Most people get this backwards. We obsess over physical health but barely think about our mental game. Here is the truth: if you get your head right, everything else gets better.

One of the biggest lessons from surviving a 32-month federal trial:

Mood matters before you get into the work. If you read something important while in a bad headspace, you will not see what it actually says — you will see what your mood tells you it says. That leads to panic and fear-based decisions.

Another big trap is spending mental energy on:

• Replaying the past with regret
• Catastrophizing about a future that has not happened yet

The DASA framework captures what hard situations put you through: Denial, Anger, Sadness, and Acceptance. It takes time — but reaching Acceptance brings real energy back.

Surprisingly, authentic conversations — even when exhausted — are a supercharger. Honest talk with someone who knows you creates momentum like almost nothing else.

ABT: Always Be Training. Not just physically. Mentally, every single day.