Turn Your Pain Into Purpose

1961, Marsha's 18 years old, and she experiences a crisis in her life. She fell into despair, into suicidal depression, and she spent 2 years in a mental health institution. And while she was there, she made a heroic vow that she would figure out how to escape the hell that she was in, and then she'd figure out how to help other people escape the hells they may find themselves in. Then she winds up escaping. She recreates a life of deep meaning and purpose, and she creates Dialectical Behavior Therapy, which becomes the most effective therapeutic intervention to help individuals with suicidal ideation. But she didn't tell anybody about her experiences. Fast forward, it's 2011. She's invited to give a talk at the same institution where she spent 2 years of her life. Now remember, nobody knows. She gives the talk and she lets people know that she spent 2 years of her life here. And she says, and I quote on the first page of the note, If I can do it, you can do it.