From Trauma to Joy
seminar information
See below for the latest seminar information!
How long does it take to complete the seminar?
8 weeks
How much time is each Seminar session per week?
90 minutes to 2 hours long
What technology does the Seminar use to meet?
Zoom
How do I prepare for each week’s Seminar?
Watch a single video each week, which is normally between 60-75 minutes in length
How many people are in each seminar?
The size of each seminar is between 1-30 people… 30 being the upper limit.
Is it possible for a business to do a seminar for its employees?
Absolutely. I work with businesses regularly and am completely supportive of monthly meetings instead of weekly meetings if that helps them share this important information with their employees.
Is there a fee for the Seminar?
Yes, $500
Who leads the Seminar?
Mac
His bio is HERE
How can I join a Seminar or set up a Private Seminar?
Contact Mac at mac@fromtraumatojoy.com and tell him what you’re looking for. He will coordinate the details of your seminar with you.
Reels
All of our reels are here
REEL 33: If You Struggle with Trauma, Stop Drinking and/or Doing Drugs
We begin our study of Blueprint #2, “THE BETTER VERSION OF ME” blueprint, with our 5th Commandment: Quit Drinking or Using Drugs If You Struggle With Trauma.
Using alcohol and/or drugs is a very frequent course of action and a numbing mechanism after traumatic events occur in our lives. Alcohol and drugs destroy so many relationships and families… it was something I heard in almost every interview I did, so this is a relatively easy bit of wisdom to share because it’s 100% true.
AND, don’t tell me you can’t do it, millions of people on this planet walk away from alcohol and drugs every year on this planet… if they can do it, you can do it too.
REEL 32: The Only New Year’s Resolution You Need to Make
I won’t spoil the message… but you only need to make ONE resolution this New Year if you want to fundamentally change you life.
Happy New Year!
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO
REEL 31: Blueprint #2, The Better Version of You Blueprint
In the aftermath of trauma, it is essential that we change our behavior. Blueprint #2 is about how we actually DO that… how we come better versions of ourselves so that we can live great lives.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO
REEL 30: Pets and Trauma
After traumatic events occur in our lives, our pets become therapy devices… they provide companionship and intimacy… they need us… and we desperately need to be needed during those difficult days. We’ll talk about that idea in Reel #30.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO
REEL 29: We Conclude our study of Blueprint #1 — The “Understanding the Valley of the Shadow of Death” Blueprint
As we accept Commandments 1 through 4, as well as Goal #1… we conclude the study of BLUEPRINT #1, The Valley of the Shadow of Death blueprint.
Mac has some final comments about Blueprint #1 as we move to study Blueprint #2: The Better Version of Me blueprint.
Onward.
REEL 28: GOAL #1 — Learn to Coexist with Trauma
If you believe that Commandments One through Four are true and valid… and they are, then they logically lead you to GOAL #1… Learn to COEXIST with trauma.REEL 27: Commandment #4, Part 2 — Becoming a Better Version of You
As I tried to deal with the damage that the traumatic events of my life had caused to me, I got frustrated because I couldn’t be the person I used to be, no matter how hard I tried… a part of me was different.
People would say to me, “I just wish you could be the way you used to be…” and that was devastating to hear because I was TRYING to be that guy! Then I came to the realization that I could never be that guy again… I WAS different, those events had changed part of me… and then I stumbled into a bit of wisdom from a documentary two friends of mine (Ken & Betty Rodgers) produced about trauma and how it impacts homes, families, and intimate relationships.
I heard a phrase in that documentary that inspired a thought inside my head: I NEED TO BECOME A BETTER VERSION OF ME! I knew I could do that, and that made total sense to me.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO
REEL 26: Commandment #4 — Feeling Damaged After Trauma is Normal
After a traumatic experience, we have a lot of stuff going through our heads… the experience and its aftermath are overwhelming at times.
One very common emotion is “feeling like I’m damaged” because we have very different emotions and feelings inside of us… that Perpetual Tempest… most people experience anger and anxiety like we’ve never known them. Combine that with our ignorance… the fact that we’re faking like we’re okay and sucking it up the best we can, and you can see… it’s a very logical conclusion.
But the truth is, only a part of us is different… and we can still live GREAT lives. We’ll talk about that.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO
REEL 25: Tim’s Story
In my book, FROM TRAUMA TO JOY, there are twenty-four stories about people who have walked this path… MIRACLES I’ve watched. I want you to meet them so you will come to a very simple conclusion: IF ALL THESE PEOPLE CAN DO IT, SO CAN I. That’s just the truth.
I met Tim after his wife had killed herself on her thirtieth birthday, after they had returned home from a wonderful night out. The story is awful. A Las Vegas EMT who had seen me do a private presentation brought Tim to me and said that he needed my help. That guy’s name is “Cutman Mike” and you’ll meet him soon.
This Reel is a short version of Tim’s story. You can find the whole story as it will appear in my audiobook on my website, fromtraumatojoy.com, in the “Reels” section. You should listen to the whole thing. Most importantly, Tim is doing well; it’s a struggle each day… but he’s doing great. If he can do this… so can you.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO WATCH THE VIDEO
REEL 25: Tim’s Story (Audiobook Version)
In my book, FROM TRAUMA TO JOY, there are twenty-four stories about people who have walked this path… MIRACLES I’ve watched. I want you to meet them so you will come to a very simple conclusion: IF ALL THESE PEOPLE CAN DO IT, SO CAN I. That’s just the truth.
I met Tim after his wife had killed herself on her thirtieth birthday, after they had returned home from a wonderful night out. The story is awful. A Las Vegas EMT who had seen me do a private presentation brought Tim to me and said that he needed my help. That guy’s name is “Cutman Mike” and you’ll meet him soon.
This is the entire story that appears in my book; it runs 12:55. I hope you listen to the whole thing and are inspired by Tim.
Most importantly, Tim is doing well; it’s a struggle each day… but he’s doing great… AND, if he can do this… so can you.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE OF THE BOOK TO LISTEN TO “TIM’S STORY” ON YOUTUBE
REEL 24: Some thoughts as I reflected on last week…
At the end of the week, I enjoy taking care of loose ends… this is that! I want you to meet Susan Keeley & Peggi Cooney… they influenced me to begin doing online seminars.
I wanted to talk a bit more about the PATH OUT of the Valley of the Shadow of Death… and how WIDE it is.
AND finally… the idea of HOPIUM… it’s a bad thing… DON’T DO HOPIUM!
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO WATCH THE VIDEO
REEL 23: Commandment #3, Part 2 – Trauma Is Trauma Is Trauma… How I Learned This
This concept… that “TRAUMA IS TRAUMA IS TRAUMA” was taught to me by the first people who attended my online seminars. They came from across the spectrum of traumatic experiences, from victims of childhood sexual abuse to combat veterans. Most were recovering drinkers, and lots were recovering alcoholics. The majority of attendees were female.REEL #22: Commandment #3 – Trauma Is Trauma Is Trauma
How would your approach to trauma change if you understood that lots of people experience it, and when you actually experience a traumatic event… you have a lot in common with them?
What if the overwhelming majority of the traumatic experience is very similar?
What if all these people around you, who have gone through a traumatic event, actually COULD understand you?
What if, because you had so much in common, you could learn from each other and help each other?
Hmmmmmmm.
REEL #21: Trauma Accumulates
The 2nd Commandment is “Trauma Is a Normal Part of Life,” and in this reel, we’ll discuss a 4th bit of nuance to that commandment… and that is “Trauma Accumulates.”
We’ll discuss how trauma impacts your life if you never learn to effectively deal with it, the growth of one’s “Perpetual Tempest,” and how our “Cumulative Traumatic Burden” can crush us.
CLICK ON THE VIDEO TO WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO
REEL #20: Trauma Has a Pattern
The 2nd Commandment on this path FROM TRAUMA TO JOY is “Trauma Is a Normal Part of Life,” and in this reel, we’ll discuss a third bit of nuance to that commandment… and that is “Trauma Has a Pattern.” I will walk you through the “Trauma Loop” that has been taught to me by so many people.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO