In a muay thai kickboxing class in April 2012, during my junior year of high school, I felt shooting pains in my stomach and head. My instructor thought I was dehydrated and suggested I go home, but I collapsed in the parking lot before I could get into my car. An ambulance took me to the emergency room, where doctors gave me fluids and IV antibiotics.

The pain didn’t go away. I was nauseous, lethargic, and barely able to walk. Over the next two weeks I went to several doctors who administered various tests.

Eventually, an echocardiogram revealed a benign tumor in my left atrium that was blocking half of my blood flow. I underwent open-heart surgery the next day to remove it. I was 17.

After I recovered from the surgery, my life’s goals — and the speed at which I felt I needed to accomplish them — intensified. I had long been driven to succeed, but my health emergency took that drive to another level. I was compelled to work constantly and achieve all I could as soon as possible.

I maintained that pace for the next several years until, at 24, I recognized the toll it was taking on my mental and physical health. I was trying to get an e-commerce business up and running and wasn’t sleeping enough. I was gaining weight, and I was depressed.

My commitment to success had failed to get me where I wanted to be mentally and physically. I felt burned out, gutted, and lonely. That’s when I started to wonder: What if rushing toward my goals isn’t the answer?

High Anxiety

I am the oldest of three kids. I grew up in an emotionally turbulent home; my parents divorced when I was 8, and over the years I moved a total of 24 times.

I remember being stressed and anxious, but I didn’t know what to call it at the time. To avoid facing these issues, I opted to stay busy playing sports — football, lacrosse, track, volleyball, wrestling, shot put, muay thai, and jujitsu. Yet I was never truly present in anything I did; I was always looking ahead to the next thing.

At 16, I listened to an audiobook about self-improvement, and I remember being amazed to hear that I could take control of my life. So many of my life circumstances had been out of my control, and this advice felt like permission to take the reins.

I began reading about evolutionary psychology and philosophy. I took advanced-placement classes and worked hard to get into the best college. I taught myself how to build software, program computers, and create apps. If I wasn’t constantly reading a book, thinking about a problem, or doing something productive, anxiety would creep in.

I now know that I didn’t have a healthy relationship with self-improvement. I was on an unrelenting quest to become the best version of myself and couldn’t slow down. Striving was a way for me to escape anxiety rather than address the underlying issues.

My cardiac scare in 2012 showed me how precious and fleeting life is. Yet instead of realizing the importance of living in the moment, I became more preoccupied with my achievements and the future.

Even while I was recovering from the surgery, I was plagued by the thought of the opportunities I was missing.

Sitting Still

In 2019, a couple of years after graduating from college, I was in the process of launching my business. I was committed to success, but I felt I had hit a brick wall. I was extremely tired and relied on caffeine to fuel my early morning workouts. My relationships were suffering too; I didn’t let myself enjoy time with my family or friends.

Something had to give.

I’d problem-solve by going for walks. At the time I had been reading about the philosophy of Taoism, which struck me as a happier form of Stoicism; Taoism is about going with the flow of life and enjoying what’s in front of you.

On one particular walk, a Taoist attitude rose to the surface. My overactive mind slowed down and landed on two words: Resist nothing. By the time I returned home, I’d decided to make mindfulness my top priority — a big part of that, for me, being meditation.

I had experimented with meditation since I was 16 and felt its positive effects, but I’d struggled to maintain a consistent practice. Now, embracing a meditative lifestyle was my top priority. My mantra became “presence over everything.”

I began to sit in meditation each morning after brushing my teeth. I didn’t have a goal in mind; the point was to focus on the sensation of air going in and out of my nose. When my thoughts wandered — and they always did — I brought my attention back to my breath. This simple daily practice helped me cultivate a more mindful life.

The old me might have scoffed at this, but the benefits were undeniable. I began to feel more at ease and found that I could think more creatively.

I also noticed my attention span improving. I wasn’t wasting time being anxious; I could give my full effort and attention to whatever task was at hand.

The benefits extended to my physical health. As I started living more consciously and acting less impulsively, I made intentional changes to my diet to support my well-being. I began choosing whole foods over more-processed ones and avoided ingredients that made me feel bad, like added sugar. I also gave up alcohol. As a result, my energy levels improved, and I lost weight and gained muscle.

Giving Thanks

In 2023, I sold my business, acquired an exciting tech job, and moved to New York City with my best friends. People who noticed my transformation — not just the physical effects but also the mental and emotional ones — began asking me for advice.

I started working as a wellness speaker and facilitator in addition to working my tech job. In this role, I share how I’ve become more present in my life by adopting simple daily habits. I use my own experience to teach others how to overcome their stress and anxiety so they can become more present in work and in life.

I’m now feeling the best I’ve ever felt. I’m more in the moment and at peace with my life. I minimize screen time as much as possible, and I have become better at actively listening to others and loving people for who they are.

I also manage my workload differently: I get as much done in a day as I can while still leaving time for mindfulness. I know this will help me avoid burnout and accomplish more in the long run.

I didn’t know how a meditative life could serve me until I experienced it for myself. I’ve always wanted to achieve so much, and I didn’t think I had time to be present. Changing my perspective and lifestyle wasn’t easy; it took a lot of faith. But I’m confident that this way of life will continue to support me and help me reach my future goals.

Jake’s Top 3 Takeaways

Activate your senses. Doing something that involves the senses gets you out of your head and into the experience your body is having. (Practice awareness and mindfulness with these ideas.)
Practice builds permanence. If you want to make something a habit, add it to your schedule. Treat it with the same importance as any other task on your to-do list.
Journal. Set a daily end-of-day reminder that asks: “How did I feel today? And why do I think I felt this way?” Take five to 10 minutes to answer the questions.

My Turnaround

For more real-life success stories of people who have embraced healthy behaviors and changed their lives, visit our My Turnaround department.

Tell Us Your Story!
Have a transformational healthy-living tale of your own? Share it with us!

This article originally appeared as “The Right Beat” in the May/June 2025 issue of Experience Life.

The post How a 17-Year-Old’s Cardiac Emergency Changed His Mindset appeared first on Experience Life.

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