Strength and redemption are the cornerstones of a journey that evolved from an 18-year prison sentence into a global mission of hope. In this profound episode of the TURTZED podcast, guest Sonny Von Cleveland joins us to discuss how he navigated the darkest chapters of his life to find a sense of peace that most people spend a lifetime searching for. Sonny’s story is a living testament to the idea that our past does not have to be our prison and that true healing is always within reach.
1. Redefining Resilience as a Conscious Choice
For many years, Sonny Von Cleveland viewed his capacity to endure through the lens of survival—simply making it through the next difficult situation behind bars. Today, that perspective has shifted entirely. True strength and redemption are found in how we emerge from our experiences and what we choose to do with our pain.
- Survival vs. True Power: Survival is a natural human instinct, but genuine power comes from refusing to let traumatic experiences dictate your future identity.
- The Daily Choice: Sonny emphasizes that being “strong” is not a muscle you train in a gym; it is a conscious, daily choice to say, “Today is not defined by my mistakes.”
- The Power of Presence: Focusing on the next hour of your life with integrity and love is the ultimate act of reclaiming your life.
2. Finding Peace Through Total Forgiveness
The path to strength and redemption is paved with the grueling, necessary work of forgiveness. Sonny shares that this isn’t just about forgiving those who caused harm, but the even harder task of forgiving oneself. Forgiveness is not a gift for the person who violated you; it is a gift for yourself to break the “shackles and chains of anger.”
- Forgiveness for Self: You must be compassionate with yourself and understand that as a human, you are allowed to evolve past your darkest moments.
- Releasing the “Why”: You don’t need a justification or an apology from someone else to let a situation go and move forward.
- Living the Apology: Sonny believes that verbal apologies can often be “lip service.” True character is found in your actions and how you show up for others today.
3. Using Compassion to Fuel Your Growth
A pivotal moment of change occurred for Sonny Von Cleveland during 19 months in solitary confinement. Prompted by a mentor, he began a deep investigation into the root of his lifelong anger. He realized that much of that rage was actually armor designed to protect a victimized inner self. By choosing compassion over rage, he discovered a new path toward a better life.
- Processing vs. Suppressing: Suppressing anger is toxic to the body. Healing requires “feeling it to heal it” rather than burying the pain.
- Self-Compassion: Even if you feel you don’t deserve it, practicing kindness toward yourself is the only way to sustain long-term personal growth.
- Ending the Cycle: By understanding his own pain, Sonny found he could no longer justify causing pain to others, effectively ending a generational cycle of trauma.
4. Reclaiming Internal Freedom
Sonny explains that the concept of “bringing back what was lost” is often misunderstood. In his case, that lost item was internal freedom. This reclamation is the heart of his mission to help others find their own strength and redemption.
- Healing is the Journey: Healing is a continuous process, but freedom is the ultimate destination where you are no longer a slave to your past.
- Inherent Worthiness: Your worth is not attached to your bank account or your social status; your worth is inherent in the fact that you exist.
- Internal Liberty: Reclaiming your mind from the grip of shame, guilt, and fear is the highest form of success.
5. Building the Life of Your Dreams
Sonny Von Cleveland is proof that anything is possible, regardless of one’s history. He encourages listeners to stop making excuses. Think about your big dreams, the sort of things you would do for free because of your passion for them. Once you find that spark, start chasing it. A life built today—traveling the country to talk about trauma—is proof that you can rebuild from zero when you embrace the process.
- The Power of Kindness: Life changes when you realize how a simple act of being nice to others opens doors that seemed permanently locked.
- Identifying “Comfortable Pain”: Many people stay in situations they hate because it is a “pain they know.” Growth requires facing the “uncomfortable pain” of change.
- Action as a Compass: Let love, kindness, and compassion be your guide, and you cannot fail to find a meaningful life.
The Message to Carry With You
Sonny’s final message is a call to action for anyone feeling stuck. Your strength and redemption are waiting for you the moment you decide you are worthy of them. As Sonny says, “Suffering ceases to be suffering the moment you give it a purpose.”
Use the hardships you have faced to help someone else through theirs. When you turn your pain into a mission, you don’t just change your own life—you change the world. To learn more about Sonny Von Cleveland’s mission, check out his new docuseries or visit his official website for resources on trauma recovery. You can also explore more episodes on TURTZED to continue your healing journey.
Connect with Sonny Von Cleveland
