- 131. Beyond Safe Spaces with Gregory Halpen Lori Saitz 43:32
Have you considered how much of what you do – even the things that seem to bring you joy – began as coping mechanisms to deal with trauma?
Even your talents and your brilliance might be subconscious, or even conscious, reactions to traumatic experiences from your past.
Gregory Halpen came from a family background of violence, addiction, and abuse. Yet one of the main core values he felt he was raised with was the importance of creativity, which he learned from his mother.
That’s just it, though – his mother had developed creativity as a coping mechanism for her own childhood trauma and passed it on to Gregory.
For a while, creativity brought Gregory success and joy as a theater actor and singer, which in turn made him a storyteller – meaning, he embraced the power to rewrite and create new stories.
He was quite successful at it, but then he’d hit a wall. This became a pattern that affected Gregory for two decades.
In 2007, he became a professional coach as a way to earn income so he could fund his performance art career until he made it big. This raised the question of whether someone in need of help themselves could help others.
Still, on the surface, everything seemed fine.
But Fine is a 4-Letter Word.
Gregory’s childhood trauma was sabotaging his personal relationships, his path toward success in all his endeavors, and more.
And then he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2016.
In a moment, when you meet Gregory, you’ll join him on a journey through which he created his own “safe space” by taking responsibility for his own healing.
One of the key realizations was discovering how a childhood lesson intended to help kids cope with the world, actually exacerbates their traumas into adulthood.
Gregory’s hype song is “Suddenly” by Billy Ocean.
Resources:
- Gregory Halpen’s website: https://www.GregoryHalpen.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greghalpen
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregoryhalpen
- X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/gaylifeover40
Invitation from Lori:
If, like Gregory, it hits you that some of the very things you think are fine are either symptoms – or causes – of what makes you NOT fine, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide is for you.
Once you read it, you’ll
✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.
✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.
✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.
It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. The five tactics are simple, but as Gregory will explain during our conversation, they could be the very thing that cracks something open in you and helps you see things differently.
Are you ready to find out what that’s all about?
Well, when you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine – then this guide is the place to start. It’s time to blaze your own trail and allow your curiosity to take you on a new quest!
Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.
Now, let’s go meet Gregory. He’s holding a jar of peanut butter and has a mischievous grin on his face. What is he up to? Let’s meet up with him and find out!
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