Brennan Hilleary

I grew up in two vastly different households, each with its own set of rules and expectations. One was strict and demanding, while the other was laid-back, allowing me to do anything I wanted. Caught between these two extremes, I tried to to meet the expectations of both parents, and lost sight of who I truly was in the process. This struggle deeply affected my self-worth and mental health.

In high school, I found a sense of accomplishment in sports, but my life took a drastic turn when I was diagnosed with a rare tumor. The uncertainty of survival and the pain of numerous surgeries led me to rely on prescription medication to cope. But when the surgeries were over, I found myself unable to face everyday life without it. I spiraled into addiction, desperately trying to meet everyone’s expectations of normalcy.

It wasn’t until I hit rock bottom and sought help in rehab that I began to understand the true meaning of self-worth. In rehab, I realized that my drug use stemmed from forcing myself to be a person other people & society wanted me to be.

After that realization, I had the opportunity to share my struggles with addiction & self worth to a school. That experience gave me a newfound sense of purpose and fulfillment.

After rehab, and also after doctors told me I could never work out intensively again, I started tuning in to myself more, and listened to the opinions of others less. Through doing so, I joined the Marine Corps Reserves and discovered a fulfilling job, yet I still sought validation through external achievements. I was successful in my career, but unsuccessful in virtually every other area of life. I ended up repeating the same cycle of addiction I struggled with in my past; only this time, the costs were way higher.

It took losing everything – my career, my money, my addictions – to realize that true self-worth doesn’t come from external things. I had to let go of the persona I created to survive and consciously choose the person I wanted to become. I’ve learned that our life on the outside is a reflection of who we are on the inside. Now, I’m passionate about helping others break free from the cycle of victimhood and instead become the creators of their lives. I’m committed to helping others understand who they really are, and empowering them to let that understanding fuel what they do in the world.