Contents

• Who are you?
• What is your struggle?
• How did you feel at your worst moment
• When did you turn it around?
• What steps did you take to overcome your struggle?
• Who did you share your struggle with?
• Your best piece of advice?
• Books and resources
• Learn more

Hello! Who are you?

I’m Michael Matucci. I love igniting the truth and empowering leaders to to break through to their destiny. Words, classes, and movies are my mediums to spark men and women to overcome their own traumas, issues, and insecurities and eventually use them to inspire others. 

Currently, I run an academy, Encompass Life, for those choosing breakthrough results in their lives. Located in Florida, we do online and in-presence journeys for people to find their own happiness, and so, as a leader, I get to go first! In the ten years of my own study here and elsewhere, I earned my PhD.

On the side, I bring forth creations that celebrate the light in others, especially those that have emerged from the darkest places. Overcomers of gang violence, homelessness and sex trafficking are some of the most powerful and interesting people you’ll ever meet. 

By the way: Do you find it hard to be happy and in control of your life? It may not be your fault. To help you feel better, we’ve condensed the information of 100’s of articles into a 10-step mental health cheat sheet to help you be more in control.

Don’t Miss Out On Happiness

Find happiness with this 10-step mental health cheat sheet.

Download The Free Cheat Sheet

What is your struggle and when did it start?

I have lived a life of dreams across five continents, learning and communicating in the local languages, and jumping into the jobs that arose. Ready or not, here I go! I checked off my entire bucket list in my 20s. 

It sounds glamorous, and for a long time it was; however, like the social media profiles people portray, there’s much more beyond what people see and think. 

Amidst the thousands of interactions that I had, with people across the globe, one can get a sense of aloneness. I was the outsider. Frequently being fresh on the scene, it took time for new acquaintances to let me into their rooted, organized lives. 

My surroundings frequently changed, and I spent tons of energy learning a whole new city, country, and language. When it wasn’t a new language, it was a new project or profession in a new industry or subject. 

How did this struggle make you feel at your worst moments?

I’d like to add a little clarity to this question. Struggles or situations on the outside cannot make us feel anything, that’s our choice. Feelings are our responsibility. 

I didn’t realize that at the time, and it was really easy to be distracted by all the new things! When I wasn’t whizzing by them or stuffing them down, I did notice an emptiness inside. I would typically turn the page.

As I began a path of going within when I started studying deep acting work, I started noticing what I’d buried. There were longings for people and places where I’d connected profoundly. During one particular period, I found myself feeling quite depressed. 

I attempted to utilize it in the dramatic arts work I was doing at the time. Much remained untouched. Once in a while, I’d open up, which was a big surprise to people accustomed to seeing me upbeat and full of energy, so I’d close again. 

Share your story: Help thousands of people around the world by sharing your own story. We would love to publish your interview and have a positive impact on the world together. Learn more here.

Was there a moment when you started to turn things around?

I turned things around in two phases, both had to do with spiritual work. My first phase was filled with high-level yoga, meditation, and other Eastern practices. I started busting through blocks and strongholds I didn’t know that I had. Over time, more and more rays of joy came popping through.

After years of work I thought I was 80% there, and it was thus time to start helping others. I left my financial security, home, and friends in LA, and stepped into full spiritual service. That experience, again abroad as well as across America, reintroduced me to some more challenging circumstances and revealed there was more to go.

It was with Mark Scherer and Encompass Life that my happiness meter reached a whole new level. We discovered many hidden blocks and patterns, we all have hundreds inside, that required to be dealt with for me to live my highest life. Wow, has it been an amazing journey!

What steps did you take to overcome your struggle?

The ultimate thing that I did to reverse my circumstance was to find the place of union, the opposite of aloneness, inside of myself. All the work that I did on and in myself prepared me to actually tap into the well within that connects me to the Divine. From then on, it’s been a feeling of wholeness, completeness, and community for me!

The key to change is in you. It’s not going to be in any drug or medicine, therapy, or wild outdoor adventure. Even the joy of a terrific new partner will only cover up what’s in you for so long. It has to come out. That’s life.

You are required to work on yourself if you choose to have happiness constantly flowing from within. When you do, you face these challenges in you and turn them into treasures, then you can even ignite happiness around you. 

It’s essential to understand that Life is happening for you, not to you. Mental awareness of that is huge, but it is only the first step.

Self-empowerment is the key. Go for the tools to equip you for this journey. We teach them at Encompass Life. There are others who will also lift you. Choose someone who will teach you how to fish instead of giving you the fish. 

Have you shared any of this with people around you in real life?

What I found was that talking about struggles gives them power. If someone sympathizes with them, it then compounds them. Now, there are two of you wallowing. That’s of little use unless you’re acting in a movie.

Yes, of course, bring them up, and then do something about them. Make a new choice. Take a new action. Get a new skill. If you talk about them with someone, be sure it’s someone who is going to see you and then assist you forward. 

I do share my prior struggles now as a way to open the pathway for others. When you learn everything you can about the situation you’re in, and then navigate your way out, over, and beyond it, then you can help people in your predicament do the same!

If you could give a single piece of advice to someone else that struggles, what would that be?

It’s essential to understand that life is happening for you, not to you. Self-empowerment is the key. Go for the tools to equip you for this journey. This includes developing strong direct communication with the Creator, the Source of all. That’s where your answers are!

What have been the most influential books, podcasts, YouTube channels, or other resources for you?

I have read hundreds of books and watched hundreds more educational videos and classes. You can check my reading list for a few of the most profound transformational texts. 

There’s only so much you’ll get from books. The key is to realize that you are the answer. You co-create your experiences. You can tap into divine intelligence as much as any author, teacher, or guru when you develop yourself and stay on that road. 

Where can we go to learn more about you?

My personal site is MichaelMatucci.com and my transformational company site is EncompassLife.com. 

My social media handles are @michaelmatucci and @quantumleaptechnique. 

Feel free to send me a message here if you’d like to get in touch with me!

By the way: If you want to start feeling better and more productive, I’ve condensed the information of 100’s of our articles into a 10-step mental health cheat sheet here.

This Cheat Sheet Will Help You Be Happier and More Productive

Thrive under stress and crush your goals with these 10 unique tips for your mental health.

Download The Free Cheat Sheet

Want more interviews?

Continue reading our inspiring case studies and learn how to overcome mental health struggles in a positive way!

Want to help others with your story? We would love to publish your interview and have a positive impact on the world together. Learn more here.

Hugo Huijer Author

Founder of Tracking Happiness, with over 100 interviews and a focus on practical advice, our content extends beyond happiness tracking. Hailing from the Netherlands, I’m a skateboarding enthusiast, marathon runner, and a dedicated data junkie, tracking my happiness for over a decade.

The post How I Found Wholeness and Completeness Inside of Myself appeared first on Tracking Happiness.

Contents

• Who are you?
• What is your struggle?
• How did you feel at your worst moment
• When did you turn it around?
• What steps did you take to overcome your struggle?
• Who did you share your struggle with?
• Your best piece of advice?
• Books and resources
• Learn more

Hello! Who are you?

Hello there, I’m Bayu Prihandito. I grew up in Indonesia and moved to Germany when I was 17 to study. After college, I started working as an engineer and got promoted pretty quickly.

But even though things looked good from the outside, I knew it wasn’t the right path for me. So, I changed my career to become a psychology consultant. Now, I work as a life coach, and I really enjoy it.

One fun fact about me is that I love to dance. In fact, I started teaching dance classes when I was 18 to help pay for school. This hobby of mine has even taken me to other countries like Holland, Malaysia, France, and back to Indonesia.

I would say that I’m a happy person, but I know that happiness comes and goes. I believe that the only thing that stays constant is inner peace and gratitude.

So, I try to focus on being grateful and finding peace from within. I do this through meditation and gratitude practices, and it’s made a big difference in my life.

By the way: Do you find it hard to be happy and in control of your life? It may not be your fault. To help you feel better, we’ve condensed the information of 100’s of articles into a 10-step mental health cheat sheet to help you be more in control.

Don’t Miss Out On Happiness

Find happiness with this 10-step mental health cheat sheet.

Download The Free Cheat Sheet

What is your struggle and when did it start?

My struggle was that everything I’d done in my life seemed aimed at fulfilling others’ expectations. As mentioned before, I completed my studies in engineering, earning both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

I wasn’t a born genius, so these achievements required a significant amount of effort, especially since they involved mastering German, a language notoriously difficult to learn.

When I began working as an engineer, I initially believed everything would change. I’d start earning and be able to afford things that had been beyond my reach.

However, as I ascended the professional ladder, I realized that the items I was buying were attempts to fill an internal void, a void impervious to material goods.

It was a challenging period for me, not least because I had started supporting my parents back home. The thought of quitting my job filled me with dread, primarily because it might mean ceasing to help my parents. Questions like, “Did I waste all these years studying the wrong subject?” and “Am I being selfish if I pursue my dreams?” began to haunt me.

Eventually, I took some time for self-reflection. I thought deeply about my life and realized that even my decision to study engineering was a move to satisfy others’ expectations.

The shame and guilt I felt when contemplating leaving my job stemmed largely from concerns about what others, including my family, would think of me.

How did this struggle make you feel at your worst moments?

At this stage in my life, the concept of happiness felt alien to me. Every day, I had to muster the will to get out of bed and go to work. The purpose of my job seemed to diminish with each passing day. While I resided in the largest home I’d ever had, it also housed the biggest void in my heart.

I didn’t share my struggles with many people. At this point, what others thought of me still held significant weight in my mind. I chose to reveal my truth only to my two closest friends. I vented to them every day after work. Looking back, I regret burdening them with my incessant complaints.

However, I did express my gratitude to them, acknowledging that their presence made an unimaginably challenging moment bearable. Without them, I can’t fathom how I would have navigated that tough period.

Share your story: Help thousands of people around the world by sharing your own story. We would love to publish your interview and have a positive impact on the world together. Learn more here.

Was there a moment when you started to turn things around?

Through the inner work that I engaged in, including meditation and plenty of self-reflection, I realized I had only two options.

Option A: I continue climbing a ladder that I know isn’t right for me, acquiring a larger house, a faster car, and more material possessions to fill an ever-growing void.

Or option B: I embark on the adventure of my lifetime and discover what medium I can use, beyond engineering, to deliver value to others.

I chose Option B.

I would describe the transition as a blend of circumstances and my own deliberate actions. I feel fortunate to have understood early in my career the truth behind the adage, “Money doesn’t bring happiness”. And the steps I took required a leap of faith.

I told myself, “If you invest the same effort and time as you did in engineering, but this time also incorporate love, interest, and natural talent, you can only be at least as successful as you are now.”

I’m thankful that I made this shift early in my life. I definitely empathize with those who choose to do work they don’t enjoy simply for the sake of earning money. Perhaps they already bear the responsibility of providing for their families. Maybe their fear is too daunting to overcome.

While I believe it’s never too late to prioritize yourself and construct a meaningful life by design, I know from my own experience that it’s not a straightforward task.

What steps did you take to overcome your struggle?

What truly aided my journey was setting aside time to sincerely ask myself what I truly desire. Before diving into any self-reflection process, I always remind myself that I need the courage to see the truth as it is.

This involves being radically honest with myself about my life, emotions, and dreams. Understand that living life based on others’ expectations isn’t the right way.

The practice that significantly benefited me was a meditation technique called Vipassana. Unlike other methods involving chanting or visualization, this form of meditation solely focuses on self-observation.

This allowed me to confront my insecurities, my fear of losing a carefully crafted identity, my dread of judgment from others, and various other fears. However, it also provided a clear vision of my genuine dreams and aspirations, not those influenced or instilled by others. 

I previously mentioned two close friends who supported me during this journey. Having someone, or even several people, who can listen empathetically and non-judgmentally proved invaluable.

While it’s crucial to believe in ourselves first, hearing supportive words during dark moments helped me regain trust in myself and my abilities to consciously design a meaningful life.

Lastly, my firm belief that the universe is on my side was profoundly helpful. I understand that my knowledge is limited. Thus, all I can do is prepare as best as possible for the future and remain open to whatever the universe may have in store for me. The discipline of working diligently and living mindfully, thereby heightening my awareness, have been the two most vital skills in my life.

Have you shared any of this with people around you in real life?

I was hesitant to share my struggles with my parents. My past experiences taught me that my honesty could instill fear in them, so I chose to remain silent. My friends and colleagues were also oblivious to my situation because I sensed they lacked a genuine interest in my progress through life. I didn’t want my struggles to become fodder for small talk.

Generally, when I grapple with feelings of insecurity or low self-esteem, I confide only in my closest friends. They’re the ones who listen without judgment or making it about themselves. They gently ask if I’d like some input, and I appreciate that. Sometimes I welcome their advice and other times, I just need them to listen – and that’s perfectly okay.

In my darkest moments, I sought professional help and attended coaching sessions. The experience was transformative and it inspired me to become a life coach myself.

I’ve witnessed firsthand the powerful impact of creating a safe space for someone to be radically honest with themselves. It can truly make a difference in a person’s life.

If you could give a single piece of advice to someone else that struggles, what would that be?

No one possesses the ultimate truth. The advice we receive from others is usually drawn from their personal experiences, but it doesn’t necessarily mean their truth will align with ours. This includes advice from our parents.

Although they usually offer guidance out of love, their narratives are unique to them and should not automatically become our narratives. We must consciously create our own stories, otherwise we risk blindly following in others’ footsteps.

Each of us possesses the power to construct our own meaningful lives that resonate with our core values. However, many of us forget this innate power and opt for the easier path: following the expectations of others. When things go awry, it’s convenient to blame them, saying “They told me to do this.” However, such a life lacks meaning and adventure. 

Finding the courage to take control of your life and accepting responsibility for your own happiness may be challenging, but I assure you, it’s worthwhile. Your life will become an adventurous journey you’ll never regret.

What have been the most influential books, podcasts, YouTube channels, or other resources for you?

• The Power of Now from Eckhart Tolle: This book helped me realize that pain is inevitable but suffering is a choice. It helped me understand that we are not our thoughts nor our emotions and that we can always focus on the things that we can control

Where can we go to learn more about you?

You can read more about me here or find me on Instagram and LinkedIn.

By the way: If you want to start feeling better and more productive, I’ve condensed the information of 100’s of our articles into a 10-step mental health cheat sheet here.

This Cheat Sheet Will Help You Be Happier and More Productive

Thrive under stress and crush your goals with these 10 unique tips for your mental health.

Download The Free Cheat Sheet

Want more interviews?

Continue reading our inspiring case studies and learn how to overcome mental health struggles in a positive way!

Want to help others with your story? We would love to publish your interview and have a positive impact on the world together. Learn more here.

Hugo Huijer Author

Founder of Tracking Happiness, with over 100 interviews and a focus on practical advice, our content extends beyond happiness tracking. Hailing from the Netherlands, I’m a skateboarding enthusiast, marathon runner, and a dedicated data junkie, tracking my happiness for over a decade.

The post How I Stopped Being a People Pleaser & Embraced Myself to Walk My Own Path appeared first on Tracking Happiness.