What if your strength comes from the very thing, you were told was your weakness?

In this episode, photographer, musician, and educator, Tone Deff, joins me for a gentle and introspective conversation about emotional suppression, self-worth, and stepping into your truth—one choice at a time.

We discuss:

– Growing up isolated in a deeply religious household, and how photography became a way to see and be seen

– Struggling with vulnerability after being taught that pain should be hidden—not healed

– Why avoiding discomfort isn’t sustainable, and how growth starts with choosing your own peace

– The quiet tension of envy and freedom—how he and his siblings look at each other’s lives with admiration, but also with longing

– How reading and reflecting on ancient philosophy helps him navigate modern struggles

– His journey to unlearn the lie that “my pain doesn’t matter because someone else has it worse”

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