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Maybe This is Happening For You, Not to You: How to Radically Reframe Life's Toughest Challenges Into Your Greatest Gifts
The viral story of hope and recovery that has inspired over 50 million people; as featured in Men's Health, The Proof and ChainlessLife.
This book will change the way you look at ‘problems’ forever.
When life serves us with challenges, it’s all too easy to feel like a victim. But are we destined to live in the shadow of our past trauma? Or can we use the pain of our past to create a more beautiful future?
In the winter of 2021, Axel Schurawlow was told he had five days left to live. Fast forward to the present day and his teachings are shared far and wide around the world through social media; inspiring millions to live with greater passion, purpose and resilience. His groundbreaking debut novel builds on these teachings and empowers the reader to find positive meaning in their life regardless of current circumstances.
Maybe this is happening for you, not to you demonstrates the incredible power that comes with a simple shift in perspective; showing you how to create new meaning from past experiences, transform adversity into advantage, and re-define the trajectory of your life. Drawing on his own experiences facing some of life’s greatest adversities including growing up in poverty, the loss of loved ones and surviving ‘terminal’ cancer; Axel has used each challenge as a vehicle for positive transformation, and with this book will teach you to do the same.“Axel’s amazing true story of hope and perseverance will permanently and positively reframe your perspective on life and what you’re capable of.”
– John Strelecky, Bestselling author of over 10 million copies sold, author of "Das Café am Rande der Welt"
“A book that brought me back to the hardest season of my life and turned it into something beautiful.
It turns pain into purpose and reminds us how strong we really are.
Healing doesn’t mean forgetting—it means feeling it all, and still moving forward.”
– Mariana Becková, Actress and model
This book will change the way you look at ‘problems’ forever.
When life serves us with challenges, it’s all too easy to feel like a victim. But are we destined to live in the shadow of our past trauma? Or can we use the pain of our past to create a more beautiful future?
In the winter of 2021, Axel Schurawlow was told he had five days left to live. Fast forward to the present day and his teachings are shared far and wide around the world through social media; inspiring millions to live with greater passion, purpose and resilience. His groundbreaking debut novel builds on these teachings and empowers the reader to find positive meaning in their life regardless of current circumstances.
Maybe this is happening for you, not to you demonstrates the incredible power that comes with a simple shift in perspective; showing you how to create new meaning from past experiences, transform adversity into advantage, and re-define the trajectory of your life. Drawing on his own experiences facing some of life’s greatest adversities including growing up in poverty, the loss of loved ones and surviving ‘terminal’ cancer; Axel has used each challenge as a vehicle for positive transformation, and with this book will teach you to do the same.“Axel’s amazing true story of hope and perseverance will permanently and positively reframe your perspective on life and what you’re capable of.”
– John Strelecky, Bestselling author of over 10 million copies sold, author of "Das Café am Rande der Welt"
“A book that brought me back to the hardest season of my life and turned it into something beautiful.
It turns pain into purpose and reminds us how strong we really are.
Healing doesn’t mean forgetting—it means feeling it all, and still moving forward.”
– Mariana Becková, Actress and model
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 22, 2025
I have been following Axel for some time and have even joined some of his programs and coaching sessions, so when announced his book I couldn’t wait to have it in my hands. And to be honest, buying his book right away is one of the best decisions I could’ve made. It delivers far beyond expectations, it is truly a great one.
Axel’s story is really inspirational, and he made it a hundred times more powerful and impactful with the way he intertwined his experience with teachings that are actionable, inspiring, and deeply effective. I love that even though I’ve been following him and his work for some time, I still got to learn new things. You can really see the work behind the book and it inspires you not only to read it but to apply what you’re reading.
What I liked a lot was that Axel’s personality still shines through the message: a goofy though German-like sense of humor and a deep dedication to making the world a better place to live in.
Axel’s story is really inspirational, and he made it a hundred times more powerful and impactful with the way he intertwined his experience with teachings that are actionable, inspiring, and deeply effective. I love that even though I’ve been following him and his work for some time, I still got to learn new things. You can really see the work behind the book and it inspires you not only to read it but to apply what you’re reading.
What I liked a lot was that Axel’s personality still shines through the message: a goofy though German-like sense of humor and a deep dedication to making the world a better place to live in.
March 29, 2026
Oh how wonderful it is to be a light skinned, tall, heterosexual, cis man in Europe. Not everybody gets to monetize their pain, but if you fit into this category, there is no reason why you shouldn't, because your work will likely be picked up by other people in the same category and will be seen as "inspiring" no matter how shitty it might be.
Many women who live with chronic health issues and pain have to spend years before they are diagnosed and treated, but this guy gets excellent medical service, with a supporting and loving girlfriend and family beside him, while he gets treated for what is known to be a very treatable form of a bad disease. Of course he decides to turn it into a podcast bro material.
It was physically painful reading some of the most cringeworthy parts of the book (the whole book is cringeworthy). I will drop some of them so you are warned:
[spoiler]
"You could turn on the news right now and hear about the rising cost of living, or wars breaking out in distant countries. Or you could pick up the phone and call someone who loves you." --- Who is this book targeted towards? White privileged men, obviously, because let me tell you Axel, for most people in the world, those things that you do not enjoy hearing on the news are what they deal with in their own lives, on a daily basis. How easy is it to speak from your ivory tower and suggest people to "ignore the bad, focus on the good"? I don't care if your father was abusive when you were growing up, you had the privilege to get out of that situation and even embrace him afterwards. Most people in abusive relationships do not have that option. Most people who are marginalized - including all women - do not have the option to ignore the bad and focus on the good. That is not how change happens. People like you are the silent reason why people keep voting for dictators, people like you are the silent reason why societies are so f*d up.
"Most of the time there isn't even any physical danger at all!" --- Really?? Who told you that, the tooth fairy? If you are a woman or a minority, there is ALWAYS physical danger. ALWAYS. EVERY. SINGLE. SECOND. OF. EVERY. DAY.
"Let's say your partner is going out for dinner at a local hotspot, and you've felt fear he might start speaking to an attractive woman" -- Believe me, Axel, no woman thinks that way because she has unreasonable fears. She either thinks about her own safety and wellbeing, or she only thinks that way because there is reasonable pattern recognition behind her thoughts.
"I don't want anyone think anything bad about Marni even for a second" -- Oh man, the only good part of the book was when Marni broke up with him. I was INCREDIBLY relieved, I thought thank god that girl saved herself of this narcissistic, basic dude. You go Marni!! Nobody in their right mind can think about anything bad for a woman who gave her all trying to care for her sick boyfriend who only goes off to chase her dreams when he gets better. Well, the only person who admits they did is the author, so you can understand what kind of an ungrateful guy he is.
[spoiler]
This book didn't happen TO me, it happened FOR me. I realized that I need more audacity and I, too, can write a book and call myself an author without anything inspiring to convey.
Many women who live with chronic health issues and pain have to spend years before they are diagnosed and treated, but this guy gets excellent medical service, with a supporting and loving girlfriend and family beside him, while he gets treated for what is known to be a very treatable form of a bad disease. Of course he decides to turn it into a podcast bro material.
It was physically painful reading some of the most cringeworthy parts of the book (the whole book is cringeworthy). I will drop some of them so you are warned:
[spoiler]
"You could turn on the news right now and hear about the rising cost of living, or wars breaking out in distant countries. Or you could pick up the phone and call someone who loves you." --- Who is this book targeted towards? White privileged men, obviously, because let me tell you Axel, for most people in the world, those things that you do not enjoy hearing on the news are what they deal with in their own lives, on a daily basis. How easy is it to speak from your ivory tower and suggest people to "ignore the bad, focus on the good"? I don't care if your father was abusive when you were growing up, you had the privilege to get out of that situation and even embrace him afterwards. Most people in abusive relationships do not have that option. Most people who are marginalized - including all women - do not have the option to ignore the bad and focus on the good. That is not how change happens. People like you are the silent reason why people keep voting for dictators, people like you are the silent reason why societies are so f*d up.
"Most of the time there isn't even any physical danger at all!" --- Really?? Who told you that, the tooth fairy? If you are a woman or a minority, there is ALWAYS physical danger. ALWAYS. EVERY. SINGLE. SECOND. OF. EVERY. DAY.
"Let's say your partner is going out for dinner at a local hotspot, and you've felt fear he might start speaking to an attractive woman" -- Believe me, Axel, no woman thinks that way because she has unreasonable fears. She either thinks about her own safety and wellbeing, or she only thinks that way because there is reasonable pattern recognition behind her thoughts.
"I don't want anyone think anything bad about Marni even for a second" -- Oh man, the only good part of the book was when Marni broke up with him. I was INCREDIBLY relieved, I thought thank god that girl saved herself of this narcissistic, basic dude. You go Marni!! Nobody in their right mind can think about anything bad for a woman who gave her all trying to care for her sick boyfriend who only goes off to chase her dreams when he gets better. Well, the only person who admits they did is the author, so you can understand what kind of an ungrateful guy he is.
[spoiler]
This book didn't happen TO me, it happened FOR me. I realized that I need more audacity and I, too, can write a book and call myself an author without anything inspiring to convey.
Read
November 25, 2025His writing was really good. But unfortunately is was more of a selfhelp book than his journey.
February 8, 2026
A fantastic book of strength, resilience and overcoming mountains that also delivers lessons and reminders to focus on what's important to live a good life.
I know this is a book I'll revisit and read again.
I'd recommend it to everyone!
I know this is a book I'll revisit and read again.
I'd recommend it to everyone!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews