Baz Porter was a soldier and veteran of the Royal British Army, who returned home with PTSD. He has had to face a number of adversaries relating to his PTSD, ranging from depression to issues to do with addiction. He now uses the skills and attributes he learned from his trials with these issues in order to motivate and help others, through his new career as a motivational speaker.
His new publication, “Using Trauma To Thrive” aims to describe to the reader his trials and tribulations, and is to be released on the 12th of December 2020.
We sat down with Baz for a quick interview.
How did you get to where you are today?
After I had returned home from the Royal British Army in 2004, I was suffering from serious issues to do with PTSD, flashbacks, nightmares, depression and anxiety, and as a result I was also battling issues to do with addiction.
I struggled a lot, and it was very hard for me at times. However, there was something inside me that made me just keep going and going, never giving up. I came to understand that I had a gift to be able to motivate myself, a gift which I would extend onto other people as a result. I use this gift to help others become more aware of their own true self and self-awareness.
In my career as a motivational speaker, I teach this self-awareness, as well as an understanding of things such as other dimensions, universal laws, quantum energy healing work and new paradigms. I perform these teachings for a varied crowd of people, including individuals, groups and corporations. From my own life and its issues, I have learned how to move through adversity and obstacles, no matter how hard they are, and I aim to inspire this into others. Through my podcast and my soon to be released publication, my community will continue to grow.
During what time period was it when you decided you wanted to write a book?
Around a year ago is when I decided to get my story onto paper. It’s always been a goal of mine to leave a lasting impression on the world, and within the modern age, books and so on can definitely leave an impact. So with that, I decided now was the time to act.
What was writing the book like, and did it take long?
The book is something that took a great deal of patience, and I wanted it to be structured but also have depth in its chapters. I wanted it to be relatable to the readers as well as understandable. It was nice to look back on my entire life so far and the journey I had undertaken, it was quite humbling. The whole process took around 8 months.
How did you split the book up between being a memoir and a self-help guide?
It is a good representation of how I live my life in general. I have to navigate through the personal trauma, as well as supporting others around me.
I am looking to change how humility is looked at and acted upon without division. I have put my skills and the mindset I have in order to express a structured vision for the future, I feel like the book is the first step into a much larger vision for the future involving love, equality, healing and balance on a global scale.
Is the book exclusively for those who are PTSD affected, or is it for a wider audience?
The book is supposed to be for a wider audience, not just those who are affected by PTSD. It is a good way to raise awareness and visibility about PTSD, but also that it is not just about individuals, but humanity as a whole. Every experience is supposed to be relatable to the reader’s everyday life. My book also will provide self-help tools, advice, hope and improvement.
What are the main aspects that you want people to take away from your book?
That many things are possible in any circumstance and situation, and that as humans we are very resilient beings and can make it through just about anything. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, and nothing has been achieved in human history by simply looking at the ground. Another aspect is garnering the courage to be able to face your own flaws, and also to be proud of who you are and what you have achieved, no matter what obstacles you may have faced or currently face.
Are you planning on releasing more books related to PTSD or any other topics?
I have already started thinking about another project in order to continue my work. This involves building a foundation which will leave a lasting impact of joy, hope and knowledge to future generations after me. For now, I will continue to work with individuals and groups in order to continue to support growth and change.
