Jo’s Story

For as long as I can remember (as early as 6 years old), I have been in the Darkness (aka Depression or The Abyss). I hated the world. I was angry all the time. Afraid, ashamed, full of guilt. I deeply believed I was not enough, too much, and bad. I felt the world was evil, and that I needed to change it.

This perspective systematically destroyed every opportunity I had until I was income-less, overweight, and a master of self-destruction. I spent those days sleeping, gaming, and drinking my time away.

I eventually hit rock-bottom and decided I could either give up or fight. I decided to fight.

I tried every hack, trick, methodology, framework, system, advice, tip, philosophy, and Hail Mary I could find. I also found and worked with a great psychologist for six years. I worked with a top physical therapist for two years, acupuncturist and alternative medicine practitioner for two years, and an amazing meditation and IFS coach for two years. I invested $109,820 over those six years, 478 hours with coaches, and 6,500 hours on inner work (meditation, journaling, self-help/spiritual/philosophy books, Google, Reddit, spreadsheets, meticulous and detailed daily tracking (eg// what happened if I did X, what happened if I stopped Y, how did I feel and act after Z days of the change, etc.), and nonstop research).

One inch at a time, I clawed my way out.

I overcame my gaming addiction. Then alcohol. Then nicotine. I switched careers from finance to digital marketing and soon made more than before. I moved into a home with my girlfriend/soul-mate (now my wife and mother of my kids). I finally completely overcame Depression in 2023. It took me 29 years to get there, and 9 years of fighting, and that moment was worth every drop of blood, sweat, and tears.

I could’ve stopped there, but the journey within became such a rewarding, fulfilling, and beautiful part of my life. It became my way of life. So I kept going.

Like a snowball that’s been rolling down the hill for an hour, the momentum became a force of its own. I overcame deep-seated negativity like Shame and Guilt. I lost 25 lbs and healed all chronic pain in my body. I continued developing my meditation skills and eventually reconnected with my true Self. My fear went from 10/10 to 2/10. It felt like I was in a cage and now I’m free. When I used to look in the mirror, I hated who I saw. But now, I love, believe in, and am inspired by him.

My voice changed, not to something new, but to what it always was meant to be. I have a naturally deep voice, but because I believed I was “too much” and “intimidating”, I had unknowingly softened and heightened my adult voice for 21 years so others wouldn’t be afraid. It turns out they weren’t afraid. I was.

Every day, in my new state of being, I am making leaps forward in my own growth, and everyday is heaven. I’ve repaired my relationship with my family and make new friends almost weekly. I have become a great husband and dad whereas in 2023, I was a 5/10 in both areas. Everything in my life is going great even when it’s not perfect. I found that once I healed and found my Self, my reality healed too, and the world became a beautiful place full of opportunity and wonderful people.

I’ve been on both sides. I know how fucked up the Darkness is. Death is better. I found a way out. And now I want to get others out.

I have felt a pull to help others since I was 6. In Kindergarten, I would daydream that I was swinging on a vine like Tarzan, saving my classmates from lava. At 18, I wanted to be a firefighter. At 23, I wanted to start a new type of school that taught critical thinking, emotional resilience, and logical reasoning at the Kindergarten level (I wrote an essay in college about my new school that won first place and a $5.5k scholarship). But I realized I was in no condition to help anyone until I helped myself.

In 2025, two things became true: my journey is never over, and I’m far along enough where I can start breaking people out.

Your way out of mental/physical suffering doesn’t have to be hard or long. I took a very long while via trial and error and going in the wrong direction for years and even decades. But most never get out, so I’m grateful for my journey. And I guarantee you, it doesn’t have to take you 20 years, or 10 years, or even 5 years.

I’ve helped family members and friends break through a limiting belief in minutes. I’ve helped my wife experience fearlessness in one night.

My mission is to save people from a lifetime of hiding their true selves. I want to save people from the only real enemy: Fear (or more accurately, the absence of Love / Presence).

If you want me to help you be fearless, you can reach me at 323-791-8099 or email me at jo@thewayoftheacorn.com. We’ll talk. The first call is free. Come and see for yourself how the Way of the Acorn can work for you.

High Level View of Jo

Jo was born in Los Angeles, California. He is the son to a beautiful mother and loving father and was blessed to grow up with a brother as his best friend and a big sister who had his back. He is married to his soul mate, who he finds to be God’s greatest work, and is a father to a mighty daughter and a son who is on the way. Jo graduated summa cum laude from UC Riverside with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He loves being wrong, experiencing different ethnic foods and cultures, Quentin Tarantino movies, anything that’s beautifully crafted, space, puns, poetry, the eternal journey of excellence, and, most of all, being with his family.