Triumph Over Trauma: Ace Aspiras Shares Journey of Recovery on “Rebuilding Life After Addiction”
Podcast Introduction Everyone grapples with their own set of unique life challenges. Some conquer adversity through sheer determination and relentless tenacity, while others make their triumphant rebirth using the spiritual tools gifted by their faith. That’s exactly what Ace Aspiras has done. On a recent episode of the podcast “Rebuilding Life After Addiction”, Ace took the opportunity to discuss his journey to sobriety, sharing his inspiring story with hosts Justin and Robert.
“The Power of A Testimony”
Ace’s testimony begins in California but takes him all the way to Boise, Idaho. Once a respiratory therapist attending to some of America’s first COVID-19 patients, Ace subsequently found himself entangled in the throes of various substance addictions. The turning point came on December 18th, 2021, following a failed suicide attempt just days before his brother’s wedding. This was the moment when Ace recalls the Lord telling him there was more to life than just suffering. After deciding to relieve himself of the spiralling cycle of addiction, he marked the beginning of his journey to sobriety. Ace’s path wasn’t linear, a common truth amongst individuals recovering from addiction. However, he held onto the belief that as a child of God, his innate values represented joy, peace, love and other virtuous characteristics. Today, Ace holds onto more than a year and a half of sobriety, gaining each day through God’s grace.
Unpacking The Trauma Ace reveals how Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) played a significant role in his life after experiencing COVID-19’s first wave as a healthcare provider. The podcast deep-dives into this trauma and how it inspired Ace to pen his experiences down in a book. Ace’s journey to understanding his mental health was facilitated through counseling, therapy, and eventual diagnosis. With the confirmation of his condition, Ace was able to implement a game plan for his health, equipped with the knowledge that others had gone through similar battles and came out on the other side. During the book-writing process, Ace confronted many of his privately endured experiences, which initially triggered symptoms of PTSD. However, he learnt to tell his story from a third-person perspective to maintain a healthy psychological distance. This approach helped him navigate the traumatic memories while remaining present in his progress.
Turning Pain into Power
Ace’s transformative journey culminated in a powerful book entitled “Triumphing in Truth: Transforming Trials into Testimonies.” Launched in January 2022, it quickly ascended the ranks on Amazon as a bestseller in its category. The book’s creation wasn’t Ace’s idea. It was through the encouragement of his peers who saw potential in his shared stories and suggested he compile them into a book. It wasn’t easy – the book underwent three revisions before it took its final shape as a 12-chapter introspection into Ace’s life and recovery journey. It seeks to instruct readers by repeatedly illustrating how to transform personal truth into a resilient testament of triumph. The Role of Forgiveness and Faith Ace’s journey portrays him aptly – a victor who understands well his identity as a child of God. In moments of suffering, he finds solace in that identity, understanding that he was created for a purpose. If God created him, then he is part of that divine creation and is meant to be impactful. Robert, one of the podcast hosts, points out that in order to witness restoration in people’s lives, they must first unravel their past traumas and face them head-on. This includes forgiving those who have caused hurt and releasing them from a prison of resentment.
Ace Aspiras’ life story serves as a beacon of hope for those caught in the vicious cycle of addiction. His transcending journey from a PTSD diagnosis to navigating his way to recovery to finally encapsulating his truth and transformation into a published book is nothing short of inspiring. It showcases a life that possesses the potential to triumph over adversity and serves as a reminder that every struggle carries a lesson, every hardship hides a kernel of strength, and every journey holds the potential to transform into a compelling testimony. You can find Ace’s book, “Triumphing in Truth: Transforming Trials into Testimonies,” available for purchase on Amazon.
