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Shortly after the election, I decided to refocus my column. Instead of contributing to the vitriol found in much of the public discourse, I want to carve out space dedicated to shining a light on the people doing good work to help make this world a better place. I'm holding space for good. It's what I'm calling my column going forward.

This week is the perfect time to formally announce this change, because the person I want to share with you is a kindred spirit in this way.

I first met Dan Peters, or "Dr. Dan" as he is known, as a guest on his Parent Footprint podcast a few years ago. He interviewed me about my back-to-school column series on mental health. Now, after 330 episodes, Dr. Dan has also shifted focus for a new podcast called "Make it a Great One with Dr. Dan." After listening to the first episodes featuring people with incredible life stories, it was my turn to interview him. I wanted to know Dr. Dan's story.

Dr. Dan, who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology, is a psychologist and executive coach as well as the executive director of the Summit Center in San Francisco. But he began his life as an intuitive child and empath. He was someone who had a knack for seeing the potential in people and situations. He was the friend who wanted "to make sure that everyone in the group was OK," he said. Children, especially boys, are rarely taught that this kind of sensitivity is an asset.

The flipside of seeing potential in others is grappling with disappointment. "I was very idealistic," Dr. Dan said, which meant he also had to learn that even if you want to be helpful, it doesn't mean other people want your help. You can't make people see what you see and expect them to match your intensity or live up to what you envision. That's a hard space to navigate as a child.

Interestingly enough, tennis gave him focus for his abilities. He developed into a stellar player but also a great mentor for kids at tennis camp. Because of Dr. Dan's intuitive abilities, he could recognize his fellow players' talents as well as who they were as people. He said, "I could tell who had talent but was lacking the grit." Dr. Dan would compete accordingly and was drawn to those kinds of situations.

It wasn't until college that he discovered psychology, and those classes just clicked for him. Around the same time, talk radio shows offering advice to callers such as "Ask Dr. Ruth" and the hit television show "Frasier," centered around a psychiatrist with a radio show, were really popular. These spoke to him. He remembers thinking he'd love to have a career like that someday but had no idea how. What he did know was that he wanted to have a job where he got paid to be himself.

It was a college counselor who suggested he become a psychologist. "Through that guidance," Dr. Dan said, "I started on this path, and it just took hold of me." So the idealistic child who could see what was possible built a career out of helping people reach their fullest potential by being exactly who he is.

Listening to his new podcast, "Make it a Great One with Dr. Dan" feels like a wonderful celebration of self-actualization. Through incredible examples of the human experience, Dr. Dan inspires listeners to see what can happen when we believe in our potential and dare to dream.

Many of us feel overwhelmed these days, and the tendency can be to disconnect and pull away. Dr. Dan encourages us to remain open to possibility and instead truly be the change we want to see, because change is happening, and real change is an inside job.

"It's about living authentically," he said, "trying to express our true selves, what we're here to be -- our potential, possibility, purpose." Dr. Dan also stressed that one's purpose doesn't need to be found in your job, either. Just "get in touch with what drives you, what motivates you," he said, "and give yourself permission to step into it."

I'm stepping into it with this column. I hope you'll join me.

Listen to Make it a Great One with Dr. Dan wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about Dr. Dan at DrDanPeters.com.

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Do you know anyone who's doing cool things to make the world a better place? I want to know. Send me an email at Bonnie@WriterBonnie.com. Check out Bonnie's weekly YouTube videos at https://www.youtube.com/bonniejeanfeldkamp. To find out more about Bonnie Jean Feldkamp and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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