J. Reed Durand

Change and Growth Through Understanding & Preparation

Chief Information Officer, Realist, Change Practitioner, Creator Of The Train To Change Series, Author Of Train To Change: Phase One – Self-Mastery and Speaker

Healing Conversation #1390

— Change is one of the few certainties of life. Sometimes we choose it, sometimes it arrives unexpectedly, and sometimes it completely changes the direction we believe our lives are taking.

Today, J. Reed Durand joins me for a conversation about self-mastery, resilience, personal responsibility, and our ability to navigate change with greater awareness and intention.

We explore the idea that adaptability is not simply something we are born with—it is a skill we can develop and strengthen. We look at how we recognize our patterns and blind spots, remain grounded under pressure, question the beliefs and biases that influence our decisions, and become clearer about our values, purpose, and intentions.

We also explore the important difference between trying to control what happens around us and learning to master how we respond to it. True self-mastery isn’t about having all the answers or eliminating uncertainty. It’s about knowing ourselves deeply enough to remain centered when life changes the plan.

Ultimately, we ask: Can learning to accept, navigate, and grow through change become a pathway to greater freedom, meaning, resilience—and joy?

Valeria sits with J. Reed Durand — He is the author of “Train to Change: Phase One: Self-Mastery.”

From Private to Chief Information Officer, J. Reed Durand is a realist and change practitioner with 40 years of frontline leadership experience in one of the world’s largest and most complex institutions—the U.S. Army.

Throughout his dual military and civilian careers, he led personal, team, and enterprise-level transformations while refining practical, field-tested approaches to navigating change in high-stakes environments.

After retiring twice and reflecting on the patterns behind continuous change, he created the Train to Change series—blending leadership, psychology, philosophy, and organizational behavior into grounded, immediately usable strategies for personal and professional growth.

His first book, Train to Change: Phase One – Self-Mastery, is available worldwide, and his follow-on Kindle eBook, Train to Change: Realism, continues the series into Phase Two.

Reed’s work bridges theory and lived experience, offering audiences a disciplined, deeply human approach to self-mastery.

His core belief is simple: lasting transformation begins with taking ownership of your own development. He helps others understand change, prepare for it, and use it as a catalyst for growth in an increasingly complex world.

Learn more about J. Reed Durand and his work!