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b"When we go through extreme pain, it\\u2019s easy to feel like we\\u2019re all alone. We doubt that anybody has felt the level of pain that we are currently experiencing. Life begins to feel hopeless and we start believing that there is just no reason to carry on.\\nHowever, there is always some good ahead. Think of the countless stories of those who have survived unimaginable circumstances and lived to tell about it. If we will just do what we can at the moment, taking as few steps as we can muster, and keep our eyes locked on the amazing things to come, we, too, can endure any trial.\\xa0\\nToday I am speaking with Steve Melen, the author of Killing Graces. Steve carries a resiliency and a hope for getting through the hard stuff in life that is inspiring.\\xa0\\nDuring our conversation, we discuss his journey through stomach cancer, addiction, and survival. Steve is an amazing example of someone who has gone through extreme struggle and pain and made it out to the other side. His story is both riveting and hopeful, so tune in to hear it all for yourself.\\nIn this episode, you will hear:\\n\\nThe story of how Steve found out he had stomach cancer and how he endured all of his treatments.\\n\\nHow he got addicted to opiates.\\n\\nWhen he first realized he had a real problem with opiate addiction.\\n\\nHow he began to get off of the pain meds.\\n\\nHow being a father gave him the strength to push through withdrawal.\\n\\nHis attempts at getting back to a sense of normalcy.\\n\\nThe emotional pain he was holding inside and how he worked through it.\\n\\nThe patterns of numbing he fell into.\\n\\nHow therapy helped him finally heal.\\n\\nWhere the idea for Killer Graces came from.\\n\\nHow he came up with that title for his book.\\n\\n\\nKey Quotes:\\n[09:16] - \\u201cEveryone... thought the worst was going to happen and so they weren\\u2019t going to stop me from numbing my pain.\\u201d\\n[13:21] - \\u201cSo, I left the hospital and said, \\u2018Now I'm just going to\\u2026 fight this. I'm going to go through this battle of detox and I'm going to take it on. And I did and I didn't realize how hard it was. It was the hardest thing I've ever done.\\u2019\\u201d\\n[16:55] - \\u201cIf I didn't have her I don't know where I would have gone. I would have probably found some other purpose. But at that point\\u2026 that\\u2019s what I had. I needed\\u2026 not\\u2026 to have her be 15, 14 years old like she is now and be like, \\u2018Oh, I don't really remember,\\u2019 or just look at pictures of me. I did not want that to be the case.\\u201d\\n[17:23] \\u201cWhen you're in all of that pain, just focus on that: this is where I am going, this is what I am doing, this is how I'm going to go.\\u201d\\n[17:35] \\u201cThe focus has to go off of yourself.\\u201d\\n[30:07] \\u201cI hope no one goes through this. But we all have family, children, parents, relatives going through these things. And it's going to be hard. Something's going to be hard for you at some point.\\u201d\\n[32:51] \\u201cYou just said, \\u2018I'll just do the next step. I'll just do the next thing in front of me. I'll just keep doing it, one little thing at a time.\\u2019 And really, that's all you need to do and you'll get there.\\u201d\\n[35:49] \\u201cHave faith in yourself that you can do more than you think you can\\u2026 face it and do what is suggested and what you feel is right... Try to make progress, as little as the progress can be.\\nSupporting Resources:\\nSteve\\u2019s website: https://stevemelen.com/\\nKiller Graces: https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Graces-power-breakthrough-living/dp/1735165719/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=killer+graces&qid=1614194588&sr=8-1\\nNovusMindfulLife.com\\n\\ufeffEpisode Credits\\nIf you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment.\\nFind out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices"