Surrender to Joy and Own Your Pain with Susan Michel

This Mindful Living Podcast episode goes straight into the deep end of mental health, suicidal pain, and spiritual healing through A Course in Miracles. Host Sana sits down with author and suicide prevention advocate Susan Michel to unpack what it really means to say “I cannot take this pain anymore” and how that is different from truly wanting to die. Susan shares how unprocessed childhood abandonment, betrayal, and perfectionism fed her depression, why repressing emotions keeps us stuck, and how forgiveness becomes a non negotiable strategy for real transformation. If you care about mental health, suicide prevention, trauma healing, and practical spirituality that actually fits real life, this conversation is built for you 

About the Guest:

Susan Michel is a two time suicide survivor, author of Surrender to Joy. From Suicide to Serenity, and founder of Trust Transformational Truth. For more than 30 years she has been a teacher and student of A Course in Miracles, integrating psychology, spirituality, and trauma healing. Today she helps people identify and process emotional pain, release old stories of “not enough,” and reconnect with their innate brilliance through forgiveness, responsibility, and inner guidance.

Key Takeaways:

• Suicidal thoughts often mask a deeper truth. many people do not actually want to die, they want the emotional pain to stop, and that distinction can open the door to help and healing.

• Repressed emotions do not disappear. when we bury abandonment, betrayal, shame, and grief, those emotions migrate to the unconscious and start quietly running our choices, relationships, and self worth.

• Society trains us to project pain outward. we blame people, systems, or circumstances, but sustainable mental health begins when we take radical responsibility for our inner experience instead of staying in victim mode.

• A Course in Miracles offers a practical path, not just “positive vibes”. it focuses on identifying the blocks to love. doing the work of owning pain, not bypassing it, and using forgiveness as a daily practice of nervous system and soul level reset.

• Forgiveness is strategy, not weakness. holding resentment keeps us energetically tied to the wound, while forgiving others and ourselves clears triggers, ends repeating patterns, and creates space for calm, joy, and spiritual clarity.

• Simple practices help when you feel suicidal. praying or asking for help, journaling, slowing down, brief daily meditation, and reaching out to a therapist or trusted person are realistic first moves in the next 24 hours. not a five year plan.

• Loved ones should not rush to fix. the most powerful support from parents, partners, or friends is to listen without judgment, believe the person, invite them to share their pain, and encourage professional mental health support.

How Listeners Can Connect with Susan Michel:

• Website. https://www.surrendertojoy.net

• Book. Surrender to Joy. From Suicide to Serenity. available on Amazon

• Organization: Trust Transformational Truth

 

Suicide lines

 

If you’re in immediate crisis, contact local emergency services or your regional suicide prevention helpline.

Here are reliable, widely used crisis lines by region:

United States  :  

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org (24/7). SAMHSA+1
• Crisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741 (24/7). Crisis Text Line
• LGBTQ+ (The Trevor Project, youth) — call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678 (24/7). The Trevor Project+1
• Trans Lifeline — US [phone] (hours vary; peer support). translifeline.org+1

Canada  :  

• 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline — call or text 9-8-8 (24/7). 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline+1
• Crisis Text Line (via Kids Help Phone) — text 686868 (24/7). Crisis Text Line
• Trans Lifeline — Canada [phone] (hours vary). translifeline.org

United Kingdom & Ireland:    

• Samaritans (UK & ROI) — call 116 123 (free, 24/7). Samaritans+1
• Shout (UK) – Crisis Text