This book is more than a remarkable testament to the possibility of overcoming trauma - it shines a light on a way to recover your identity and forge goodness and hope, even out of despair. It is different to other accounts of spiritual awakening I have encountered, and not told in a flamboyant, self-aggrandising way – in fact, the very opposite. It is intensely personal and humble, entirely open and full of invitation and instruction. It is a revelation, whether you're struggling with demons you know well or just trying to find your way forward, unsure what's holding you back.

Go Sophie, i'm inspired by your bravery to go within and confront the past, for as the Taoist saying goes, Learning to Live, is Learning to let Go.. All the best for tonight, may you change many lives.

It is rare that I will read a whole book in one go but 'Pain is Potential' is a powerful book. By being vulnerable and sharing her own story, the author provides an open forum to discuss and inspire new ways of thinking about pain. She illustrates her journey into purpose and demonstrates a clear guide for one to relate this to their own life. This book has changed my way of thinking and I am sure it will for many.

This book evoked many emotions in me. It made me reflect on my own experiences in life and pain I have endured. The author expresses a deep vulnerability in the telling of the darkest moments of her life. This in turn influences the reader themselves to open up to find their true message. The guidance and structure of the novel provides flow and step by step to achieving your message. If you are unclear of your message or reason, I would highly recommend Pain is Potential to you.

At first the story of disrupted childhood, self destruction, abuse of alcohol, confused sexuality, prostitution and the story of addiction strike me as disturbing and unsettling in my core. It was written honestly and I felt it's weight in underlaying pain and suffering. I empathised and felt writer's pain as my own, now amplified. Honesty and openness to personal details, although hard to digest at first, paved for me a credible gravitational pool which was drawing my attention towards it's resolution. I trusted the person who wrote it and I read the book almost in one go. The story can be easily followed and it's well put together. Observation of the pain, it's acceptance, the links to it's cause (traumas), understanding of it's role and the Light that came onto the the most vulnerable of self, brought the conclusion to the book in a very purposeful rendition. I experienced awakening 9 years ago and I recognised the truth Sophie's words pointed to. As I was reading, many times I acknowledged how well it was written. It vibrated in alignment with my inner truth. "Well done, she is really good!", I was saying to myself. I highly recommend. The fifth star I leave for you to add.

Thank you Sophie. Reading your book has ignited a deep deep soul search. I had no idea when I met you before I started reading your book, how moved I was about to become. I am in such a huge process of unfolding right now and am so excited about carving out the defining shape of my life from so much more authenticity. Since reading your book, I shared my own story, so much like yours...and it had an overwhelming response. Opportunities came flooding in from around the world to be interviewed and feature in books and doors have opened, suddenly! My heart has opened! Things just got very real and I don't feel like I need to hide anymore. I cannot wait to see where my life goes now! I am so excited about following your journey from here as what you do is so powerful! I just love your honesty! It has inspired me SO much that I am already writing another book just weeks after my last dual book launch! This one will be the best yet by FAR! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Love!

Sophie Pham takes us on a hero's journey -- her journey -- in "Pain is Potential." It chronicles her growth from a space of utter, suicidal despair to a life centered in tender, compassionate love and service. She is completely open, and in her vulnerability, reveals her truth: the pain of trauma can be used to start a journey to self-realization ... and from there one can continue the work and blossom into self-actualization. Sophie acknowledges, nay embraces, both the darkness and the light of her experiences ... and by honoring both, she ultimately triumphs. Hers is a wondrous journey and her story is a fascinating, courageous autobiography in and of itself. Sophie, to her credit and for our benefit, takes her story further and gives us practical tools that we can use to enhance our own journeys. May you find her story inspiring, these tools beneficial, and her wisdom enlightening.

Sophie's story is incredibly inspiring, I related to so much of her journey and the wisdom,insight and guidance she offers has helped me to overcome fear and focus on what matters most in my life. Her book has opened my eyes to who I truly am and what I am capable of. If you seek to know yourself, to make real change in your world and the world of others, then I highly recommend this book.

If you're looking for an inspiring story about overcoming the obstacles that life throws at you - and then turning that into fulfillment - look no further. This is such an honest, open account from a person who has faced some incredible trials. Rape, addiction, prostitution, mental illnesses - this girl has faced down some pretty fierce demons and come out victoriously on top. I feel so grateful to her for baring her soul, and I guess that's a pretty big part of why I appreciated this story so much - you never know the stories of others, unless they are willing to share. Sophie has shared her story with the intention of helping others understand their own pain and trauma, and how it can be used to create a life of fulfillment and content. Each aspect of her story is connected to the point she's trying to make - how to identify childhood pain that may have impacted you, how a person's pain can manifest, and the extent of control past pain can have on present thoughts and actions. It is structurally sound and sensible in its approach to harnessing pain to create potential. There are a modest amount of self-help activities (something I'm notoriously bad at completing) but they involve a lot of consideration so I found that, even though I didn't write anything down, I was still developing a better sense of my own behaviours. I know this book and its methods won't work for everyone, but this is going to be a game changer for people who want to give; people who feel like they have a greater purpose but aren't sure how to realise it. It'll be tough work, facing your truth so unconditionally, but it seems like the reward is worth it.

“Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble.” (Yehuda Berg) In Pain is Potential, Sophie Pham does justice to the above quote. A beautiful and inspiring story, exquisitely written.