Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Daniel Bilog. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Daniel, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’re complete cheeseballs and so we love asking folks to share the most heartwarming moment from their career – do you have a touching moment you can share with us?

In the heart of a vibrant city known for its rich tapestry of cultures, I embarked on a journey unlike any other. During the recent pandemic of 2020, we were all in our homes, isolated from each other. Video conference applications, like Zoom, was humanity’s immune response that gave us a window to be in community.

I decided to facilitate a circle for eight men of color, each from different backgrounds but connected by a common thread of seeking a space to share their life’s challenges in ways the world often silenced. This was the beginning of an 8-week journey, a men’s group circle, born from a vision to create a sanctuary for us to lay bare the complexities of our lives as the lockdown forced the world to look within ourselves.

As the weeks unfolded, our circle transformed into a crucible of change. The first meeting was tinged with cautious optimism. We, conditioned to shield ourselves against the judgments of society, initially approached the space with hesitation. However, the foundation we built on trust, respect, and confidentiality gradually melted our armors away, revealing our true selves.

Each session delved into topics that were often brushed under the carpet by society. From systemic oppression to personal accounts of surviving violence and child sexual abuse, our stories found a voice within the circle. These narratives weren’t shared as tales of victimhood but as testament to our resilience.

One of us shared a heart-wrenching journey from the darkness of childhood abuse to the light of self-acceptance. Another recounted experiences of violence that shaped his understanding of masculinity and strength.

With every meeting, the power of our circle grew clearer. While our experiences were distinctly our own, they wove into a collective tapestry of human experience. Laughter and tears intertwined, and in our silences, we found profound understanding and support in each other’s presence.

I guided us through exercises aimed at fostering emotional intelligence, urging us to reconnect with our inner selves and to communicate from the heart. We practiced active listening, validating each other’s experiences without judgment, creating a space where healing started with being heard.

As our journey neared its end, the transformation within us was undeniable. We had begun as strangers, defined by the labels society placed on us, but we emerged as brothers, bound by the shared odyssey of our souls. Our circle became a celebration of resilience, a place where we could face our shadows not to banish them but to acknowledge their role in our lives.

Our final gathering was a testament to the journey we had undertaken together. We shared not only the pain of our pasts but also our dreams for the future, now fortified with the wisdom gleaned from our collective experiences.

As we parted ways, we carried with us the knowledge that our stories, marked by trials, were integral to a larger narrative of survival and resilience. We had created a brave space, a container where we could be our truest selves, supported and uplifted by our shared humanity.

Though the physical circle concluded, its essence remained alive within us. It served as a beacon of hope and a reminder that spaces of vulnerability and understanding can indeed be powerful catalysts for personal and communal transformation.

Daniel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My journey into the realm of hypnotherapy and personal development was unexpected, guided by a series of profound and serendipitous events that seemed to point me in a direction I had never anticipated. With a deep-rooted interest in the complexities of the human mind and a critical eye on the societal structures that often limit our true potential, I found myself at a crossroads that would ultimately shape my future.

After a chance encounter at a conference, where the allure of hypnotherapy first caught my attention, I experienced a series of cancellations that tested my patience, only to be followed by a session under the glow of a full moon that would change my life forever. The session, a past life regression, revealed to me connections and insights so profound that they left me in tears and set me on a path I felt was destined.

As I began my practice, I initially helped clients overcome habits and achieve personal growth, marveling at the transformative power of hypnotherapy and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming). My work evolved over the years, enriching my approach and allowing me to see the world through my clients’ eyes without judgment, facilitating change and healing.

The turning point came in 2020 when I ventured into men’s work, recognizing a need for spaces where men could explore their emotions and vulnerabilities. By creating a supportive environment for men to connect and grow, I witnessed transformative changes that reinforced my commitment to this work.

Today, my practice is a testament to the belief in the power of connection, healing, and transformation. I am dedicated to helping my clients—especially men of color who face unique challenges—reclaim their identity and create new opportunities. My goal is to guide them towards realizing their full potential, embracing their heritage, and navigating the complexities of life with resilience and grace.

I invite you to join me on this journey of discovery and growth, to explore the depths of your own story, and to unlock the doors to a future filled with possibility and purpose. Together, we can redefine what it means to live fully, breaking free from the constraints of the past and stepping into a brighter, more empowered future.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The most profound lesson I’ve had to unlearn was my emotional detachment, an inability to empathize or provide emotional support, a trait I discovered was possibly inherited from my paternal grandfather. His survival through the harrowing Bataan Death March in World War II, where experiencing emotion could have meant death, likely left him—and subsequently, our family line—with a deeply ingrained avoidance of feeling. As I learned more about his experiences and their impact, I began to see my family’s behaviors and my own in a new light. This realization sparked a journey of unlearning inherited behaviors and reimagining a healthier, more emotionally connected way of being for the sake of future generations.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Discovering the most effective way to expand my client base was surprisingly simple: embracing authenticity. Initially, I adhered to a prescribed formula, unaware that sharing my genuine story and individual journey would resonate more deeply with potential clients. By openly discussing my experiences with reclaiming ancestral identity, lost through colonization or cultural assimilation, I connected on a more personal level. Demonstrating vulnerability and truth in my journey encouraged others to bravely face their own histories of remorse, shame, and guilt, inspiring them to embark on their own transformative journeys toward self-reconciliation and wholeness.

Contact Info:

• Website: discoverbeing.org
• Instagram: @discoverbeing