From tragedy to triumph, here’s what 42 years of life lessons taught me about resilience, health, and growth...

Hey friend,

I don’t know about you, but the end of the year always puts me in a reflective mood. This year feels different, though.

As I prepare to become a father to a baby boy, I’ve found myself looking back—not just at the previous year but at all 42 I’ve been blessed to experience.

From climbing out of $70K in credit card debt in 14 months to walking away from a six-figure consulting job...

...from being cheated on by my fiancé to being laid off from my dream job just nine months in, and enduring three years of IVF—life has handed me plenty of hard-won lessons.

Here are 10 powerful insights—not just for health and fitness but for life—that can help make 2025 your best year yet.

1. Prioritize Health

Physical and mental health are the foundation of a fulfilling life. Without it, you can’t show up fully for yourself or others.

Nothing else: money, fame, or success matters if you’re not here or healthy enough to enjoy them.

My mom spent her last decade in and out of doctors’ offices, unable to fly because of her heart, and struggling. I wish she had learned this lesson—she might still be here.

How to Apply: Treat your body like a priceless work of art. Prioritize regular exercise, nutritious meals, and adequate rest. Recognize stress early and develop coping mechanisms like mindfulness, journaling, or physical activity.

2. Take Ownership

You are responsible for your decisions and their outcomes. Fully embracing this ownership is empowering and keeps you in control of your life’s direction.

Nothing strips your power faster than blaming others, circumstances, or the world. Only by accepting responsibility for where you are can you gain the power to change it.

When I was $70K in credit card debt, I could have blamed the bad business coaches I hired or the market for not seeing my value...

But it wasn’t until I took full responsibility that I was able to confront it and pay it off in just 14 months.

How to Apply: Acknowledge the potential consequences of your actions—good or bad. Reflect on past decisions without blame or excuses, and use those lessons to make more intentional choices.

As Ray Dalio says, “Pain plus reflection equals progress.” Scientists call this Deliberate Practice. Don’t repeat mistakes. Learn, adjust, and move forward.

3. Resilience Through Action

Setbacks are inevitable, but they don’t define you. Taking consistent, deliberate action—even small steps—builds momentum and resilience. True resilience isn’t avoiding pain but embracing it as part of the journey.

When I caught my fiancé cheating, I thought my life was over. But that experience became one of the best things that ever happened to me...

Without it, I wouldn’t have moved to NYC, modeled for Men’s Health, trained venture capitalists, joined Tonal, or met my wife. Hitting rock bottom allowed me to rebuild my life with intention and purpose.

How to Apply: When challenges hit, remind yourself this won’t break you—it will one day be part of your story. Reframe it from “terrible” to “character building.”

Process the emotions, take any action to move forward, and celebrate small wins. Reflect on how past challenges shaped you and use those lessons to face today’s struggles.

4. Learn From Adversity

Adversity is life’s greatest teacher. Every challenge offers valuable lessons and builds strength for future obstacles. Failure isn’t final—it’s a step in the process.

During our 3-year IVF journey, each failure felt devastating. But by processing the emotions, reflecting on the lessons or data, and pushing forward, each setback became a stepping stone.

Little by little, we got closer until we finally realized we were going to be parents. If we’d given up at any point, we wouldn’t be preparing to welcome our son today.

How to Apply: After a setback, reflect on what went wrong and why. Ask yourself, “What did I learn? How can I use this to grow or move toward my goal?” Then create an actionable plan to apply those lessons and keep moving forward.

5. Balance Emotion and Logic

Strong decisions consider both emotional and rational perspectives. Ignoring one at the expense of the other leads to imbalance and poor outcomes.

In college, I almost changed my major because I was afraid of math...

Emotionally, I felt stupid and wanted to quit, but I decided to face it head-on. I realized I hadn’t put the same effort into math as I did in areas I excelled. Logically, it made sense—I avoided studying because it felt uncomfortable.

By pairing emotional drive with a logical study plan—like hiring a tutor and attending every TA session—I turned things around, aced my math classes, and graduated with honors in computer science.

How to Apply: Pause to evaluate both emotions and facts. If emotional, ask, “What’s the objective truth?” If overly logical, ask, “How do I feel?” Use emotions to drive you and logic to create a solid plan forward.

6. Authentic & Supportive Relationships

Build relationships rooted in trust, empathy, and shared values. Avoid those that drain your energy or compromise your well-being. Authentic connections are mutual, offering both support and growth.

When I started training at DIAKADI Body, I was in over my head with just one client and no clue what I was doing. But I found support from an amazing network of people who guided me, taught me, and restored my faith in genuine relationships. Without that mentorship, I wouldn't be here today.

How to Apply: Evaluate your relationships regularly. Ask, “Do they align with my values and support my growth?” Prioritize meaningful connections and let go of toxic ones—they can shape not just your fitness journey but your entire life.

7. Avoid Procrastination

Delaying action compounds stress and reduces results. Progress beats perfection, and the first step is always the hardest.

In 2007, during the P90X craze, I thought, Tony Horton has the best job. Why can’t I do that? But I didn’t quit my consulting job until 2012. I wasted 5 years chasing happiness through materialism and hating every day.

I can't imagine what I would be doing today, or how much further ahead I'd be if I hadn't wasted so much time. I realized no one was coming to save me. I had to take action. Waiting only made it harder.

How to Apply: Decide. Commit. Resolve. Break tasks into steps with clear deadlines. Use tools like time-blocking or habit trackers to stay consistent. Remember, the longer you wait, the harder it gets.

8. Forge Your Own Path

True fulfillment comes from living a life aligned with your values and passions—not societal expectations.

I delayed leaving my consulting job because I feared what others would think: my parents, friends, and colleagues. I was scared of failing in front of them. Ironically, most people let others dictate their biggest life decisions.

What have you been procrastinating on because you're afraid of what your family, friends, or co-workers might think or say?

I’m grateful I finally prioritized myself, but I can’t help wondering how much further I’d be if I had acted sooner—or how miserable I’d be if I hadn’t acted at all.

How to Apply: When making decisions, ask: “Does this align with who I am and what I want to achieve?” Be willing to take risks, explore uncharted territories, and adapt your path as needed.

9. Continuous Growth

Growth is a lifelong process. Pursuing knowledge, self-improvement, and meaningful goals leads to a fulfilling life.

After 10 years of coaching and thousands of success stories, I thought we had fulfillment figured out—until my business coach challenged me. My ego flared, but after reviewing our numbers, I realized he was right.

We spent last year improving delivery, fulfillment, and backend operations, boosting client success rates from 80% to over 90%.

The result? 20 more Hall-of-Fame clients, 47 five-star reviews, and a better experience for both clients and coaches. All after thinking we couldn’t improve.

How to Apply: Dedicate time weekly to learning or skill-building. It's hard to see the forest through the trees so reflect regularly and seek feedback from a coach or expert to challenge yourself and grow.

10. Faith in the Process

Life doesn’t always go as planned. Trusting the process helps you focus on what you can do today while having faith that the future will align with your efforts.

When I landed my dream job with Tonal, I thought I’d be there for years, get rich when the company went public, and become the next Tony Horton. Less than a year later, the west-coast operations shut down, and I was let go.

A quote from one of my favorite movies, Field of Dreams, sums up how I felt:

While it was one of the hardest experiences of my life, I had faith the setback was part of a bigger plan. I poured myself into Action Jackson Fitness, and we’ve thrived ever since.

In the last two years, we've put 171 clients through our flagship program. If I hadn’t been let go, I wouldn’t have helped these people transform their lives.

How to Apply: In tough times, reflect on how past challenges prepared you. Focus on actions you can take now, and trust that unexpected detours often lead to growth. Remember, life is happening FOR YOU and not to you.

Final Thoughts

Life is a journey of growth, resilience, and discovery. The lessons I’ve shared aren’t just ideas—they’re the principles that have shaped my life. My hope is that one or two resonate with you and inspire you to make 2025 your best year yet.

Time for action,

Coach Jackson

Founding Tonal Coach
Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author
San Francisco Magazine's “Best Trainer For Abs”

P.S. Ready to stop spinning your wheels and make 2025 the year you finally take your health and fitness to the next-level? Let's apply these lessons to you...

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