Sometimes the most powerful wisdom emerges from our darkest moments. For Susan Axelrod, The Confidence Coach and contributor to The Wisdom Collection, that moment came during an emotional meltdown in her late thirties—a breakdown that would ultimately become her breakthrough.

The Transformation That Changes Everything

“I learned that thoughts were things,” Susan shares, describing the revelation that transformed not just her life, but her life’s work. “And if I can control things, I can control my thoughts.” This insight, born from years of therapy, commitment, and what she calls “failing forward,” became the foundation of her nearly three-decade journey in mindset transformation.

Susan’s chapter in The Wisdom Collection explores this profound shift from overwhelm to empowerment. Her approach isn’t about quick fixes or feel-good platitudes—it’s about understanding that mindset transformation is “never done, but rather like all good modalities, a practice.” It’s wisdom earned through real struggle and sustained commitment.

Why This Message Matters Now

What makes Susan’s contribution particularly urgent is her raw honesty about the current state of our world. She’s watching her own daughters—intelligent, privileged young women in their thirties—struggle in ways that previous generations didn’t face. As she works with young professionals, she sees the epidemic of mental overwhelm that’s defining our times.

“I’m not fooling around right now,” she says with characteristic directness. “Our younger generations are suffering and struggling.” This isn’t abstract wisdom—it’s a battle cry for practical transformation.

The Power of Being Ready to Share

Susan’s decision to contribute to The Wisdom Collection came from a powerful realization: “It may have all been said before, but it hasn’t all been heard.” This transformation tip, as she calls it, guided her to say yes to sharing her story. She understood that for those who are intended to hear her message, her voice matters.

What’s particularly striking is how Susan approaches her work now. She’s selective about her clients, focused on depth over breadth, and committed to working with people who are serious about change. She’s created a quiz called “Is Your Mindset Holding You Back?” not as a marketing gimmick, but as a genuine tool for self-discovery.

Your Turn: What’s Your “Thoughts Are Things” Moment?

Reading Susan’s story raises powerful questions for anyone considering sharing their own wisdom: What breakthrough has shaped your life? What hard-won insight could transform someone else’s journey? What message keeps calling to you, asking to be shared?

Susan’s journey from overwhelming thoughts to teaching others how to control theirs shows us that our most difficult experiences often contain our most valuable gifts. Her willingness to be vulnerable about her meltdown, combined with her no-nonsense approach to transformation, creates exactly the kind of authentic wisdom that readers crave.

Perhaps you’re sitting on your own version of “thoughts are things”—a simple but profound realization that changed everything for you. Maybe you’ve developed your own practice through years of falling backward and forward. Or perhaps you’re working with a population that desperately needs to hear your particular message.

The question isn’t whether your wisdom is worth sharing—it’s whether you’re ready to step into the responsibility of sharing it. Susan’s chapter reminds us that authentic transformation requires both the courage to be vulnerable about our struggles and the commitment to turn our hard-won insights into practical wisdom for others.

The Wisdom Collection is now available, featuring Susan Axelrod’s chapter on mindset transformation alongside insights from leaders across industries who’ve turned their experiences into wisdom worth sharing.