Author | Speaker | Mentor
Meet Ben.
Ben Smith is a thoughtful, introspective creative who uses his life experience to help others explore and navigate their own journey.
Many of those experiences occurred during a dark time of Ben's life when he was forced to learn invaluable lessons.
Personal struggles with violence, addiction and self-loathing shaped Ben into the compassionate, gentle, magnetic and joyous person he is today.
"Be the change that you wish to see in the world."
~Mahatma Gandhi
In his writing, Ben explores the universal struggles that everyone can relate to in some way.
"The world is on the cusp of a major positive shift in social consciousness. Each one of us can be a part of helping to create the tipping point, and I believe we should.."
Tell us about yourself. Who are you as a leader?
I'm very grounded, self-assured and have a lot of faith in a positive outcome. This is my influence as a leader.
What is the #1 conversation you hope men and women are engaging in right now?
Coming to a better understanding of how to centre or ground yourself to experience much more success with much less effort, and as a result, becoming a brighter, more positive light in the world.
Where is the best investment for our time, energy and influence and why?
Being with ourselves to find a calm, easy, positive perspective. In a world filled with distraction and confusion, depression, and suicide, the greatest commodity in the world is the ability to be a positive impact on others through your own energy.
The What
Moving Men Past Pain is an interactive digital toolkit that targets anxiety, mental wellness, mindfulness and movement in men and male-identifying people. The program is designed to support mental wellness and self-acceptance with a focus on anti-bullying, cultural sensitivity, emotional resilience, and much more.
The How
The digital toolkit comes with 6 modules each designed with the support and safety in mind on the path of moving past pain. The modules begin with a video introduction from the facilitator Trainer Ben Smith, guiding participants into the topic and sharing his personal journey from suicidal self-loathing to happiness, and how he has maintained this state of wholeness and joy for nearly a decade.
Each module comes with a relevant podcast episode from the Loving Goliath show with Ben and his daughter Willow, a health and wellness component, a scenario where the module's topic can be applied, and an open, safe and honest group session with the facilitators and other participants. Leaving the session, participants will take with them journalling prompts to get them thinking and reflecting on themselves and on the topic.
By the program's conclusion, participants should have new mechanisms for coping with stressors in their life, methods for safe reflection and self-care, a deeper understanding of their pain, and how to move past it.
The Goliath Foundation's How Healing Happens Digital Toolkits are being produced with support from the Indigenous Screen Office.
Hosted by father-daughter duo Ben & Willow Smith, Loving Goliath is a show about finding love for the monster within us all. Join them weekly to be part of the discussion in topics such as anxiety and stress, suicide, overcoming breakups and finding a sense of purpose.
Check out our trailer!
Testimonials
• "There aren't many guys that can drop the macho energy like [Ben] can. I'm sure that's why I could share my situation with you. I appreciate your advice and will put it to use."
• "I was really touched by your message on suicide and self-acceptance in episode 2 [of Loving Goliath]. I think it's so easy to think like, "oh man I could have been like this or that or had job X or Y" especially in a world where we are constantly suffocated by everyone else's success. It was really nice hearing this from a strong guy though because shit like this I can't talk to with about anyone in my family. It's nice to hear these things from someone like Ben who has this big personality but is so sincere in his feelings."
• "This is a game-changer. Most people don't seem to care about men's mental health."