How to Find Direction in Chaotic Times
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Do you feel worried about the state of the world or overwhelmed by personal and professional challenges? If so, you’re not alone. We live in extraordinarily challenging times. But don’t give up. You have more options than you think. New research shows that finding your purpose lowers anxiety and depression and builds resilience and hope. Here are free tips from my new book, The Power of Authenticity, to help you thrive when times get tough.
You were born with a unique purpose and special gifts to fulfill it. To fit in with others, you buried your talents and forgot who you truly are. The good news is, recovering your shiny superpowers plugs you into your authentic power.
You can use your newly discovered talents to reinvent yourself and flourish in our constantly changing world. Rather than staying stuck in life, you can find meaningful work and outside interests that make you come alive. Success comes as a side effect—not because you’re trying to be your best self—but because you’re becoming the most complete version of yourself.
As a psychologist, I’ve helped thousands of people reclaim their hidden gifts and honor their authentic paths in this world. Now it’s your turn! I can’t wait to take you on this journey.
Your Gifts Come Easily
Photo by Larry Colen
Many of us don’t recognize our superpowers because they come so naturally to us. We take them for granted because we think everyone has them, too. They don’t! While I was studying psychology at Princeton, someone gave a talk on music perception. She played pairs of melodies and asked us whether they were the same or different. I remember thinking the task was too simple. But when we went around the room and reported how we’d all done, I learned that I’d outscored everyone, including a professor who had studied classical violin for 10 years.
These days, I wear an “M” on my chest to stand for Michelle, my true self, not the person I was conditioned to be.
What about you? What comes effortlessly to you that you do better than others? The abilities you express without trying are your superpowers. Using these precious gifts, whether in a job or a passion project, puts you on the right path, where your true power lies.
The Power of Music
Music activates your soul in a way that words alone can’t. It stimulates both sides of the brain, lifting you out of the daily grind so that you can see the bigger picture of your life. Pleasant-sounding music also releases dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter. When you’re happy, you organize information better, think more creatively, and become a better problem-solver. To lift your spirits, try listening to my song, “Be Your Own Superhero,” written with John Cirillo and Daniel Reifsnyder. It can help reveal wonderful possibilities for your life that you can’t see right now.
More Support For Your Journey
If you feel stuck, lost, or overwhelmed, my new book can help you discover a path to joy and fulfillment. It combines client success stories with Jungian shadow work, psychological research, and positive music to reveal your greatest gifts and true purpose. It comes out on May 12, 2026. If you pre-order the book, you get FREE bonus content that’s not in the book!
I’m giving a free talk to help you find your gifts at New Renaissance Bookshop in Portland, OR, on May 16, at 3 PM. This interactive talk will show you how to find your unique superpowers and make positive changes in your life when the world’s on fire. It’s free!
You can also book a free coaching session with me and take the free superpower quiz on my website. Wishing you the very best.
Follow Michelle!