#9: 'Find Something Every Single Day That You Can Look Forward To'

What do a Journey song, a counselor's question, a mother's unconditional love, and a sunflower turning toward the sun have to teach us about resilience, purpose, mental health, and hope?

In this episode, I talk with Kevin from Raleigh, North Carolina, about the experiences that shaped his life and calling — including being diagnosed with depression and an eating disorder at age 12, learning to "change the station" inside his mind, and discovering that our hardest chapters can sometimes become a way to help someone else.

Kevin shares the story of a counselor who used music to help him understand that just because a negative thought enters your mind does not mean you have to agree with it. On the drive home from that session, Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" came on the radio — a song that has stayed with him ever since as a reminder of hope, healing, and forward motion.

Along the way, Kevin reflects on the unconditional love of his mom, the professional counseling that helped save his life, the teacher who helped him believe he could write, the unexpected path that led him into motivational speaking, and the daily practices that help him keep choosing growth. He also speaks openly about adversity, purpose, parenthood, community, and the power of deciding who we want to become.

In this episode, we explore:

• The unconditional love Kevin received from his mother during a very difficult season
• How music helped him understand the power of changing his thoughts
• Why mental health conversations matter, especially for men and young people
• The role of counseling, community, and daily practices in healing
• How adversity can become a source of empathy and service
• Why purpose is often connected to the people and opportunities placed in our path
• The difference between hoping for change and deciding to change

Sincere thanks to Lee Williams for his fantastic production of this and every episode of Perennial Pen.

Reflection question:
What difficult experience in your life might one day help you encourage someone walking through something similar?

More about Kevin:

Dr. Kevin C. Snyder's website: https://kevincsnyder.com/

Kevin's books include Paid to Speak, available on Amazon, along with his other books on speaking, personal growth, and sharing your message.

Call to action:

If you or someone you know has a meaningful, life-affirming story to share on Perennial Pen, email me at nate@silvermaplestrategies.com. I respond to every message personally!