his partner’s heinous actions was deemed completely irrelevant by the law. He should have considered the possible sinister consequences of the scheme. In retrospect, he realized that his role in the fraud was pivotal — had he not been a willing participant, the murder would not have happened. Hawkins now faced the unfathomable truth that he was responsible for a homicide. He could not begin to imagine the horror that the victim experienced, or the agony that crushed his loved one’s hearts. He felt overwhelming shame and deep sorrow for the pain he had caused them, and for the embarrassment he had caused his own family. His inner turmoil led to chronic depression, nervous breakdowns, and a suicide attempt.

For many years Hawkins was lost in shame, guilt, andsearch for a way to be proactive in repaying his debt to society. In time, this became his mission in life.

Frankl suggested that one of the ways that people could discover meaning in life was by "deriving from guilt the opportunity to change oneself for the better." Hawkins took this wisdom to heart. Guided by a sincere desire to overcome his character flaws and become a better person, Hawkins embarked on a decade-long study of personal development literature. His self-help journey began with a process of personal moral and spiritual development. He learned that humans possess universal instincts for virtues such as empathy, honesty, humility, kindness, forgiveness, compassion, and ethical behavior. Hawkins created a daily practice designed to instill these values and make them a way of life.