Dan Flanagan’s journey from addiction, family mental health struggles, and professional setbacks to one of purpose, service, and joy offers a powerful roadmap for transformation. Starting as a sales rep at Group Management Services, Dan faced personal challenges that eventually led him to re-evaluate his life. It wasn’t until May 2019 that he reached a breaking point with alcoholism. Committing to sobriety, now approaching six years, Dan’s foundation in faith and a "one day at a time" mindset has transformed his life. His family’s ongoing mental health struggles inspired him to co-found the Brain Enrichment Initiative (BEI), which offers a 16-week brain wellness curriculum in schools, empowering students to address emotional health proactively. Dan’s story highlights how our darkest moments can become catalysts for positive change and purpose, creating ripples that extend far beyond our own lives.

Highlights of this episode:

• Achieving nearly six years of sobriety after hitting rock bottom in May 2019
• Growing up with a father battling clinical depression and a brother with schizoaffective disorder
• Founding the Brain Enrichment Initiative (BEI) to give students proactive mental wellness tools
• Implementing a 16-week curriculum where older students (8th- 10th grade) mentor younger students (4th-6th grade)
• Focusing on proactive mental health solutions rather than reactive approaches
• Finding purpose in past pain by helping others avoid similar struggles
• Shifting from victim mentality to victor mentality through faith, sobriety, and focusing on what matters most
• Building a nonprofit that addresses behavioral health issues before symptoms emerge
• Creating a model that helps students and relieves pressure on overextended teachers

https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/episode-30-turning-pain-into-purpose-leadership-sobriety-mental-health-with-dan-flanagan/

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