning to overcome PTSD, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and perfectionism with self-compassion, self-love, and self-worth. Through insightful discussions on stress management, mindfulness practices, and digital wellness, the show offers practical tools like breathwork, micro-dose meditation, grounding techniques, visualization, and daily affirmations for anxiety relief and stress relief. Inspired by the art of kintsugi, the podcast embraces healing as a process of transformation, encouraging a shift in perspective from worry and being overwhelmed to gratitude and personal growth. By exploring the mind-body connection, micro-dosing strategies for emotional well-being, and holistic approaches to self-care, this podcast empowers listeners to cultivate emotional resilience and live with greater balance and intention.

    8 min

  5. JUN 25

    #235 | Think Asking for Help Is Weak? Here’s Why That Belief Is Holding Back Your Resilience and Trauma Recovery

    What if one of the bravest things you could do in your recovery isn’t fighting alone—but simply asking for help? Many survivors of injury or trauma feel ashamed or hesitant to ask for support, believing it’s a burden or a sign of weakness. In this powerful episode, Michael challenges that harmful narrative and offers a compassionate roadmap for shifting how we view and receive help. Takeaways: Discover the mindset shift that transforms asking for help into a courageous act of connection.Learn practical tips to ask for support clearly and confidently—from your closest inner circle.Understand why accepting help can be a gift not just to you, but to the person offering it. Take a deep breath in and unlock a new, empowering perspective on support that can accelerate your healing and make your recovery journey less isolating. Discover how to scroll less and live more by taking my Free Smartphone Wellness Audit by clicking phone. Did you know that stickers are wonderful visual cues to help you create healthy habits? You can get one of my free Pause Breathe Reflect sticker by clicking sticker. To discover more and sign up for My RIPPLE EFFECT newsletter by clicking Ripple Effect. We can also connect on LinkedIn. or at Michael@PauseBreatheReflect.com Subscribe to be sure you don’t miss any of the micro-meditations, wellness tips, and guidance that I publish every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:11 am.  If you feel you need more mental health support, please contact NAMI.  With Whole Again: A Fresh Approach to Healing, Growth & Resilience after Physical Trauma through Kintsugi Mindfulness listeners explore resilience through personal stories of trauma, scars, and injury while learning to overcome PTSD, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and perfectionism with self-compassion, self-love, and self-worth. Through insightful discussions on stress management, mindfulness practices, and digital wellness, the show offers practical tools like breathwork, micro-dose meditation, grounding techniques, visualization, and daily affirmations for anxiety relief and stress relief. Inspired by the art of kintsugi, the podcast embraces healing as a process of transformation, encouraging a shift in perspective from worry and being overwhelmed to gratitude and personal growth. By exploring the mind-body connection, micro-dosing strategies for emotional well-being, and holistic approaches to self-care, this podcast empowers listeners to cultivate emotional resilience and live with greater balance and intention.

    15 min

  6. JUN 23

    #234 | A Microdose Meditation to Help Stay Hopeful and Resilient

    Does hope feel out of reach right now? This mircodose meditation will help you reconnect with it—gently and powerfully. When you're going through recovery or navigating trauma, hope can feel like something you’ve lost—or something you have to chase. But what if it’s already within you, just waiting to be noticed? In this guided microdose, Michael invites you to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with the quiet strength that’s always been there. Takeaways: Experience a calming meditation to help your nervous system feel safe and supportedReconnect with the idea that you are already enough, just as you areCultivate a steady sense of hope—without needing to “do” anything more Take a deep breath and experience a moment of calm and remember: hope was never gone—it’s always been within you. Discover how to scroll less and live more by taking my Free Smartphone Wellness Audit by clicking phone. Did you know that stickers are wonderful visual cues to help you create healthy habits? You can get one of my free Pause Breathe Reflect sticker by clicking sticker. To discover more and sign up for My RIPPLE EFFECT newsletter by clicking Ripple Effect. We can also connect on LinkedIn. or at Michael@PauseBreatheReflect.com Subscribe to be sure you don’t miss any of the micro-meditations, wellness tips, and guidance that I publish every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:11 am.  If you feel you need more mental health support, please contact NAMI.  With Whole Again: A Fresh Approach to Healing, Growth & Resilience after Physical Trauma through Kintsugi Mindfulness listeners explore resilience through personal stories of trauma, scars, and injury while learning to overcome PTSD, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and perfectionism with self-compassion, self-love, and self-worth. Through insightful discussions on stress management, mindfulness practices, and digital wellness, the show offers practical tools like breathwork, micro-dose meditation, grounding techniques, visualization, and daily affirmations for anxiety relief and stress relief. Inspired by the art of kintsugi, the podcast embraces healing as a process of transformation, encouraging a shift in perspective from worry and being overwhelmed to gratitude and personal growth. By exploring the mind-body connection, micro-dosing strategies for emotional well-being, and holistic approaches to self-care, this podcast empowers listeners to cultivate emotional resilience and live with greater balance and intention.

    5 min

  7. JUN 21

    #233 | The Tiny Mindset Shift That Restores Hope and Resilience During a Medical Crisis

    Feel like you're always bracing for the next bad thing? Here's one powerful mental shift that can bring hope back into your healing journey. As survivors, it's easy to fall into patterns of worst-case thinking—especially when we or someone we love is struggling. In this episode, Michael shares a simple but powerful mindset reframe he recently used with a loved one recovering from surgery. It shifted the emotional energy in the moment—and it can do the same for you. Takeaways: Learn the biology behind why we default to catastrophizing—and how to interrupt the cycleDiscover a single question that can restore emotional energy and invite possibility into your dayExplore how to use this prompt during moments of fear or fatigue to build more mental resilience Take deep breath and discover how this mindset shift can help you reconnect with hope—right when you need it most. Discover how to scroll less and live more by taking my Free Smartphone Wellness Audit by clicking phone. Did you know that stickers are wonderful visual cues to help you create healthy habits? You can get one of my free Pause Breathe Reflect sticker by clicking sticker. To discover more and sign up for My RIPPLE EFFECT newsletter by clicking Ripple Effect. We can also connect on LinkedIn. or at Michael@PauseBreatheReflect.com Subscribe to be sure you don’t miss any of the micro-meditations, wellness tips, and guidance that I publish every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:11 am.  If you feel you need more mental health support, please contact NAMI.  With Whole Again: A Fresh Approach to Healing, Growth & Resilience after Physical Trauma through Kintsugi Mindfulness listeners explore resilience through personal stories of trauma, scars, and injury while learning to overcome PTSD, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and perfectionism with self-compassion, self-love, and self-worth. Through insightful discussions on stress management, mindfulness practices, and digital wellness, the show offers practical tools like breathwork, micro-dose meditation, grounding techniques, visualization, and daily affirmations for anxiety relief and stress relief. Inspired by the art of kintsugi, the podcast embraces healing as a process of transformation, encouraging a shift in perspective from worry and being overwhelmed to gratitude and personal growth. By exploring the mind-body connection, micro-dosing strategies for emotional well-being, and holistic approaches to self-care, this podcast empowers listeners to cultivate emotional resilience and live with greater balance and intention.

    6 min

  8. JUN 18

    #232 | How To Stay Hopeful, Mindful and Resilient During Physical Recovery

    Feeling hopeless, exhausted, or stuck in your recovery? What if hope wasn’t something you feel—but something you practice? In this powerful episode of Whole Again, Michael shares a raw personal moment and unpacks three truths about hope—ones that can gently shift how you show up for your healing, even on the hardest days. Drawing from the insights of happiness researcher Arthur Brooks, this episode offers a clear path to reframe hope from passive positivity into something you can actually do. Takeaways: Learn how to anchor meaning into suffering without spiritual bypassingDiscover why agency—not blind optimism—is the true foundation of hopeExplore simple, daily actions that restore your emotional strength and remind you: you’re not alone Take a deep breath and discover how to build real hope into your recovery—one intentional step at a time. Discover how to scroll less and live more by taking my Free Smartphone Wellness Audit by clicking phone. Did you know that stickers are wonderful visual cues to help you create healthy habits? You can get one of my free Pause Breathe Reflect sticker by clicking sticker. To discover more and sign up for My RIPPLE EFFECT newsletter by clicking Ripple Effect. We can also connect on LinkedIn. or at Michael@PauseBreatheReflect.com Subscribe to be sure you don’t miss any of the micro-meditations, wellness tips, and guidance that I publish every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:11 am.  If you feel you need more mental health support, please contact NAMI.  With Whole Again: A Fresh Approach to Healing, Growth & Resilience after Physical Trauma through Kintsugi Mindfulness listeners explore resilience through personal stories of trauma, scars, and injury while learning to overcome PTSD, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and perfectionism with self-compassion, self-love, and self-worth. Through insightful discussions on stress management, mindfulness practices, and digital wellness, the show offers practical tools like breathwork, micro-dose meditation, grounding techniques, visualization, and daily affirmations for anxiety relief and stress relief. Inspired by the art of kintsugi, the podcast embraces healing as a process of transformation, encouraging a shift in perspective from worry and being overwhelmed to gratitude and personal growth. By exploring the mind-body connection, micro-dosing strategies for emotional well-being, and holistic approaches to self-care, this podcast empowers listeners to cultivate emotional resilience and live with greater balance and intention.

    14 min
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About

What if I told you that healing from injury and trauma isn’t about returning to who you were? Whole Again: A Fresh Approach to Healing, Growth & Resilience after Physical Trauma Through Kintsugi Mindfulness gives you the support you need to heal, grow stronger, and embrace who you are becoming. Inspired by the Japanese art of “Golden Repair,” Kintsugi teaches us that even when life breaks us, we can rebuild—stronger, wiser, and more beautiful than before. Listen to discover how to: Overcome self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and perfectionism by shifting your mindset. Build emotional resilience and manage stress through mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding techniques. Cultivate self-love, gratitude, and confidence to support your healing and transformation. I’m Michael O’Brien—husband, Girl Dadx2, son, friend, animal lover, and survivor. After a near-death cycling accident—what I call My Last Bad Day—the metaphor of Kintsugi helped me see that I could be whole again. Today, as a coach, speaker, and meditation teacher, I offer a steady hand to support you on your healing journey and help you fully step into the person you are becoming. Join me every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for micro-episodes designed to help you embrace the Kintsugi spirit within you and truly feel Whole Again. Start your journey now with Episode 190, a fan-favorite on how Kintsugi can transform your healing process.

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