A MAN from a village near Ilminster has published a book and will be speaking at an event about it next month.
Michael Griffin, 72, from Shepton Beauchamp, published his novel How to Break Free from Fear – The Power of Choice in October 2025, through which he explores the ‘root cause of fear’.
According to Michael, his journey started more than 15 years ago, when he truly started looking into his life’s journey and reflecting on his shortcomings and why they occurred.
He said he ‘hit a bad time’ after his father died, and started over afterwards, then ten years later, he hit another hurdle in his life, and following this, he tried to figure out the true cause.
He said: “A year after my dad died, I hit rock bottom and didn’t want to be here anymore. I had a big awakening and had a lot of help. It went well for about ten years before it all fell apart again, and then I spent another two or three years getting over that.”
After this, he said he started exploring deep self-reflection work, therapy, researching psychology, quantum mechanics, spirituality and more.
He said: “I realised that if I change my thinking, I can change my actions and have a different result.
“It's past beliefs we pick up without realising it. When I was young, I wanted to do certain things, but I didn’t get a lot of support, which planted a lot of fears and limiting beliefs in me that held me back later in life.”
He added: “Once we recognise the signs, we have the choice to look back and change it.”
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This discovery inspired Michael to teach others how to help themselves ‘change fear from an automatic response to an intended response’ and ‘understand and discover where ‘our true power lies’.
He said: “I have learnt a lot of lessons, and now I want to share that with other people.
“I decided before I die that I wanted to help those around me and others to discover this too. “
The book itself is a guide on how to break free from fear, for anyone ‘overwhelmed by anxiety, self-doubt, or the pressure to keep up in an increasingly fearful world.’
The synopsis reads: “Far from abstract theory, this is a down-to-earth, relatable roadmap for transformation. Through reflective questions, personal stories, and everyday wisdom, readers are gently guided to let go of limiting patterns and reconnect with what really matters.
“In a time when fear can feel like the default setting, How to Break Free from Fear is an empowering invitation to choose differently—to move toward love, authenticity, and inner freedom.”
The event will be taking place at 7-9pm on March 25 in Ilminster Art Centre, and Michael's book is available on Amazon.
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