In a fast-moving world, it’s easy to feel like you’re always falling behind. For Ben Courson, that feeling isn’t something to run from. It’s something to sit with, understand, and grow through.
Ben Courson is a speaker, author, and mental health advocate who has spent years helping people find hope in hard times. Growing up in Southern Oregon, Ben was surrounded by a family deeply rooted in faith and service. Early on, he showed a passion for encouraging others, whether through Bible study groups, writing, or public speaking.
“I’ve always believed hope isn’t just a feeling,” Ben says. “It’s a strategy. It’s something you can actually build into your life with small, intentional steps.”
A Personal Journey
Ben’s own life has been filled with highs and lows. After graduating from Calvary Chapel High School in Orange County in 2005, he went on to study ministry in Mexico under the guidance of his father. At just 18, he joined the Applegate Christian Fellowship, working closely with his family for many years.
But things haven’t always been easy. Like many of the people he now speaks to, Ben has battled serious mental health struggles, including depression and anxiety. These experiences pushed him not just to survive but to rethink how he lived and how he helped others.
“Facing my own mental health challenges was a turning point,” Ben says. “It showed me that real strength isn’t pretending you’re okay. It’s having the courage to say you’re not and still choosing to move forward.”
Hope Generation
Today, Ben leads Hope Generation, a platform aimed at inspiring young people to build resilience and find joy even when life gets tough. Through books like Optimisfits and Flirting with Darkness, he shares real-life strategies for overcoming depression, anxiety, and the pressures of modern living.
Ben’s message is powerful: you are not your struggles. “Your wounds are not the end of your story,” he says. “They’re the beginning of a new one.”
His work blends personal storytelling with practical advice. Instead of pretending everything is fine, Ben encourages people to own their struggles and use them as fuel for growth.
The Need to Slow Down
Recently, Ben has been speaking more about the value of slowing down. In a world obsessed with speed and productivity, he offers a different view: sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is pause.
“We think we have to hustle harder to be valuable,” Ben says. “But actually, slowing down can save your soul.”
He points out that constant busyness doesn’t just exhaust us physically—it wears down our emotional and spiritual health too. Without space to breathe and reflect, creativity dries up, relationships suffer, and mental health declines.
Ben often shares small, simple steps to build more rest into your life: starting your day with stillness, limiting screen time, spending time in nature, and saying no to commitments that don’t align with your values.
“It’s not about doing less for the sake of it,” he explains. “It’s about doing the right things with a full heart instead of doing everything with a half-empty one.”
A New Path: Veganism and Compassion
Another recent development in Ben’s journey is his move toward veganism. After years as a vegetarian, he made the full switch to a vegan lifestyle. His decision was rooted in compassion for animals, concern for the environment, and a desire for better personal health.
Ben shares that studies show one vegan can save hundreds of animals a year and dramatically cut their environmental footprint. But for him, the change is deeply personal.
“When I learned about the suffering involved in animal agriculture, I couldn’t look away,” he says. “Choosing veganism was a way to live out the compassion I want to see in the world.”
A Humble Approach to Influence
Despite his wide reach—books, social media presence, speaking events—Ben keeps his focus philosophically grounded. He doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. He’s just someone who has walked through darkness and wants to share what is helping him find the light.
“I’m still learning as I continue developing a philosophy of hope” Ben says. “Every day is a new chance to grow, to stumble, to get back up. I just hope that by sharing my journey, I can make someone else’s a little lighter.”
In an era when public figures often feel distant or overly polished, Ben’s honesty and humility stand out. He isn’t interested in being a celebrity. He’s interested in building a community of hope—one small step, one real conversation at a time.
And maybe that’s why his message resonates. In a noisy world, a voice that says “You’re not alone” is something we all need to hear.
Read more:
Ben Courson on Hope, Healing, and Slowing Down