This past week marked a monumental moment as I officially launched BlindSighted with my first book signing in San Diego and a plethora of media interviews. When someone asked how I felt, I couldn’t help but think of Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon, that infamous moment when he entered Rome, knowing there was no turning back. Similarly, I felt as if I’d crossed my own Rubicon—not fully clothed, mind you, but standing there metaphorically in my underpants.
Some have asked why I’ve taken on such a personal project, delicate with controversial topics, so different from my usual work in business and entrepreneurship. My answer is simple: it’s time to model the courage to face our fears fiercely with reality. Genuine joy only comes when we dive into the hidden parts of ourselves that don’t show up on the surface.
While in San Diego, I was asked a question that’s lingered with me since. Someone asked, “What part of your conception story troubles you most?” I gave a surface answer at first, but this morning, as I did my meditating reflective walk, I realized I needed to go deeper. The sterile nature of my conception still bothers me. I’d give $100,000 to have been conceived in a passionate, torrid affair instead of a sterile setting using a turkey baster.
Our souls feel the energy around us even from the very beginning, and children need to be nurtured tenderly right from the womb.
Coming to terms with this has taken years of personal work. I’ve named my inner critic “Johnny Passion,” the voice that brings up old, negative self-talk when I’m vulnerable. When this voice reappears, I slow down, pause, and speak to my inner five-year-old child, asking, “Hey, buddy, what’s going on?” Speaking these truths aloud has been a path to healing, and I challenge you to ask yourself: are you nurturing and self-caring for your five-year-old?
As I go forward, my hope is that this story becomes a legacy of courage for my children, my grandchildren, and anyone who resonates with this journey. May we all find the bravery to speak our truths and honor the journey of self-discovery.
All my very best,
Rich Christiansen
P.S. Thank you to everyone who supported me so far in the launch of BlindSighted A Journey Of Identity Faith And Healing. If you haven’t had the opportunity to get it yet, you can find it here.
