Therapist and self-help author Sean Stephenson received one of the loudest standing ovations of the day after he spoke about making healthy choices. Stephenson, who was born with osteogenesis imperfecta (“brittle bone syndrome”), was given just months to live when he was born.
More than 30 years later, Stephenson’s motivational talks inspire others to live their dreams instead of focusing on their limitations.
Stephenson railed against pity, pointing out that had he chosen to wallow in self-pity, he would probably not be alive today. ‘I choose something else,” he said. ‘I chose to be strong. I choose to be a leader. I choose to have words to move this planet.’
Stephenson shared why he believes he was born, and encouraged the inmates to look inside themselves to find out why they were born, and use that knowledge to change the world.
‘I was born to rid this world of insecurity, because when a human being is insecure, we do stupid stuff … we chase external validation and external objects to try to tell us we are enough. You are enough.’
‘I have a belief that has served me in my life, and that is that everyone is rooting for you to win, even those who do not know it.'”