Have you ever wondered how much of your life is shaped by old wounds, outside voices, or the stories you tell yourself? I recently had the privilege of sitting down with Leland Holgate Sr.—a U.S. combat veteran, breathwork pioneer, and founder of the Willful Warrior Movement—to discuss his extraordinary journey from trauma to transformation. This wasn’t just an interview; it was a heart-to-heart conversation about reclaiming your power, letting go, and finding your way home to yourself.
Why Do We Let Trauma or Others Define Us?
How many of us are living by someone else’s script? Maybe it’s a doctor’s diagnosis, a parent’s warning, or society’s expectations. Leland’s story is a powerful reminder that we often let these external voices limit our potential, sometimes without even realizing it.
Doctors vacuumed hope right out of the room for me… But I kept hearing, ‘Keep trying, keep trying, keep trying.’” – Leland Holgate Sr.
Key Takeaways
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- 𝗟𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
Leland overcame a traumatic accident and paralysis at 19, refusing to accept doctors’ limits, and rebuilt his life through breathwork, mindset, and a strong support system. - 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿
True healing began when Leland let go of how he thought life should look and chose to move with the flow, accepting and working with his situation instead of fighting against it. - 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
Progress isn’t linear—Leland’s journey demonstrates that showing up for yourself, even on difficult days, and taking small, steady steps leads to genuine change. - 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿
Instead of letting outside voices or old beliefs dictate his life, Leland learned to override those patterns by setting his intentions and reminding himself of what he truly wanted. - 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹
Breathwork became Leland’s anchor, calming his mind, reconnecting him with his body, and activating his healing—even a minute of focused breathing made a difference. - 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀
Leland’s story highlights that your inner circle shapes your story—surrounding yourself with people who lift you and setting boundaries when needed is essential for growth.
- 𝗟𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
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- 02:34 The Trauma to Transformation Journey of Leland Holgate Sr.
- 17:15 How Did Leland Get Out Of That Feeling of Being in the War?
- 32:09 The Concept of “Giving Away Your Power”
- 42:40 The Welcome Home Method
- 47:55 Another Special Journey: Being An Entrepreneur and Finding Calm When Things Get Tough
- 58:07 The Breathwork and Meditation Session with Leland Holgate Sr.
- 1:13:00 Optimism and Other Tools to Share
- 1:17:34 Where to Connect with Leland Holgate Sr.?
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- 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸
Pause and look at your life. Are you living by your own choices or by someone else’s script? - 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲
What is one area where you feel stuck or limited? What belief or voice is holding you back? - 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
𝙏𝙧𝙮 𝙇𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙’𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙚𝙭𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙚: - Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and take a deep breath in through your nose.
- Exhale slowly through your mouth with a sigh.
- Repeat for one minute, releasing tension with each breath.
- Write down one limiting belief and challenge it. What is a new, more empowering thought you can choose instead?
- Reach out to someone who supports your growth, or set a boundary with someone who doesn’t.
- Commit to one small step each day—consistency is the key.
- 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸
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𝙋.𝙎. 𝙇𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪:
If you’re ready to experience the Welcome Home Method for yourself, this is the last week to join Healing Breathwork Fundamentals with $200 off.
🕛 Offer ends Sunday, July 13 at midnight
👇🏽 Use code SAVE200
🌐 https://thewillfulwarrior.comWhy This Episode Matters More Than Ever
In today’s world, many people are carrying unresolved trauma, facing constant stress, and feeling disconnected from themselves and others. The pressures of modern life, social comparison, and external expectations can cause us to overlook our power and worth. Breathwork and trauma healing are more important than ever because they offer practical, science-backed ways to calm the nervous system, release stored pain, and reclaim personal agency. By learning to surrender, set boundaries, and reconnect with our breath, we can break free from old patterns, build resilience, and create a life that feels true and meaningful, even in uncertain times.
Time Stamps:
Deep Thinking:
You are not your trauma, your diagnosis, or the limits others place on you. Healing begins when you surrender—not by giving up, but by letting go of how you think life should be. The power to rewrite your story is already within you. Every breath, every choice, every moment of surrender is a step toward your true self. What would your life look like if you stopped letting old stories or outside voices decide your worth? Pause, breathe, and remember: you are perfect, whole, and complete. Your journey is unique, and your healing is possible.
Step Back, Reflect, Take Action
You have the power to rewrite your story, heal, and rise. It starts with a single breath, a choice to surrender, and a commitment to keep moving forward. If this message resonates with you, please share it with someone who needs hope. Your journey is unique, and your healing is possible. Keep going, and welcome yourself home to your true power.
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