Earlier this week we shared the news with you that DeVon Franklin, Hollywood producer, author, spiritual coach and relationship advisor, would be joining the upcoming 15th season of Married at First Sight. The 44-year-old took to Instagram on Thursday evening to share insight into how he came into the role. What he offered was a transparent message about how he almost let shame over the fact that his marriage didn’t work out keep him from being able to help others.

“Moment of Truth: Last year, Married At First Sight (@mafslifetime) invited me to come on the show. I agreed to do it … and then the divorce hit,” he wrote. “They came to me and said that didn’t matter to them because they still felt like I could help their couples. I was going to tell them ‘No’ because I felt shame and that voice in my head said, ‘you’re a failure, how can you help anybody save their marriage when yours didn’t work out.’”

Franklin said that he was initially concerned about what people would think, but he realized that he couldn’t let the opinions of others dictate anything in his life.

“That voice in my head also had me thinking about what would ‘people’ say? Would ‘people’ approve or disapprove? And then I had to ask myself: Is this how I’m going to live the rest of my life? In fear about what ‘people’ say? And who are ‘people’ anyway? So I went back to the @mafslifetime team and told them YES, I’ll still come,” he said. “I REFUSE TO LIVE IN FEAR OR SHAME!”

“And guess what? When I went to do the show, something powerful happened. Everything I’ve been through, I was able to draw upon to help a couple successfully sort through their issues (you’ll have to watch to find out which couple),” he added.