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Home | Parade Magazine | Ask John: Advice for Depression and Anxiety | Believe in your dream

Believe in your dream

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johnoleary.inspires

Live + virtual speaker. 2x bestselling author. Live Inspired Podcast Host. Best last: Husband. Dad.

It’s been absolutely magical bringing the #OnFir

It’s been absolutely magical bringing the #OnFireMovie to life.
As we’re just days away from calling “it’s a wrap!”, I want to shine the spotlight onto you – Live Inspired community. For this week’s Live Inspired Podcast, I want to pull back the curtain and share a glimpse of what making a Hollywood feature-length film is all about!
Drop your questions about the movie-making process in the comments (or you can email our Podcast Producer at Podcast@JohnOLearyInspires.com).
And stay tuned for Thursday as I answer as many of your questions as I can on the Live Inspired Podcast!

Do you ever have days where you ask yourself the s

Do you ever have days where you ask yourself the self-defeating question: Why do I even bother? Sure, sometimes it’s asked in different ways- Do I matter? Do I make a difference? Does my work here impact anything?– but we’ve all had those days.
Last week, my friends from Hollywood filmed a scene with @DeVonFranklin for the #OnFireMovie that reminded me of the unseen impact we all have the potential to make- even if it takes 25 years to realize it. Let me explain.
When recovering in the hospital as a 9-year-old boy, I had a nurse that challenged me every day to get up, look forward, and dream again. He was a giant man, bore a striking resemblance to Apollo Creed, and he’d carry me just above the ground, my feet dangling between his, and say, “Boy, you are going to walk again. And I’ll walk with you.”
That encouragement went on for the entire 5 months I was in hospital. Although I wouldn’t take my first step for several months, it was that one man, his vision and his encouragement that empowered me to walk again.
After being released from the hospital, I kept in touch with many of the nurses and doctors who served me. An entire table at my wedding reception was filled with those friends. But Roy had left the hospital shortly after my release; and we’d never been able to find him.
Nearly 25 years later, though, @AlabamaPower- a client I had spent all summer with- tracked down this amazing man who was so instrumental to my story. They contacted him, explained to him how I spoke about him, and asked if they could fly him in to reunite with me.
And apparently, he’d said yes because I was soon staring at a man I hadn’t seen in 20+ years. Nurse freaking Roy!
He hadn’t aged. He still looked just like Apollo Creed. And he was giving me a huge bear hug.
I was speechless.
Tears filled my eyes.
What a moment.
Roy and I sat down to dinner that night. The last time we’d eaten together, I was on morphine, tied to a bed, with nutrition coming in through a feeding tube. Now we were sitting at dinner, flanked by new friends from Alabama Power, celebrating this amazing reunion, and absolutely on fire with joy. It was a night I’ll never forget... Continued in comments.

In 1995, a 16-year-old Bobby Bostic found himself

In 1995, a 16-year-old Bobby Bostic found himself caught up in a series of poor choices including robbery and armed criminal action. Judge Evelyn Baker, convinced he was a lost cause, handed down a jaw-dropping 241-year sentence on him, parole only becoming a glimmer of hope at the ripe age of 112.
While serving the longest sentence in Missouri for a non-homicide juvenile offense, Bobby didn't crumble. Instead, he evolved, showed significant remorse for his actions and began reshaping what his future could hold.
Today, after serving 27 years of his sentence, Bobby is embracing his shot at redemption by teaching writing workshops at juvenile detention centers and using his story to mentor kids to keep them out of trouble.
Join me as Bobby shares his journey in navigating an unlikely path to freedom, fostering a reconciling connection with the judge who initially sent him away, and revealing the transformative power that liberates us from the shackles of our mistakes.
My friends, it’s easy to criticize others for their sins, crimes and missteps. And yet, when we delve into the narratives that precede those missteps, an empathic heart emerges. This episode is a reminder that our past doesn't have to be our defining chapter. And that even in the face of adversity, the best is yet to come.
Listen to Bobby Bostic on Live Inspired Podcast ep. 624. Available anywhere you get podcasts!

Regardless of where the event is, how large the gr

Regardless of where the event is, how large the group is, or what the makeup of the crowd is, I love the audiences we get to serve.
By the end of our brief time together, there is always a connection, always a bond. That shared experience and exchange of energy is what makes this work truly life-giving. It’s also why I leave each room with more friends than when I walked in.
So to describe the feeling I had this weekend taking the stage at On Fire For Good, looking out at an audience that I ALREADY know and love as friends, and knowing that thousands more were watching from their own homes (enough to freakin' break the internet!) is difficult to put into words. But I’ll try.
▪️ I glimpsed siblings that traveled to support me (even though I told them not to).
▪️ I saw dear friends I’ve known for decades.
▪️ Families I’ve bonded with by raising our kids together.
▪️ Neighbors that will never truly know how much they’ve mattered to me.
▪️ Past audience members who have become true friends.
▪️ Clients that have become confidants.
It was emotional. It was humbling. And it was validation.
Validation of what I’ve talked about from the stage and the message I’ve written about, podcasted about and that will soon be the emotional center of a full-length feature film: That we can all—every single one of us--be used for good.
I didn’t come to this realization as a giver of support, but rather the recipient of it.
As a broken little boy, ... continued in comments...

Are you a turkey person? And no, I’m not talkin

Are you a turkey person?
And no, I’m not talking about the makeup of your Thanksgiving dinner plate this week.
I’m talking about a question that when asked the first time went on to change the life of the individual that heard it. And years later when I heard it, did the same for me.
It’s a question that’s poised to reframe not just our understanding of what it means to serve and love others but one that can transform the effort we bring to our relationships, our work and our purpose in the world.
Think I’m exaggerating? Keep reading.
An 18-year-old man from North Memphis is three times more likely to be dead or incarcerated by age 21 than in college. With this statistic fueling him, a man named Bill Courtney sought to make a difference through coaching high school football in this community.
But he was failing.
Instead of a storybook season, he had a losing team with only 19 players, most of whom weren’t putting in any effort.
@IAmBillCourtney wasn’t a stranger to the difficulties some of these students were experiencing. His Dad left when he was 4. His Mom’s 4th husband shot at him when he was 17. He didn’t have male role models at home, and instead he found them in the two places that went on to make the biggest difference in his life—the field and the classroom.
Today, Bill is a business owner, husband, and father who believes giving back isn’t a one-time flex—it’s a repetitive motion.
Which brings me back to turkey... continued in comments.

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John O'Leary - Live Inspired

2 days ago

It’s been absolutely magical bringing the #OnFireMovie to life. As we’re just days away from calling “it’s a wrap!”, I want to shine the spotlight onto you – Live Inspired community. For this week’s Live Inspired Podcast, I want to pull back the curtain and share a glimpse of what making a Hollywood feature-length film is all about! Drop your questions about the movie-making process in the comments (or you can email our Podcast Producer at Podcast@JohnOLearyInspires.com). And stay tuned for Thursday as I answer as many of your questions as I can on the Live Inspired Podcast! ... See MoreSee Less

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John O'Leary - Live Inspired

3 days ago

Do you ever have days where you ask yourself the self-defeating question: Why do I even bother? Sure, sometimes it’s asked in different ways- Do I matter? Do I make a difference? Does my work here impact anything?– but we’ve all had those days.Last week, my friends from Hollywood filmed a scene with DeVon Franklin for the On Fire movie that reminded me of the unseen impact we all have the potential to make- even if it takes 25 years to realize it. Let me explain.You may remember that when recovering in the hospital as a nine-year-old boy, I had a nurse that challenged me every day to get up, look forward, and dream again. He was a giant man, bore a striking resemblance to Apollo Creed, and he’d carry me just above the ground, my feet dangling between his, and say, “Boy, you are going to walk again. And I’ll walk with you.”That encouragement went on for the entire five months I was in hospital. Although I wouldn’t take my first step for several more months, it was that one man, his vision and his encouragement that empowered me to walk again.After being released from the hospital, I kept in touch with many of the nurses and doctors who served me. An entire table at my wedding reception was filled with those friends. But Roy had left the hospital shortly after my release; and we’d never been able to find him.Nearly 25 years later, though, Alabama Power- a client I had spent all summer with- tracked down this amazing man who was so instrumental to my story. They contacted him, explained to him how I spoke about him, and asked if they could fly him in to reunite with me.And apparently, he’d said yes because I was soon staring at a man I hadn’t seen in 20+ years. Nurse freaking Roy!He hadn’t aged. He still looked just like Apollo Creed. And he was giving me a huge bear hug.I was speechless.Tears filled my eyes.What a moment.Roy and I sat down to dinner that night. The last time we’d eaten together, I was on morphine, tied to a bed, with nutrition coming in through a feeding tube. Now we were sitting at dinner, flanked by new friends from Alabama Power, celebrating this amazing reunion, and absolutely on fire with joy. It was a night I’ll never forget.Near the end of the night Roy and I had a few minutes by ourselves to reconnect. We talked about my time in the hospital, those brutal bandage changes, and the daily walks to the tub. We talked about difficult nurses and old friends. We shared what we’d both been up to for the last twenty-four years. I told him about my family; he shared with me about his. He then leaned over and said, “You know, John, it surprises me that you did something with your life.”The same sentiment has been shared with me several times by high school teachers from my past. But this time I felt it was intended as a compliment. You see, when a child is burned, sometimes he or she makes it out of the hospital, but not back into life. The emotional journey is just too painful. I understood what Roy was saying.So, I said, “Thanks, Roy.”“You know what surprises me even more, though?”I shook my head no.“How you were able to marry such a beautiful woman!” He chuckled.“Wow. Thanks, Roy. I am glad they found you!”We both laughed.Then he said, “John, in all seriousness, do you know what surprises me the most about all of this? About this dinner, this reunion, this whole thing?”“I don’t think I want to hear this one, Roy!““Well, I am going to tell you.”He took a sip of his ice water. He looked into my eyes. He took a long pause. Then he said, “It is to learn that after twenty- four years, I mattered. John, I did my job, I loved my work, I loved my patients. But I never really understood until today that I mattered.”“You did, man. You did.” I swallowed, the emotion catching up with me.What about you? Do you ever wonder what impact you could make through your life?My friends, today, I remind you that those who serve others put themselves in line for great wealth, great return, great satisfaction, great reputation and great joy.Choose to be like Roy. Choose to be a difference maker. Choose to tap into the power of one. Choose to actively serve others professionally and personally.And then rest assured the great return granted those who choose to make a significant impact.Today is your day. Live Inspired. ... See MoreSee Less

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John O'Leary - Live Inspired

6 days ago

"A little boy was burned on his entire body today. Probably isn't going to make it."In THIS room, 36 years ago at a fancy gala, Jack Buck heard these words. Now, I won't give away what Jack did next -- or what happened to that little boy -- but I'll share that today we filmed that scene. A huge special thanks to ALL the friends who came out early this morning [although the actual scene occurred in the evening .... these amazing people were on set by 630am]. We had waiters and women in ballroom dresses and men in tuxedos and even a live string-quartet to elevate the atmosphere ... And wrapped this fancy gala before lunch! My friends, life is filled with miracles. Tonight, grateful for Jack Buck believing a potential miracle within our story .... grateful for the love of countless of others who supported it ... and grateful for a dedicated army of friends helping bring this story to life. This is your day. Live Inspired. J. ... See MoreSee Less

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John O'Leary - Live Inspired

7 days ago

In 1995, a 16-year-old Bobby Bostic found himself caught up in a series of poor choices including robbery and armed criminal action. Judge Evelyn Baker, convinced he was a lost cause, handed down a jaw-dropping 241-year sentence on him, parole only becoming a glimmer of hope at the ripe age of 112.While serving the longest sentence in Missouri for a non-homicide juvenile offense, Bobby didn't crumble. Instead, he evolved, showed significant remorse for his actions and began reshaping what his future could hold.Today, after serving 27 years of his sentence, Bobby is embracing his shot at redemption by teaching writing workshops at juvenile detention centers and using his story to mentor kids to keep them out of trouble.Join me as Bobby shares his journey in navigating an unlikely path to freedom, fostering a reconciling connection with the judge who initially sent him away, and revealing the transformative power that liberates us from the shackles of our mistakes.My friends, it’s easy to criticize others for their sins, crimes and missteps. And yet, when we delve into the narratives that precede those missteps, an empathic heart emerges. This episode is a reminder that our past doesn't have to be our defining chapter. And that even in the face of adversity, the best is yet to come.Listen to Bobby Bostic on Live Inspired Podcast ep. 624. Available anywhere you get podcasts! ... See MoreSee Less

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John O'Leary - Live Inspired

1 week ago

Regardless of where the event is, how large the group is, or what the makeup of the crowd is, I love the audiences we get to serve.By the end of our brief time together, there is always a connection, always a bond. That shared experience and exchange of energy is what makes this work truly life-giving. It’s also why I leave each room with more friends than when I walked in.So to describe the feeling I had this weekend taking the stage at On Fire For Good, looking out at an audience that I ALREADY know and love as friends, and knowing that thousands more were watching from their own homes (enough to freakin' break the internet!) is difficult to put into words. But I’ll try.▪️ I glimpsed siblings that traveled to support me (even though I told them not to).▪️ I saw dear friends I’ve known for decades.▪️ Families I’ve bonded with by raising our kids together.▪️ Neighbors that will never truly know how much they’ve mattered to me.▪️ Past audience members who have become true friends.▪️ Clients that have become confidants.It was emotional. It was humbling. And it was validation.Validation of what I’ve talked about from the stage and the message I’ve written about, podcasted about and that will soon be the emotional center of a full-length feature film: That we can all—every single one of us--be used for good.I didn’t come to this realization as a giver of support, but rather the recipient of it.As a broken little boy, I received love I could never repay; as a struggling young person, support I could never have imagined; and as a man in a world that seems desperate to divide and demoralize, encouragement to keep going.Little by little, difficulty by difficulty, I witnessed the profound effect of sacrifice, faithfulness, commitment, and selfless love. Tiny deeds and giant gestures modeled by others literally saved my life.I will never tire of telling the story of how people have shown up for me. Nor will I tire of hearing from others about the ones who did the same for them.It’s why we hosted the event Saturday night. Not merely to feel the creative rush of starting something from nothing or simply to kick off the holiday season feeling something other than drained or even just to give you something fun to do on a Saturday night. (Although we did accomplish all those things in the process!).We hosted this event because we wanted to manifest a version of a world where the individuals who have shown up for YOU are celebrated like the Jack freakin’ Bucks they are. And we want to do it with you.We have so much more to share with you about how you can help us do just that in 2024. But for now, I’ll say this. Take a deep breath and get ready. If Saturday night was a spark, the months ahead will be fireworks. On Fire For Good and On Fire the movie launch with one mission in mind: to remind others of the power to positively change lives, starting with their own.If you were there in the room with us at the first ever On Fire For Good, know I’ll always be grateful seeing you smiling back at me. If you watched online, know that the idea that we brought love and light into your home brings us more gratitude than you will ever know. And if you weren’t able to join, know that you’ll have an opportunity to experience it soon.Friends, I love you and there is nothing you can do about it. Let’s continue the work of reminding the world that the most powerful weapon on earth is the human spirit on fire.I’m On Fire For Good. Are you? ... See MoreSee Less

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