Chris Balsley: The Power of Forgiveness

What happens when life gives you two choices — prison or military?

In this raw and moving episode, psychologist and executive coach Chris Balsley joins us and opens up about the turning points that shaped his 40-year journey of faith, leadership, and healing. From being a 19-year-old facing a judge’s ultimatum, to training over 7,000 soldiers in mindfulness and resilience, Chris’s story traces how pain can transform into purpose.

He speaks candidly about surviving sexual assault, the anger and recklessness that followed, and how martial arts, spirituality, and forgiveness helped him reclaim his power. In sharing his story, Chris shows that forgiveness is not forgetting — it’s seeing the humanity in those who’ve hurt us, and freeing ourselves from the cycle of pain.