More Than Capable

Why Chapter 3 Stigma Is Becoming Part of Something Bigger

“I don’t think I would be capable of making it through what you went through.”

Those words have hung in the air between me and others on numerous occasions over the past two years. I get caught up on what to say each time. My gut response is not socially acceptable, so I hold back.

Deep down I want to grab the person by the shoulders. I want to stare them in the eyes, shake them vigorously and scream, “You don’t understand how much of a disaster I was! You are way more capable than you realize!”

It initially angers me and then saddens me to realize how little so many people think of themselves. Not in an ‘I can do anything I set my mind to’ kind of way, but in their belief in their ability to rise up when it matters most.

That comment has stayed with me, embedded deep within me as something I want to help others see in themselves. I have turned it all over in my mind, wondering how the work that I have been doing could be pointed towards dismantling this belief that ordinary individuals could not rise up to the challenges life will present us with.

That belief, that we are not capable, is the foundation of why this work is becoming More Than Capable.

And today finally feels like the day. The day to redirect and focus the messaging of this body of work from addiction recovery to something bigger. Drawing from my experience navigating the world of recovery from addiction and loss will certainly remain at the core of much of the work; it is, after all, the experiences that have shaped me the most.

But I feel a higher calling, a pull to broaden the impact of this work.

The Chapter 3 Stigma page will be rebranded to More Than Capable, an homage to that comment that so many people have made upon hearing our story.

From the beginning, I wanted Chapter 3 Stigma to be something a person could find at their lowest point. I pictured myself curled up in our dank basement, wearing a sweatshirt with the hood pulled tight, hiding from the world while detoxing from another bender. I was desperate for relief, but unsure where to turn or how to begin.

As the body of work has grown, I developed a real fear — that the most important conversations, the ones that could reach that person, would become buried in a long feed, harder to find when they’re needed most.

So it’s time to pause, consolidate the most impactful work, and make it easier to access, all while allowing the next chapter to begin.

Chapter 3 Stigma will remain free, accessible, and readily available for anyone who finds themselves, or a loved one, in a fight with addiction. That work is not being erased. It is being preserved intentionally and given the space it deserves.

I can’t thank you all enough for your time, attention, and trust you have given to me over the last two years. This work has impacted me more than I can properly articulate.

👉 If this work has mattered to you, the next step is simple: subscribe to the new More Than Capable podcast feed on Apple Podcast, Spotify or YouTube.

All new conversations will live there going forward.

We will all be faced with unanticipated challenges. There will be no choice but to stand up and face them or be crushed by them. You can hide from that fact, or you can prepare.

And here’s a little secret. I was never alone as we trudged through the challenges life presented over the last decade and a half. That’s the thing that so many people are missing. Understanding how hardship is endured when there is the support of community, friends, and even (often in the darkest and most isolating times) God.

If you know someone who doubts their ability to endure what life is putting in front of them — someone who feels overwhelmed, ashamed, or stuck — I hope you’ll share this with them.

This isn’t a pivot, it’s a continuation of the work, with a clearer focus on a higher calling and broader reach.

All the best,

Kyle Layne (Kyle Zibrowski)

P.S. If you’ve been following the podcast and want to continue with this work, you’ll need to subscribe to the new podcast feed, More Than Capable. That’s where all new conversations will be published going forward. You can find the links here → Apple Podcast, Spotify, YouTube