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Glow For Hope: Sparking Conversation on Mental Health

Lawrence C. Harris on Self-Belief, Small Steps, and Taking Ownership as a Teen

Confidence, consistency, responsibility, and finding your people — without perfection

Host: Kelly Poelker
Guest: Lawrence C. Harris
Category: Mental Health · Teens & Young Adults · Confidence

We’ve covered a wide range of mental health topics on Glow For Hope — from first responder wellness, addiction and recovery, to trauma, grief, literacy, and the role community plays in emotional well-being. Today’s conversation shifts the focus in a really intentional way: teens and young adults.

In this episode, host Kelly Poelker sits down with Lawrence C. Harris, a youth empowerment speaker and author, to talk about how self-belief actually shows up in real life — in grades, leadership, relationships, and decision-making — and why so many young people quietly talk themselves out of the future they want.

Lawrence shares parts of his own story, including childhood bullying, trauma, therapy, and journaling — and explains why the goal isn’t to “flip a switch” into confidence. It’s about building belief layer by layer through small, consistent actions that create real evidence you’re capable. You’ll also hear a clear explanation of Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) vs. PTSD, why the nervous system resists change even when it’s good for you, and how taking ownership means focusing on what you can control — without blaming yourself for what others did.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:30 — 73.5MB) | Embed

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What You’ll Learn

  • How low self-belief shows up in school performance, leadership, and everyday decisions.
  • Why teens often stop trying — even when they have the ability to improve.
  • How childhood messages shape what people believe is “possible” for them.
  • Why confidence isn’t a switch — it’s built by evidence, layer by layer.
  • A practical way to stay consistent: make the input the goal (not the outcome).
  • Why small steps work with your nervous system instead of triggering shutdown.
  • The difference between PTSD and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) in simple terms.
  • How journaling can help stop spirals and shift your inner story.
  • What “taking ownership” looks like when life hasn’t been fair.
  • What adults can do differently when teen behavior doesn’t make sense on the surface.

Guest Spotlight: Lawrence C. Harris

Lawrence C. Harris is a youth empowerment speaker and author who works with teens and young adults in schools, churches, and organizations to help them challenge limiting beliefs, build confidence, and step into their potential.

In this conversation, Lawrence shares how therapy (including CBT), journaling, and honest self-reflection helped him move from survival mode into a life he enjoys waking up to — and why his approach is focused on simple, repeatable tools young people can use to build momentum without needing perfection.

Key Quotes

“When people don’t believe in themselves, especially teenagers, they just stop trying as hard.”
“You have to give your brain evidence to prove that it’s possible… you build it up layer by layer.”
“Everything isn’t your fault, but you’re allowed to control yourself. I’m responsible for what I do — not for what other people do.”
“Instead of making the goal the goal… make the input the goal.”
“One thing I wish I heard at that age: You’re loved — even if your mind tells you that you’re not.”

Resources & Next Steps

  • Connect with Lawrence:
    • Social handle: @lawrencec.empowers (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok)
    • Official Website: www.lawrencecharris.com
    • Book mentioned by Lawrence: The Power of Your Subconscious Mind (Joseph Murphy)
    • Kelly’s recommendation: A twist on Afformations (The Secret Code of Success by Noah St. John) — rather than focus on 'why I can't' do something, search for the 'how to make it happen'.
    • Try this today (for teens/young adults): Choose one small “input goal” and do it daily for a week:
      • Read 5 pages
      • 10 pushups
      • Say hello to 3 people
      • Journal one page
    • Start a conversation: Share this episode with a teen, parent, coach, or educator — and talk about what self-belief looked like in your own life at that age.
    • Visit Glow For Hope: Explore more conversations, resources, and upcoming events on the Glow For Hope website.

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