What does it really mean to reach perfection—and does it even matter on the healing journey? In this milestone 300th episode, Michael O’Brien shares a powerful story about his father, a lifetime bowler, and the one perfect game that doesn’t define him. What defines him—and us—is the commitment to keep showing up.

This episode weaves together a personal story, Kintsugi wisdom, and a mindful moment to help you release the pressure to be perfect. You’ll explore the real meaning of progress, how resilience is built through repetition, and why the messy, imperfect attempts are what shape your strength—not a flawless finish.

Michael also guides a short reflection to help you reconnect with grace, presence, and the effort you're already making, even on the hard days.

• Discover the mindset behind choosing progress over perfection
• Learn how to reframe your healing through the metaphor of 20,000 imperfect games
• Explore the real flex of mindfulness and resilience in everyday life
• Reflect with a guided affirmation to honor your effort
• Celebrate 300 episodes of growth, presence, and community with Whole Again

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Subscribe and join us every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as we continue to heal, grow, and become more resilient—together.

This is a topic that keeps coming up. This show was one of the most popular of the year and I wanted to share it with you again or perhaps the first time.

Are you stuck chasing perfection in your recovery? In this microdose episode, Michael O’Brien shares a powerful mindset shift that helps survivors of physical trauma move forward—without letting perfection block their progress.

From the lens of Kintsugi wisdom and Stoic philosophy, Michael reframes healing as a journey of perfect imperfection. You’ll hear how to stop waiting for flawless progress and instead, celebrate your small wins—messy or not.

He also offers a digital wellness tip that can help you protect your energy, focus on what matters, and take back your power from your smartphone.

• Learn the mantra that helped Michael during his own recovery
• Discover why messy progress beats perfection
• Embrace your scars as symbols of strength, not shame

Explore more Kintsugi-inspired healing tools at MichaelOBrienShift.com

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Download the Pause Breathe Reflect App with Microdose EQ by clicking App on your smartphone.

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.

With Whole Again: A Fresh Approach to Healing, Growth & Resilience after Physical Trauma through Kintsugi Mindfulness, listeners explore resilience through personal stories of trauma, scars, and injury while learning to overcome PTSD, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and perfectionism with self-compassion, self-love, and self-worth. Through insightful discussions on building resilience, fitness, and stress management, as well as mindfulness practices and digital wellness, the show offers practical tools such as breathwork, micro-dose meditation, grounding techniques, visualization, and daily affirmations for anxiety relief and stress reduction. Inspired by the art of kintsugi, the podcast embodies healing as a transformative process, encouraging a shift in perspective from worry and overwhelm 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 emotional resilience and live with greater balance and intention.

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Do you ever feel like you're carrying your healing alone? What if one word could remind you that you’re already part of something bigger?

In this calming microdose meditation, Michael guides you into the heart of the “C” in his GRACE model—Community. Using the African concept of Ubuntu—“I am because we are”—this short practice invites you to breathe deeply, reconnect to your support system, and release the burden of doing it all alone.

• Experience a calming breath-based meditation to cultivate connection.
• Learn how a single word can shift your sense of isolation into belonging.
• Walk away grounded in the knowing that you are part of a healing circle.

Take a deep breathe and remember what your heart already knows: you were never meant to heal alone—and you don’t have to start now.

Receive one of my FREE Pause Breathe Reflect Stickers via this link sticker.

Sign up for My RIPPLE EFFECT newsletter by clicking Ripple Effect or finding me on Substack.

We can also connect on LinkedIn.

Download the Pause Breathe Reflect App with Microdose EQ by clicking App on your smartphone.

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.

With Whole Again: A Fresh Approach to Healing, Growth & Resilience after Physical Trauma through Kintsugi Mindfulness, listeners explore resilience through personal stories of trauma, scars, and injury while learning to overcome PTSD, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and perfectionism with self-compassion, self-love, and self-worth. Through insightful discussions on building resilience, fitness, and stress management, as well as mindfulness practices and digital wellness, the show offers practical tools such as breathwork, micro-dose meditation, grounding techniques, visualization, and daily affirmations for anxiety relief and stress reduction. Inspired by the art of kintsugi, the podcast embodies healing as a transformative process, encouraging a shift in perspective from worry and overwhelm 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 emotional resilience and live with greater balance and intention.