From a young age, Christianity was deeply woven into the fabric of my life. I was immersed in it through weekly church services, Sunday school, and Christian education, where Bible class and chapel services were regular parts of the school experience. My family and social circles reinforced this foundation, with my friends’ families practicing Christian devotion at home and our entire community upholding religious norms. As a child, I participated in church plays, joined programs like Pioneers, and spent Sundays with my grandfather, who often sang in church. I even spent summers at a Christian camp with my grandmother, where Christian teachings permeated the air, leaving little room for alternative perspectives.
Being raised Pentecostal added another layer of intensity to the experience. The environment was entirely fear-based. There was a strong focus on concepts like speaking in tongues, avoiding hell, and maintaining a high standard of personal conduct to “earn” a place in heaven. The message of an all-loving, all-knowing God conflicted with the notion of hell—a place of eternal punishment for those who didn’t believe. I remember feeling this underlying fear: fearing God but fearing hell even more. How could a being who supposedly loves unconditionally create us with certain tendencies, only to condemn us for them? The contradictions were impossible for me to ignore.
Another factor that added to the isolation was the insular nature of the Christian community. Many kids were only allowed to spend time with other Christian children, and social circles outside of church were discouraged. This insularity cultivated a web of interconnectedness that, in many ways, felt like brainwashing. Everyone in the community played a part to keep up appearances; families were judged by how “perfect” they appeared. As a result, people often pretended to be flawless, creating a cycle of performative spirituality rather than genuine faith.
One of the most challenging aspects for me personally was the church’s attitude toward sexuality. I’ve always felt open and naturally explorative, but the church environment labeled these feelings as sinful, shameful, and something to suppress rather than embrace. This disapproval created lasting issues around self-worth, self-acceptance, and even guilt around basic human desires. It made no sense to me that something so natural and beautiful could be seen as wrong. This moral condemnation left a mark that I’m still working to heal.
Despite the rigid structure and fear-based teachings, there were positive aspects to the Christian community. The church offered a sense of belonging and a support network, and many members genuinely wanted to help one another. However, the teachings often contradicted the unconditional love that was preached, and the fear-based doctrines made it difficult for me to fully connect. By my early teens, the unresolved questions and inner conflicts led me to start exploring other religions and spiritual philosophies. Even as I distanced myself from organized Christianity, the impacts lingered into adulthood, affecting my sense of self-worth, authority issues, and my understanding of love and acceptance.
The teachings around obedience, sin, and perfection were especially difficult for me. I constantly worried about going to hell, which kept me in a perpetual state of self-scrutiny and fear of punishment. It was hard to know when to assert myself and when to "turn the other cheek," as teachings often seemed to discourage standing up for oneself. At the same time, anything I accomplished was attributed to God rather than to my own efforts, which felt disempowering. It taught me to diminish my own divinity and to feel as if I had to “give away” the credit for my growth. Over time, I felt constrained by belief systems that discouraged personal empowerment and questioning. Moving away from Christianity was a gradual process that took immense courage, as it required stepping away from everything I was raised to believe.
Leaving Christianity also meant facing loss: friends, acceptance, and the comfortable but confining certainty that came with it. I lost friendships and encountered family resistance when I started to forge my own path. Yet, without those structures, I might never have developed the parts of myself that I now cherish. Without experiencing what didn’t resonate with me, I wouldn’t have found what does.
As a teenager, I found respite in the freedom to question and began looking into science for answers. Science provided clarity, but it also opened the door to more questions, as I discovered that people—often due to fear—weren't willing to confront challenging concepts. By my early twenties, I felt confident enough to explore new spiritual beliefs, including psychic phenomena and alternative perspectives. I began noticing unusual experiences that aligned with my intuition and kept following these subtle nudges, piecing together a more personal and open-ended belief system.
Over time, I’ve integrated these insights into a unique blend of spirituality that embraces science, ancient wisdom, and self-empowerment. This journey led me to channelers, psychics, and concepts that defy the rigid framework of my childhood, yet make sense in the grander scheme of things. Combining teachings from various religions, spiritual practices, and science has created a more balanced belief system. It’s one that respects curiosity, encourages growth, and honors the divine within each of us. Ironically, some of the values I learned from Christianity—like kindness and compassion—have stayed with me, but now they’re based on genuine connection and understanding rather than obligation or fear.
Today, I realize that my Christian upbringing, despite its challenges, propelled me to seek answers, form my own beliefs, and embrace a path of authentic exploration. By integrating these experiences with scientific understanding and spiritual freedom, I’ve discovered a more expansive and meaningful reality. Christianity taught me what I didn’t want, and in doing so, it helped me find what I truly am: a seeker, open to all that life has to offer without fear or limitation.
My journey has been deeply impacted by the experiences within my family and the challenges that arose from them. Growing up, I was exposed to difficult and sometimes traumatic events that shaped my understanding of relationships, self-worth, and resilience. My family has a complex history, marked by moments of crisis and generational wounds that were passed down over time.
A significant part of this history involves close family members facing severe mental health struggles. Many in my family have struggled with suicidal thoughts, and some have acted on them; and these experiences were pivotal moments in our family, impacting everyone deeply. I, too, faced periods of depression and suicidal contemplation, wrestling with feelings that seemed overwhelming. Mental health was a constant thread through these challenges, adding layers of complexity and requiring immense resilience.
In addition, my early years included experiences that left a lasting mark on me. As a child, I was coerced into inappropriate situations by an older child. This affected my sense of safety and trust, leading to years of processing and healing. Navigating these feelings as I grew older required me to confront pain that was hidden beneath the surface for much of my life.
Family dynamics also contributed to these challenges. My biological father chose not to be part of my life, and although my adoptive father provided stability, the feeling of initial rejection lingered. Throughout my teenage years, I often found myself in the role of mediator, especially during my parents’ temporary separation. I witnessed infidelity and relationship struggles firsthand, which weighed heavily on me. There were many moments that affected my self-esteem and sense of worth.
Generational trauma also played a role in shaping my perspective. My great-grandmother was a survivor of a residential school, an experience that left unseen ripples through our family, impacting not only her but also the generations that followed. These historical traumas became part of our family story, carrying an underlying weight that influenced our interactions and understanding of our heritage. Although these did not directly affect us, our DNA has memories as water has memories and the things our ancestors have experienced are stored in our DNA as we work to resolve them.
Adding to this were challenging relationships with some family members who displayed narcissistic tendencies. The need for control and strict expectations created a sense of restriction and limitation, often making me feel confined rather than supported. On one hand, I would have conditional support and on many other fronts, I would be left to fend for myself. I had polar opposites with my grandparents and parents being a heavy part of my life. I would have moments of independence mixed with moments of control. I would have moments of near neglect and moments of helicopter like suffocation. I would have moments of freedom and moments of panic and anxiety and fear. The extended family’s rigid structure sometimes made it difficult to embrace individuality or pursue personal passions.
As I entered adulthood, I encountered additional struggles that further shaped my resilience. I faced the collapse of businesses and significant financial hardships that required me to rebuild my life multiple times. At one point, my family and I lost everything, and I had to start over from scratch. This process tested my sense of purpose and my capacity to persevere through adversity, strengthening my resolve even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Through all these experiences, I have come to understand the profound impact that family history, mental health struggles, and childhood traumas can have on one’s life. Each challenge, while painful, contributed to my personal growth and resilience, forcing me to confront difficult emotions and complex family dynamics. The process has not been easy, but these experiences have ultimately shaped me into someone who values understanding, healing, and the strength it takes to move forward.
Over the past 12 years, my life has been an extraordinary journey of growth, resilience, and transformation. At just 20 years old, I found myself stepping into fatherhood with little direction but an unshakable desire to provide for my family. I knew I wanted to create something meaningful, but at the time, I lacked clarity about the path I was meant to take. What I did have was determination, and it carried me through some of the most formative years of my life.
I explored multiple paths early on, from pursuing music and semi-professional gaming to experimenting with entrepreneurial ideas like starting a t-shirt business and creating a mobile game. Each of these ventures represented my drive to carve out a future for myself and my family. However, my challenges with ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities made traditional paths, like formal education and steady employment, incredibly difficult to navigate. I often felt stuck, jumping from job to job, rarely staying in one place for more than six months. These setbacks left me questioning my abilities and struggling with a profound sense of directionlessness.
But giving up was never an option. Despite my challenges, I kept searching for ways to build a better life. I launched small businesses, starting with buying and selling used furniture. This small venture taught me the value of hard work and the importance of finding opportunities in unexpected places. During the day, I worked as a courier, and in the evenings, my fiancée and I hustled to grow the furniture business. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was a start.
One of my first courier jobs was a harsh lesson in the realities of business—I lost $500 when a customer refused to pay me. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but it also taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, boundaries, and the importance of learning from mistakes. I pressed on, going door-to-door with business cards to build a client base, and slowly but surely, I gained traction.
As the business evolved, I expanded into furniture deliveries, flooring delivery, and eventually began working with local stores. Each year seemed to demand a pivot as I adapted to market changes and client needs. Over time, I identified a niche in delivering to seniors and retirement communities, which provided steady work and a meaningful way to serve others. For a while, things were looking up, and I started to feel a sense of stability.
Then COVID-19 hit, and everything changed. The pandemic brought months of uncertainty and financial stress. My family was hit hard, especially when my son faced a life-threatening illness that brought us to the brink. The fear of losing him was overwhelming, but it also reinforced my determination to keep moving forward for the sake of my family. During this time, I returned to anxiety medication to help manage the immense pressure, and my mom stepped in to support me as I worked to rebuild the business.
The pandemic era brought new challenges, including unreliable employees, theft, and financial losses. I faced constant struggles to retain staff, often pouring time and resources into training only to have people leave shortly after. Over the course of two years, I cycled through over 70 employees, each turnover testing my patience and resolve. Despite these setbacks, I refused to compromise on my principles. I continued to lead with kindness and integrity, even as the obstacles mounted.
By 2023, rising inflation, wage increases, and a staggering 900% increase in insurance costs due to industry reclassification made it impossible to sustain the business in its current form. Ultimately, I made the difficult decision to close the corporate entity. It was a painful choice, but it was also an opportunity to reflect on everything I had gained during those years.
This chapter of my life was far from a failure—it was a masterclass in resilience, adaptability, and leadership. Each challenge forced me to grow, and every pivot taught me how to think creatively under pressure. I built relationships with clients, learned the value of persistence, and discovered how to lead with compassion in the face of adversity.
Most importantly, I gained clarity about my purpose. While I may not have been passionate about the moving business itself, the experience laid a solid foundation for my next chapter. It taught me how to weather storms, make tough decisions, and maintain my integrity no matter the circumstances. These lessons have become the bedrock upon which I’m building FounderWolf—a venture that reflects my passions and allows me to help others navigate their own challenges with resilience and purpose.
Through it all, I’ve learned that life’s toughest moments are often our greatest teachers. I’ve never failed—I’ve only learned. And now, I’m ready to channel all of those lessons into creating something truly meaningful, not just for myself but for others who are walking their own paths of growth and transformation. The journey has been anything but easy, but every step has brought me closer to the person I’m meant to be.
Looking back on my life, I see not only the challenges but also the abundance of support, love, and guidance that has surrounded me at every turn. While my journey has been marked by struggles—moments of doubt, hardship, and growth—it’s important to acknowledge that I didn’t have a terrible childhood. On the contrary, I was fortunate to be surrounded by people who, in their own ways, did their very best to support me. My family, friends, and even strangers placed in my path by the universe have played significant roles in shaping who I am today.
The struggles I’ve faced have not been burdens; they’ve been lessons, opportunities to discover resilience, strength, and my authentic self. Every moment of hardship has been a stepping stone, leading me toward greater understanding, purpose, and spiritual growth. The universe has always ensured that, even in my darkest moments, there were people, resources, or situations to guide me forward. This unwavering support reminds me that life is a beautifully orchestrated journey, where even the challenges serve a higher purpose.
I am profoundly thankful for every experience—good and bad—that has brought me to this point. The trials have been my greatest teachers, showing me how to adapt, persevere, and ultimately thrive. They’ve given me the tools to help others navigate their own paths, turning my personal journey into something meaningful not just for myself but for the world around me.
As I continue to grow and evolve, I do so with immense gratitude for the love and lessons that have shaped my life. The journey has been far from easy, but it has been worth every step. I’ve come to realize that our challenges don’t define us—they refine us. And for that, I am deeply thankful.
Reflecting on my spiritual path, I recognize that my journey wouldn’t have been possible without the steadfast support of my wife and children. They’ve been my greatest anchors, constantly reminding me of what truly matters and inspiring me to become the best version of myself. However, I also want to acknowledge the work I’ve done on myself—facing my shadows, embracing uncomfortable truths, and persevering even when the journey felt overwhelming. True growth comes from within, and I’ve learned that the hard work of spiritual transformation is, indeed, hard work.
Every spiritual journey is deeply personal, but here are some general resources and practices that have helped me along the way:
The key is to explore, experiment, and trust your intuition to guide you to the resources that resonate most with you. Take what feels right, and leave the rest behind.
Spiritual growth isn’t about collecting knowledge or reciting teachings; it’s about applying those lessons in real-life moments, especially when it’s difficult. Doing the hard work is hard work. It means pausing when you’re triggered, taking a breath, and choosing to respond from a place of alignment rather than reacting out of old patterns. That’s why practices like meditation, mindfulness, and self-reflection are so important—they train us to navigate life’s challenges with grace and intention.
Hypocrisy is one of the biggest pitfalls on the spiritual path. It’s easy to preach kindness, patience, or forgiveness, but the real transformation happens when you embody those values, even in the most testing situations. Every moment of frustration, every trigger, is an opportunity to practice what you’ve learned and deepen your alignment with your higher self.
Your spiritual path is uniquely yours. Follow what feels interesting and exciting to you. If a practice, teaching, or concept sparks curiosity, explore it. That spark is your intuition guiding you toward something meaningful. Trust that inner voice—it’s leading you toward what you need most in the moment.
At our core, we are Christ consciousness—divine beings with the power to shape our reality. Things can only affect us if we consciously or unconsciously agree to let them. This is why uncovering your true beliefs is so critical. If you don’t do the inner work, you may unknowingly align with beliefs or vibrations that allow negativity to influence your life.
Negative entities, people, or situations have no inherent power over you. They only impact you if you match their frequency or vibration. That’s why one person can rise above a terrible situation while another perpetuates the cycle—choice and alignment make all the difference. Inner work is the #1 most transformational thing you can do because it empowers you to align with your true self and take full responsibility for your life.
Inner work is about peeling back the layers of false beliefs, outdated stories, and inherited patterns that no longer serve you. By doing this work, you reclaim your power and realign with your authentic self. This is the foundation of all spiritual growth. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth every moment of effort because it transforms not only your relationship with yourself but also the world around you.
When you commit to inner work, you step into your true power as a conscious creator of your reality. You realize that no one and nothing outside of you can control you unless you allow it. This understanding liberates you to create a life filled with joy, purpose, and alignment.
As you navigate your path, remember that your growth doesn’t just impact you—it inspires everyone around you. By doing the inner work, practicing what you preach, and following what resonates, you become a living example of what’s possible. You show others that transformation begins within and that true empowerment comes from aligning with your authentic self.
Ultimately, the journey is about becoming the best version of yourself—not for anyone else, but because it’s who you’re meant to be. Trust the process, embrace the challenges, and know that you have everything you need within you to create the life you deserve. You are your greatest asset, and your spiritual growth is the most profound gift you can give yourself and the world. This is just a fraction of my spiritual journey, I didn't even get into politics, interests, hobbies, etc haha. Remember this isn't my personal journey and many of the wonderful things have been left out; this just gives you an idea how my situations forged my business and spiritual mindset. So like me, no matter where you come from, or where you are, you can start NOW with the inner work and start to transform your life in a dramatic way.
With so much love & light & appreciation,
Brett - Founder Wolf
Thank you for joining the Wolf Pack!
I am so thankful to be co-creating this journey with you!
With love & appreciation,
Brett
UnchainedSouls.com