The Spirit of Gratitude with Yogesh Patel & Yogg Nation

Welcome fabulous!

Do you struggle with gratitude? What about gratitude for tough things today's guest is the perfect example of being perfectly imperfect on his quest for gratitude. He's incredibly open and honest about his journey.

Let’s Talk Tough Stuff—And Grace

Michael Herst’s background? It’s the stuff of movies. Retired police sergeant, injured in the line of duty, forced to reinvent himself after a career was yanked away. IHere’s the twist though: the journey became about finding a new purpose beyond the badge. “It allowed me to redirect my purpose in life,” he shares. And as casual as that sounds, the weight behind those words is real.

Support Systems Aren’t Just Fluffy Self-Help Talk

Michael doesn’t go solo on this journey. We’re talking family, friends, colleagues—an entire community intent on not letting him spiral. “They give you a positive atmosphere, which makes it easy to start working your way out of that,” he says. Yogi points out something so true: finding those people, those honest-to-goodness support systems, is transformative but so many struggle to reach out. And Michael nails it: in the digital age, we’re more “connected” but less truly close. Texting “I love you” isn’t the same as actually saying it, feeling it, living it.

Cooking Up Memories—And Healing

The also talk Italian feasts and the power of the dinner table. Michael’s fondest memories are simple: everyone around the table, food from every region, stories flying, laughter echoing. “It’s a chance for conversation and it’s a chance to relive those memories, which I think are important because it keeps the generations alive.” Cooking isn’t just about the food—it’s about connection, building bridges between past and present, healing by keeping family stories alive.

Generational Trauma Is Real—But Doesn’t Have to Be Forever

Michael goes all in, opening up about his own childhood with alcoholic parents and deep family dysfunction. The kicker? He made a vow to himself: he’d break that cycle. Forgiveness didn’t come easy, but understanding did as he dug into his family history during recovery. The huge takeaway? Healing yourself often means forgiving your past—and doing better for those who come after.

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Jen

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