My name is Albert Avedissian, and this is my story of finding my way back to wholeness—of rising from the ashes and becoming whole again.

As a teenager growing up in southern California in the 80” s, my older brother took me to a martial arts class held at our local community center. We studied Hapkido, a Korean martial art known for its emphasis on self-defense, discipline, and inner balance. My brother stopped attending after a few months, but I continued training until I earned my red belt. Not long afterward, my instructor moved to Canada, bringing that chapter of my life to an unexpected close.

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Although I missed my teacher, the lessons he shared stayed with me. Beyond self-defense, he introduced us to the basics of meditation— a practice that seemed simple at the time but would later become one of the greatest gifts of my life. I had no idea that twenty-five years later, those early lessons would help save me.

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Fast forward to 2007. After twenty years of marriage, my relationship came to an end. What followed was a painful period filled with short-lived relationships, heartbreak, and emotional chaos. My life began to spiral out of control. I found myself in the emergency room at two o'clock in the morning, more than I care to remember. I was prescribed antidepressants, but instead of helping, they left me feeling numb, disconnected, and like a zombie. There were times when I would leave home and not return for weeks.

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I knew something had to change. One day, my therapist recommended a bookstore in West Los Angeles called the Bodhi Tree. That single suggestion became a turning point. I began attending seminars there, searching for answers that traditional approaches hadn't been able to provide. One seminar introduced me to Buddhism and meditation. Inspired, I continued studying at a nearby meditation center, and little by little, my life began to settle.

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My anxiety decreased dramatically. My mind became clearer. For the first time in years, I felt hope. I really started paying attention to energy mine and others and became much more selective as to who I chose to hang around with and what I shared with people around me.

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As I continued healing, I returned to martial arts and added yoga and Qigong to my daily routine. These practices strengthened not only my body but also my spirit.

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Eventually, I left Los Angeles and moved to California's Central Valley, beginning a completely new chapter of my life in a new county three hundred miles away. There, I started volunteering with Tzu Chi, an international humanitarian organization whose mission can be summed up in three simple words: compassion in action. Serving others became an important part of my own healing journey.

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I also began paying closer attention to my health. Eating nutritious foods, taking quality supplements, and participating in cleansing programs helped restore my energy and mental clarity. Since 2009, meditation has remained a daily practice, and the results have been nothing short of life changing. I attracted a loving partner in my life and got married after being a bachelor for eighteen years.

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Healing didn't happen overnight. It came through many small steps, taken one day at a time. Each practice, each lesson, and each challenge helped bring me back to a place of balance and wholeness.

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I've come to see life as a hero's journey. We all begin at our own "twelve o'clock," setting out into the unknown. Along the way, we experience triumphs and setbacks, joy and sorrow, victories and defeats. There are moments when we wonder if we'll ever make it through. Yet somehow, if we keep going, we return home—perhaps battered and bruised, but wiser, stronger, and more compassionate than when we first began.

That journey inspired me to write this book: 21 ways to release anxiety
(www.21waystoreleaseanxiety.com) Available on Amazon and online retailers.

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Within these 21 easy-to-read chapters, I share my personal adventures, near-death experiences, and the practices that helped me rebuild my life. You'll discover insights into meditation, martial arts, healing arts, and other tools that supported my transformation.

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My hope is that this book serves as a roadmap for anyone searching for healing, purpose, or a way forward. If you're facing your own challenges, I hope my story reminds you that no matter how far you've fallen, there is always a path back to wholeness.

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Thank you for allowing me to share my journey with you.

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Sincerely,

Albert Avedissian

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