"All the past and all the future are present in this moment." — Blake D. Bauer   Blake D. Bauer is the author of the international best-seller You Were Not Born To Suffer. A speaker and teacher, he has studied a wide range of modalities, including psychology, nutrition, traditional Chinese medicine, and past life regression therapy-hypnosis. All that Blake has learned started as a quest when he was 18 to simply find a way to stop the pain he was experiencing. He found his calling in helping others find optimal mental, physical and emotional health.    When Blake was a senior in high school, he was co-captain of his football team. One night he'd partied a bit too hard and found himself with a DUI, ending his aspirations to play football in college. Blake withdrew from the world and woke up every morning wondering how to stop the suffering and pain. Eventually he found yoga and meditation, which he credits with saving his life.    Learning to meditate was only the beginning. Looking back, Blake realized he had to create a space of unconditional acceptance, of self-love and how this applies to all aspects of life. You can't really truly love another until you learn to love yourself, Blake says. Meditation, where you quiet the mind and simply observe your thoughts, is a space where you can learn this.    Blake also observes the lack of initiation rituals in our culture, pointing to his own experimentation with alcohol and drugs and getting arrested as a kind of unhealthy self-initiation. Blake grew up seeing people in his family, including his biological father, achieve success but lose it all because of substance abuse. When he realized he was following the same path, he became determined to make a different life for himself. While he's studied various fields relating to the health of the body and mind, he has found qi gong, a Chinese practice of movement, especially meaningful. Meditation continues to be the core practice he uses as well as teaches.    When Blake was 24, he started pitching his book idea to publishers. He was rejected 100 times. He eventually self-published his book, which was later bought by a publisher and has become an international best seller. While he's pleased with its success, the lesson he learned by all those rejections was showing him that he was still looking for validation from outside himself. It was deciding for himself his ideas had value that made the difference.    In this episode of Leading with Genuine Care, you’ll also learn: Blake's approach to meditation  The key to a healthy relationship  The two questions Blake asked himself every day when trying to relieve his suffering  The superpower Blake didn't know he had  How loving yourself is the basis of all healing    Connect With Blake D. Bauer    Websites Unconditional Self-Love   15 min meditation https://vimeo.com/768757355   Meditation intro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOUxF8l9csc   LinkedIn Blake D. Bauer on LinkedIn   Facebook Blake D. Bauer   Instagram Blake D. Bauer   Book You Were Not Born To Suffer   The 2024 Do Nothing Retreat is open for registration Join us from September 22-26 for The Do Nothing Leadership Retreat. The retreat offers business leaders, entrepreneurs, and those seeking a more mindful life the most rewarding challenge they may ever take — a leadership-focused mindfulness and meditation retreat. Discover why meditation and mindfulness practices can positively impact your life. After slowing down, unplugging, and looking within, you’ll understand why presence and awareness are the greatest gifts we can offer ourselves and others.       Get Rob’s Newsletter Never miss an inspiring conversation about compassionate, positive leadership on the Leading with Genuine Care podcast, plus other great articles and insights. https://robdube.com/contact   Fo