#212: From Nearly Committing Suicide → Living a Purpose-Driven Life & How YOU Can Leverage Your Past To Uncover Your Purpose… w/ Paul Peters

Beyond Curious ™ (formerly 7-Figure Millennials)

Imagine standing on the icy shores of Lake Michigan, contemplating ending it all because life seems utterly hopeless.

That’s where Paul Peters found himself—jobless, homeless, and feeling completely alone.

But in that darkest moment, he heard a voice: “Don’t do it. I’ve got a plan for your life.”

From there, the magic that unfolded is beyond inspiring. Since then, Paul…

• Founded Covenant Case Management Services, which provides support to individuals with intellectual disabilities, mental health challenges, and substance abuse issues in North Carolina.
• Established The Nehemiah Project Covenant of Love, a nonprofit serving the homeless, veterans, senior citizens, those struggling with addiction, mental health and developmental disabilities, at-risk kids, and abused women in North Carolina and Central America.
• Launched a Mentoring Center for At-Risk Youth, offering guidance and support to help young men and women discover their purpose and improve their lives.
• Authored 3 Bestselling Books and Hosts a Television Show, “On Purpose with Paul,” reaching millions and inspiring people to live intentionally and embrace their purpose.

Paul believes that his life purpose is to help other people find their life purpose… and that is EXACTLY what we dive into in today’s episode.

Paul’s story is a testament to the incredible transformations that can happen when you confront your pain, embrace forgiveness, and step into your purpose.

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Paul Peters

In this powerful episode of Beyond Curious, host Brandon Fong welcomes Paul Peters, a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and author with a remarkable background. Paul’s journey has taken him from a challenging childhood to transformative service as a military officer, jail chaplain, and founder of impactful organizations supporting at-risk individuals, veterans, and those with disabilities. He currently leads Covenant Case Management Services and the Nehemiah Project, a nonprofit addressing homelessness, addiction, and youth mentorship both locally and internationally. His story is one of resilience, driven by faith, purpose, and an unshakable commitment to making a positive impact.

Throughout the episode, Brandon and Paul dive into deep reflections on overcoming personal trauma, the discovery of purpose, and the importance of forgiveness and self-compassion. Join them for an inspiring conversation that reveals how to transform pain into purpose and support others in their journeys.

Show Notes

00:02 - Introduction

• Brandon introduces the episode and guest, Paul Peters, and shares a shout-out to Mark Fujiwara for connecting him with Paul.

00:33 - Giving New Experiences to the Disabled

• Paul describes a powerful experience where he helped a quadriplegic individual try water skiing for the first time, discussing the importance of expanding what people believe is possible for themselves.

01:33 - Paul’s Background and Impactful Work

• Brandon provides an overview of Paul’s extensive work and accomplishments, from his military service to founding the Nehemiah Project, a nonprofit that serves various vulnerable populations.

02:35 - Themes for the Episode

• Brandon outlines key themes for listeners to focus on: Paul’s transformation of personal pain into service, uncovering purpose, and the role of self-forgiveness.

04:35 - Paul’s Life-Changing Moment

• Paul recounts a moving story from his past when he considered ending his life. He shares how, in a moment of despair, he felt a calling that convinced him to keep going, which marked a turning point toward his life’s mission.

06:30 - The Nehemiah Project and International Work

• Paul explains the mission of the Nehemiah Project and his work providing resources, mentorship, and hope in Central America and beyond.

08:54 - Overcoming Early Challenges

• Paul reflects on his tumultuous childhood, including being abducted by his father and dealing with parental violence. He describes how these early challenges shaped his journey toward purpose.

10:16 - Rediscovering Faith and Purpose

• Paul discusses his journey into faith, which gave him the father figure he lacked and provided a foundation for his growth and service to others.

13:36 - Reflecting on Patterns in Life

• Paul shares insights on finding purpose by recognizing life patterns. He encourages people to look back at their lives for clues about what brings meaning.

16:48 - The Role of Faith in Finding Purpose

• Paul reflects on the importance of faith, noting how his own belief in a higher plan helped him understand and embrace his purpose.

20:09 - Purpose-Driven Journaling

• Paul suggests a journaling exercise to identify personal stories and patterns, which can illuminate purpose.

26:43 - Lifeline EKG Exercise for Finding Purpose

• Brandon introduces the “Lifeline EKG” exercise to help people map positive and negative experiences over their life and identify recurring themes that point to their purpose.

33:23 - The Power of “What If” Thinking

• Brandon and Paul discuss how curiosity and asking “What if?” can help build a life aligned with one’s interests and strengths.

39:05 - Purpose, Mission, and Vision Statements

• Paul explains the importance of creating a purpose statement, vision statement, and mission statement, which together provide clarity and motivation.

42:52 - Distinguishing Authentic Desires

• Paul discusses how to discern authentic desires from societal expectations, often by looking inward and exploring one’s passions.

49:32 - Moving from Fantasy to Reality

• Paul emphasizes the importance of bringing dreams into reality through action and facing fears, rather than leaving them as unfulfilled fantasies.

57:09 - The Importance of Forgiveness

• Paul shares how forgiving his father for past traumas freed him to live a life of purpose and love. He encourages listeners to let go of past pain to stop reliving it and to find peace.

1:00:56 - Paul’s Ongoing Growth and Compassion

• Paul reflects on how understanding his father’s hardships allowed him to forgive and even feel compassion, transforming his personal narrative and capacity for impact.

Links & Resources:

• Paul Peters’ LinkedIn page
• Paul Peters' Book: Discover and Embracing Your Life Purpose
• Nehemiah Project: Nehemiah Project Covenant of Love
• On Purpose with Paul TV Show: Available on Now Media