Philosophy
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
— Coach Carter, originally from Marianne Williamson
The Harsh Truth:
Most people are suffering mentally and dying physically. Physically, 70%* of Americans are overweight (41%* are obese), which leads to 4 of the top 5 causes of death (heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and chronic lower respiratory disease). 73.5%* of all American deaths are preventable (unhealthy diet, obesity, chemical exposure, and sedentary lifestyle). The percent of other animals who die due to preventable disease? 0%. Why are humans different? It is due to disease of the mind that causes us to make unhealthy choices. It isn’t talked about, but the majority of people are unhappy/depressed, ashamed of who they are, and guilt-ridden.
What do I know?
Hi. I’m Jo. Mental suffering has been all I’ve known since I was 6 years old. I felt deeply, had a strong personality, and was a wild being. Because I rejected authority, society didn’t accept me. This isolation led to intense Depression from such a young age that I had no choice but to fight with everything I had until I escaped. And after spending $110K and 7,000 hours across 9 years with a psychologist, physical therapist, meditation coach, and relentless daily inner work, I finally overcame the Darkness in 2023.
Afterwards, I continued to make inner work my life. This is my passion and calling. I spend at least three hours per day everyday to this day on my craft. I believe the journey within is the most important journey a human being can take. When someone is Depressed and/or debilitated by crippling fear, guilt, anger, and/or shame (and usually we are dealing with all of the above), life is unbearable. Unbearable, as in, each of these is a burden too heavy to carry. What is more important in life than breaking free of these one thousand pound burdens?
I always loved the story of Harriett Tubman.
She escaped slavery… then went back and got 70 other slaves out! I have an opportunity, right now, to help people escape from the modern day slaver: disease of the body and mind. And I tried to ignore this opportunity. Carry on with my new, free, and wonderful life.
And I can tell you this, my life now is heaven on Earth.
But to just live my life is to resist who I am. And who I am is someone who is called to break others free.
Before we get into the philosophy of the Way of the Acorn, I need to tell you some truths:
You are not meant to be Depressed.
You are not meant to feel ashamed of who you really are.
You are not meant to feel guilty for wanting to do or not do things that you truly want to do or not do.
You are not meant to be afraid all the time.
You are not meant to stay small, sabotaging yourself every time you start to love yourself.
You are meant to be great. Not greater than others, but your own kind of great. Which is the best kind of great.
Let’s pause for a second…
I want you to feel in your heart if the bolded lines above are true or not.
Place your hand on your heart. And ask like a whisper from your mind to your heart: “Are these true?”
.
.
.
.
.
A word or phrase may have formed in your chest. There’s your answer.
Philosophy of The Way of the Acorn:
Every person has, within them, their own kind of great. Harriett Tubman, Gandhi, Jesus, Mohammed, Bruce Lee, Elon Musk, Picasso, Da Vinci, Amelia Earhart, Steve Jobs, were just a few that capitalized on who they were. The point is not to be famous or rich. The point is to be your true self, the self that comes forth when fear falls away. Money, joy, peace, love. Those are byproducts.
Principles of the Way of the Acorn:
The Way of the Acorn posits that every human being is like an acorn. And within every acorn is the DNA and beginnings of a great, breath-taking oak tree.
We don’t give you fish, we teach you how to fish. (eg// Not “Do this trick to feel confident now!!”, but “Here is why you have Shame, and here’s a framework to permanently end it.”)
Ability is very useful, but Perseverance is more important. Think: tortoise versus the hare.
All methods are holistic and long-term oriented. No magic pills with side effects. No hardcore, restrictive diets. No “get results fast” energy. These shortcuts tend to work for a little while, then stop working. And the side effects are devastating or deadly. Overall health and harmony within and without are paramount.
Give it everything you’ve got. Think Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality.
Love is all you need.
Trust the Flywheel. Think walking for a baby versus an adult. At first it seems impossible. Then it becomes automatic. That is the flywheel effect and we will apply that to the primary roots of disease like Depression and being overweight until you are automatically healthy and strong in the body and mind.
We don’t show you “The Way”. We give you special items, skills, and insights to help you find Your way. Think Frodo, Samwise, Aragorn, Arwin, Pippen, and Gimli from Lord of the Rings. Each were heroes of their own story in a grander story. So are you.
We don’t solve duality, we end it. Think: not happiness or sadness, but peace. Not good or bad, but acceptance. Not fear or courage, but imperturbability. Not right or wrong, but the whole picture. Not high or low self esteem, but “I’m fine as I am”.
We only work in absolute truths.
We are not affiliated with any religion or philosophy, yet draw from fundamental, timeless truths across many philosophies and religions. Think: there’s more than one way to make bread and there are many kinds of breads, but in the end, they are all sustenance.
We are mixed martial arts (MMA), but for the Art of Living (or more accurately, Being).
Our highest goal is to end suffering for as many people through physical and mental healing. Where there is no suffering, there is peace.
Our secondary goal is to eradicate Fear in our students.
Before we can teach these things, we must first help you defeat your greatest enemy, Shame. This is the source of self-sabotage, self criticism, overeating, self-destructive behaviors, all addictions (mental, chemical, physical). Think: why do you really binge TV or drink excessive alcohol knowing they hurt you but you wouldn’t wish the same for your own child?
Many teach tricks and hacks. These are like giving someone aspirin for a hangover. It only abates the symptoms. That is a temporary solution. We focus on solving the root cause of the root problems.
Enlightenment isn’t something you get or become, it’s who you already are, after you hack away all the non-essentials, as Bruce Lee said.
The issue isn’t that people are normal and need to become Enlightened/better. Rather, they are insane from the mental disease of shame and fear and need to become normal. That’s why after we do something harmful to someone, we say: “I’m sorry.. I wasn’t myself.”
All programs must be affordable so all have access to healing.
The program must be complete in and of itself. It must not hold back so the student needs to purchase bigger and more expensive programs (via upselling) to complete their growth arc.
The program teaches by doing and direct experience in addition to conceptual. We do not leave room for ambiguity The student knows exactly what they need to do and how to do it, and the teacher ensures the students have integrated the skills, techniques, concepts of the program.
The program provides tailored, live sessions between the student and the teacher to ensure the success of the student.
The point is of the program is not to make money, but to save lives. Fees support the expenses of spreading these teachings.