Your Mentality
Equals
Your Reality

Raised in Clarksville, Tennessee, he came of age in a community shaped by severe poverty, instability, and limited opportunity. At 22, he was sentenced to two life terms without parole under outdated federal drug laws, and served more than a decade in prison. Determined not to let a life sentence confine his mind, he educated himself across disciplines from philosophy and history to economics, politics, and quantum physics, and taught himself to code without a computer. He coined the phrase “Your mentality equals your reality,” to emphasize the profound impact of our choices on our destinies and the world around us. Chris emphasizes the importance of a positive mindset and the continuous pursuit of personal growth.

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His case drew national attention after the federal judge who sentenced him resigned his lifetime appointment to the bench to fight for his freedom. In 2021, Young was granted executive clemency. Since his release, he has earned a degree in economics and public policy from Southern Methodist University and founded Coherence Consulting, a strategic advisory firm advising organizations on policy, technology, and societal impact. His story has been featured by CNN, PBS’s Amanpour and Company, CBS News, BBC, and Variety, among others.

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The Wound Is Where the Light Enters: A Memoir of Resilience is his debut book, forthcoming from Little, Brown and Company on August 4, 2026.