What if rebuilding your identity after trauma isn’t about going back—but about stepping into who you are meant to become?

Healing isn’t just about recovery—it’s about transformation. In this episode of Whole Again (formerly The Kintsugi Podcast), Michael shares why embracing change is essential to reclaiming your strength. He also reveals three powerful lessons to help you release the past, navigate uncertainty, and step fully into your new identity.

• Learn why letting go of who you were is the key to moving forward.
• Discover how vulnerability can guide you to a stronger, more authentic self.
• Understand how small, unseen moments shape your identity more than big breakthroughs.

Take a deep breath and press play—this episode will help you embrace your journey and step into who you are becoming.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:48 Thank You and Acknowledgements

01:30 Podcast Rebranding Explanation

02:02 The Concept of Kintsugi

05:20 Three Lessons for Identity Transformation

05:36 Lesson 1: Letting Go of the Past

09:19 Lesson 2: Embracing Vulnerability

12:54 Lesson 3: Small Steps to a New Identity

14:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

If this episode sparked something within you, please download it and share it with a friend.

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, silver, or lacquer, highlighting the cracks rather than hiding them. It embodies the philosophy of wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in imperfection and teaches that breakage and repair are part of an object’s history, making it more valuable rather than less. Metaphorically, Kintsugi reminds us that our challenges, scars, and setbacks are not something to be ashamed of but can be embraced as a source of strength and transformation.

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.

Subscribe to be sure you don’t miss any of the microdose 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. This is a good place to start. If you have a question or comment, please reach out to Michael@PauseBreatheReflect.com.

With Whole Again: A Fresh Approach to Healing, Growth & Resilience after Physical Trauma through Kintsugi Wisdom, listeners explore resilience through personal stories of trauma, scars, and injury while learning to overcome 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, microdose meditation, grounding techniques, visualization, and daily affirmations for anxiety relief and stress relief. Inspired by the art of...

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 Wisdom 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 193, a fan-favorite on how Kintsugi can transform your healing process

Feeling overwhelmed or stuck in pain? What if a simple meditation could help you find peace and resilience?

Healing isn’t just about the physical—it’s about emotional and mental recovery, too. In this special Micro-Meditation episode, Michael shares a short yet powerful practice based on the serenity prayer. This guided meditation will help you embrace mindfulness, release stress, and find strength in the present moment.

• Experience a calming micro-meditation to support your healing journey.
• Learn how acceptance and mindfulness can transform your perspective.
• Discover how small moments of stillness can create lasting resilience.

Take a deep breath, press play, and let this meditation guide you toward peace and transformation.

Episode Flow:

00:00 Introduction to Micro Meditation

00:27 Setting the Scene: Personal Story and Song

01:14 Guided Meditation: Serenity Prayer

03:12 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement

If this episode sparked something within you, please download it and share it with a friend.

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, silver, or lacquer, highlighting the cracks rather than hiding them. It embodies the philosophy of wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in imperfection and teaches that breakage and repair are part of an object’s history, making it more valuable rather than less. Metaphorically, Kintsugi reminds us that our challenges, scars, and setbacks are not something to be ashamed of but can be embraced as a source of strength and transformation.

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.

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. This is a good place to start. If you have a question or comment, please reach out to Michael@PauseBreatheReflect.com.

With Whole Again: A Fresh Approach to Healing, Growth & Resilience after Physical Trauma through Kintsugi Wisdom, listeners explore resilience through personal stories of trauma, scars, and injury while learning to overcome 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, 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...