From Homeless and Written Off to a Global Voice for Human Potential – Dr. John Demartini on Rebuilding from Rock Bottom

2025-04-11

Dr. John Demartini wasn’t supposed to make it. Diagnosed with learning difficulties. Branded “uneducable.” Homeless at 14. By the world’s standards, his story should’ve ended before it ever really began. But one powerful conversation changed everything. In this episode of On a Mission, Dr. Demartini shares the truth behind his journey not the highlight reel, but the moments most people never see. The shame. The survival. The relentless work it took to rebuild his identity, word by word, thought by thought. From living under bridges t...

Dr. John Demartini wasn’t supposed to make it.

Diagnosed with learning difficulties. Branded “uneducable.” Homeless at 14. By the world’s standards, his story should’ve ended before it ever really began.

But one powerful conversation changed everything.

In this episode of On a Mission, Dr. Demartini shares the truth behind his journey not the highlight reel, but the moments most people never see. The shame. The survival. The relentless work it took to rebuild his identity, word by word, thought by thought.

From living under bridges to teaching in over 100 countries, Dr. Demartini has spent his life helping others uncover their potential. But it started with facing his own darkness and making the decision to live with purpose, no matter what.

This is a conversation about trauma, healing, alignment and what it means to write a new story when the old one was never yours to begin with.

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Key moments include:

✔ The early diagnosis that almost sealed his fate

✔ Living on the streets and navigating addiction

✔ The moment a mentor told him he could do something extraordinary

✔ Learning to read one word at a time

✔ Repeating a daily affirmation for 49 years

✔ Why Dr. Demartini believes nobody is broken, just out of alignment

✔ Turning pain into purpose through education and service

✔ Creating the Demartini Method to help others unlock their true potential

✔ Why chasing pleasure won’t lead to fulfilment and what to pursue instead