Preface: My Journey, Your Journey

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“Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.” – Peter Levine

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Hello, and thank you for picking up this book. My name is Todd Blyleven, and while I am not a licensed therapist or counselor, I am someone who has lived through the most profound forms of trauma and emerged stronger because of it. I have spent years learning how to walk with my trauma, how to live with it, not let it define me, and ultimately, how to rise for myself and for others.

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The reason I wrote this book is simple: I know firsthand that trauma does not have to control you. I’ve walked through the deepest valleys of despair, faced the hardest moments of loss, and yet, I stand here today, able to share this journey of healing with you. What I’ve learned is that true strength lies not in denying our trauma, but in accepting it, learning from it, and walking with it with peace and resilience.

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This book is not a guide that provides quick fixes or promises that the pain will vanish overnight. Trauma doesn’t disappear just because you want it to. Healing is not linear. It’s messy, hard, and at times, incredibly painful. But what this book offers is a roadmap, a map I created from my own lived experiences and from my work with people across many walks of life: from athletes and first responders to military veterans and everyday people facing personal, often invisible battles. We all have trauma. Whether large or small, it shapes us, but it does not have to define us.

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I’ve worked with people from all walks of life, athletes, military veterans, first responders, and those who have faced personal trauma such as loss, abuse, divorce, and so much more. And while the details of our stories may differ, one thing remains constant: the shared experience of struggle and the ability to heal. Each person I have worked with, from the most hardened warrior to the everyday individual, has had to come to terms with their trauma. Each one has needed to find ways to walk with it, not against it. And each one has needed to learn how to push the Trauma Sphere©, that persistent, invisible weight that looms just beyond your reach, back so that they can experience peace, love, and strength once again.

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This book is my way of reaching out to you and saying, “You are not alone”. I am here with you. I’ve been where you are. And I’ve learned how to rise. Not just for myself, but for the world around me. Now, I want to share these lessons with you.

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The chapters of this book are designed to give you practical tools and strategies to help you manage your trauma, build your resilience, and move forward with peace. But more importantly, this book is here to show you that you can live with your trauma, you don’t have to outrun it, and you don’t have to let it dictate your future. You are stronger than you know. You have the power to control your trauma sphere and create a life filled with strength, peace, and love.

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I want to take a moment to acknowledge the bravery it takes to even pick up a book like this. It takes courage to confront trauma. It takes courage to raise your hand for help. And it takes courage to embrace the idea that healing is possible. Whether you are just beginning your healing journey or are somewhere in the middle, this book is a reminder that there is hope, there is peace, and there is strength in vulnerability.

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My prayer for you as you move through this book is that you find the tools you need to rise, just as I have. That you learn to walk with your trauma, but never allow it to control you. That you embrace your faith, your community, and the support systems that surround you, and that you rise, not just for yourself, but for those who need your light. This journey is not just about healing for you. It’s about healing for the world around you.

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So, if you’re ready to take the first step toward reclaiming your peace, your strength, and your future, let’s begin this journey together. You can rise again.

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With gratitude, resilience, and strength,
Todd Blyleven