SOS: I Got Really Sick

12/29/25

STORY

I got very sick the day after Christmas.

A 103.6° fever.

Constant coughing.

Full-body aches.

Look, I believe the mind has a profound impact on the body.

But I’m also realistic.

Pretending you’re “healthy” while sweating through sheets isn’t a mindset; it’s denial.

So I used the ARIA framework I’ve been teaching all year.

ACCEPT

This was my reality. No resisting it.

REFLECT

I reminded myself I’ve recovered from worse before. I’d get through this, too.

INSPECT

What good could come from this?

My body was building immunity.

And honestly, better now than during a speaking engagement.

ACT

Medicine. Water. Rest. Naps.

And a heroic ginger–turmeric–honey–lemon concoction my wife made on repeat.

By Sunday afternoon, I was almost back to 100%.

ARIA works for more than sickness.

It works for any unexpected challenge.

You can’t choose what happens to you.

But you can always choose how you respond.

And that choice is your superpower.

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OBSERVATION

According to a 2019 longitudinal study, individuals who consistently avoid uncomfortable thoughts and emotions are significantly more likely to experience ongoing depression and anxiety, rather than seeing symptoms resolve over time.

(Cogent Psychology, “Experiential avoidance predicts persistence of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder in late adolescence,” 2019).

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STRATEGY

Practice using the ARIA framework this week when faced with an unexpected challenge.

Accept the challenge.

Reflect on your past ability to overcome such challenges.

Inspect the challenge by asking solution-oriented questions.

Act in a way that seeks to improve the challenge.

Rooting for you,
Jay (encouraging you step into your power of choosing your response)

Global keynote speaker
Host of the “Unstuck” podcast
Husband to a loving woman who supported me back to health