Book excerpt: "Have you given up on yourself, peace, trust or faith?" I had. I had been living a life of quiet desperation, depression, and destruction. Due to my self sabotaging ways my marriage had ended. Many times, my reputation as a successful writer and speaker felt like a lie. I had succumbed to self-destructive behaviour until I found and applied the antidote. I write this book, dear reader, to serve another who is feeling as I felt. This book is an offering with my love and absolute sincere compassion. I know how deeply it can hurt and how liberating (and beautiful) it can feel when you can heal yourself and serve others. This is not a book about what you should do. It is a book about loving your own life, being authentic and joyful. It is about moving from surviving towards 'striving and thriving'. Compassion truly is the antidote to depression, desperation and destruction.