POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)

Ever heard of it?

I hadn’t—until last Tuesday, January 13th, when I was diagnosed with it.

I’ve mentioned before that I’d been battling some health issues last year, but not many people know the full extent. I was tested for just about everything under the sun—autoimmune conditions, Parkinson’s, ALS, MS… you name it.

Needless to say 2025 was an extremely challenging Mind Strength year for me…

Behind closed doors, I experienced three panic attacks. The first came on January 4th, just five days after my symptoms started showing up. Then another a month later.

The reason wasn’t the symptoms themselves—it was the story I created about them.

My mind shot straight into the future with fear and worry. Fear of death. Fear of leaving my family behind. Fear of the unknown.

That same cycle repeated in June—two days before I was supposed to step on stage and speak about Mind Strength.

And at different points throughout the year, I beat myself up with this inner dialogue:

“How can you coach Mind Strength if you haven’t shown it in your own life?”

Once again—what is that?

A story.
A perception.

And stories drive responses… which ultimately create outcomes.

With time and reflection, a new story has formed.

2025 wasn’t a failure of Mind Strength—it was the greatest display of it for me.

Despite the internal battle.
Despite physically feeling the worst I ever have.
Despite not knowing what was around the corner. 

I kept putting one foot in front of the other.

I continued to work daily on the same skills, tools, and principles I coach. I got therapy. I got intentional about my health. I asked for help.

And I still accomplished meaningful things. I wrote a book, for crying out loud.

So here’s my message to you—one I’ve shared many times when I coach or speak, and the final message in my book:

Mind Strength isn’t about perfection.
It’s not about having it all together.

Mind Strength is meeting life as it is—and choosing your response with intention.

It’s about fighting to get back to an empowering frame that leads to empowering responses.

“This is happening for me.”
“There is something to learn here.”
“God is supporting me through this.”

And sometimes, getting there requires extra perspective—a support group, a therapist, a spouse, a trusted friend, family, or a faith community. That has certainly been true for me.

That’s not weakness.
That’s strength.

Because as long as you keep showing up…
As long as you maintain the will to be your best and find a way…

You will.

If you’re walking through something hard right now—physically, mentally, or emotionally—hear this:

You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You just need to keep showing up.

One step at a time is still forward.

It won’t be clean.
It won’t be easy.
It won’t be perfect.

It will be messy.
It will be hard.

But remember this: Hell is easy. Heaven is hard.
And hard things are worth fighting for—because they ultimately set you free.

Slay the dragon in front of you.
The best version of you is on the other side.

Easy Easy,

-Luke Falk

See you next Monday!