In his powerful TEDx talk, “My Journey Through Addiction and Healing,” Lance Wright shares his deeply personal story of recovery from addiction and the transformative lessons he’s learned over more than 32 years of sobriety. Lance opens up about his tumultuous childhood, marked by feelings of abandonment and a quest for belonging, which ultimately led him into a cycle of addiction and incarceration.
He emphasizes that addiction is not merely about substances but is often rooted in early programming—traumas and narratives formed in childhood that shape our self-perception and choices. Through a moment of profound realization while incarcerated, Lance discovered that his true identity was not defined by his past but by the choices he could make in the present.
As an addiction recovery specialist, he now advocates for a new approach he calls “neurotransformation.” This method focuses on awareness, disruption, and practice to break negative coding and replace it with empowering beliefs. With resilience and courage, Lance invites us to examine our own narratives, encouraging us to pursue the freedom that comes from understanding and healing. His inspiring message reminds us that change, though challenging, can lead to a life of fulfillment and hope.
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Author Video Description
Most people think addiction is the problem—what if it’s actually the message? In this talk, I reveal how our deepest struggles are rooted in the brain’s wiring and the stories we tell ourselves. When we learn to rewire those patterns, addiction becomes not an ending—but the beginning of healing, purpose, and connection. I’ve spent over three decades helping individuals and families navigate the chaos of addiction—because I’ve lived it myself. With more than 32 years in recovery, I’ve learned that addiction isn’t just about substances—it’s about the stories, beliefs, and programming that shape how we see ourselves and the world. As an Addiction Recovery Specialist, I’ve guided countless families from crisis to healing, combining lived experience with the science of neuroplasticity to show how real change happens. I’m not here to lecture—I’m here to share what’s possible when we rewire the mind, rewrite the story, and reclaim who we truly are. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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TEDx is an international community that organizes TED-style events anywhere and everywhere — celebrating locally-driven ideas and elevating them to a global stage. TEDx events are produced independently of TED conferences, each event curates speakers on their own, but based on TED’s format and rules.
Video “My journey through addiction and healing | Lance Wright | TEDxTemecula” was uploaded on 12/03/2025 to Youtube Channel TEDx Talks