Strength isn’t built in comfort; it’s forged when everything familiar is stripped away.
I sit down with Shirin Hejazi for a raw, honest conversation about what strength and self-discovery really mean. I reflect on solitary confinement, trauma, and the ongoing battle between ego and healing, and how suffering became the doorway to awakening.
Drawing inspiration from thinkers like Carl Jung and Eckhart Tolle, I share why learning to observe your thoughts, practice real gratitude, and reconnect mind and heart changed everything for me. From surviving prison to mentoring at-risk youth, I explain how walking through darkness led me to peace and a responsibility to help others find it too.
Tune in as we dive into:
(00:00) Leading with heart and mind
(04:13) Brotherhood through shared struggles
(06:55) Understanding yourself in solitude
(12:02) Shared healing through vulnerability
(14:36) Finding clarity through solitude
(17:51) Processing pain in solitude
(21:23) Fascinated by the human mind
(23:49) Ego, redemption, and destiny
(28:19) Closing thoughts and links to free resources
Links mentioned in this episode:
Shirin Hejazi’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shirinhejaziofficial
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlosvasquezofficial
Warrior in the Garden: 7 Rules for Men – Book PDF: https://carlosvasquez.systeme.io/warriorinthegarden
Download my Confidence Masterclass:
https://carlosvasquezofficial.thinkific.com/products/courses/building-confidence-masterclass
The PRICE Method: How I Turn Pain into Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXMRB613
Thank you to Legendary Foods and Youth Champions for their support of this podcast. For more information, visit:
Legendary Foods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legendaryfoods
Youth Champions Website: https://youth-champions.org
