Chris Terzakos

Chris Terzakos

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In this episode of The Prestigious Initiative, we sit down with Chris Terzakos—entrepreneur, self-healing coach, and author—to explore his transformative journey from a 40-year leadership role in the construction industry to becoming a champion baseball coach and wellness advocate. Chris shares his insights on self-healing, healthy aging, and the power of self-love, offering practical advice for listeners seeking to enhance their well-being and leadership skills.

Show Notes:
In This Episode:
  • Chris's transition from the construction industry to wellness coaching.
  • Insights from his books: Hernia Without Surgery, Natural Testosterone After 60, and Belonging to Yourself.
  • The importance of self-love and its impact on personal growth.
  • Strategies for maintaining health and vitality after 60.
  • Lessons learned from coaching baseball and mentoring others.
Resources Mentioned:

From Breakdown to Breakthrough: My Conversation with Chris Terzakos on Healing, Leadership, and Self-Love

 
On this episode of The Prestigious Initiative, I sat down with Chris Terzakos—entrepreneur, real estate investor, and holistic wellness advocate—for one of the most honest, vulnerable, and empowering conversations we’ve had on the show. Chris’s journey from physical breakdown to emotional rebirth is the kind of story that doesn’t just inspire—it transforms.
We talked about the health scare that forced him to change everything, the inner work that followed, and how real leadership starts with loving yourself enough to stop performing and start healing. If you’re in a season of rebuilding, seeking purpose, or just ready to come back home to yourself—this episode is for you.

The Breakdown That Woke Him Up

Chris started by sharing a life-changing moment that set the tone for our whole conversation: waking up in a hospital bed after his body collapsed under the weight of stress, poor habits, and years of self-neglect.
“I realized I was slowly killing myself,” he said. “Success on paper meant nothing if I couldn’t walk my daughter down the aisle.”
That moment forced him to take a long, hard look at the choices he was making—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. It was the wake-up call he didn’t want, but desperately needed.
Insight: That moment really hit me. How often do we wait for a crisis to make the changes we know we need? Chris’s honesty about that was powerful.

Healing Begins with Ownership

One of the most grounding themes of our conversation was radical responsibility. Chris didn’t sugarcoat anything—he admitted that for years, he’d outsourced his power. To doctors. To bad habits. To avoidance.
But once he got honest with himself, everything changed.
“No one’s coming to save you,” he said. “You’ve got to step up and be the one to lead your own healing.”
He began studying nutrition, functional medicine, and the root causes of chronic stress. More than that, he started facing the emotions he had suppressed for decades—anger, fear, grief—and learning how to feel them without letting them define him.
Takeaway: The first step to healing isn’t information—it’s ownership. You can’t outsource transformation.

The Real Work: Learning to Love Himself

Chris shared that one of the most difficult but essential parts of his healing journey was learning to love himself.
“I didn’t even know what self-love meant,” he admitted. “I thought it was selfish. I thought it was weak. But it was the one thing I’d been missing all along.”
He started with small rituals: standing in front of the mirror, saying “I love you” to himself. Journaling honestly about his thoughts. Forgiving himself for the years he spent pretending everything was fine.
This wasn’t just about mindset—it was about rewiring his nervous system to feel safe in his own presence.
Insight: As someone who’s interviewed leaders across industries, I can say this confidently—self-love is a leadership skill. Chris reminded us that it’s not optional; it’s foundational.

Why Health Is the Ultimate Wealth

We got into the weeds of wellness, too—and Chris didn’t hold back on what it takes to reclaim your body and mind.
He emphasized that healing isn’t found in one pill, protocol, or program. It’s the daily, disciplined practice of choosing yourself.
Some of his daily habits include:
  • Whole food nutrition, with minimal sugar or processed ingredients
  • Daily breathwork and cold exposure
  • Movement—not as punishment, but as celebration
  • Deep, restorative sleep
  • Time in nature
But what matters more than the checklist, he said, is the intention behind it.
“I don’t do these things to fix myself anymore,” he said. “I do them because I love myself.”
Takeaway: Healing isn’t a grind—it’s a relationship. Your habits should come from love, not fear.

Leadership Without the Mask

Chris and I also talked about real leadership—not the curated version people show online, but the messy, honest version that actually moves people.
“Leadership is about going first,” he said. “Not pretending you have it all together—but being willing to go deep, to get honest, and to model what healing looks like.”
He now mentors men and business leaders through that exact process—helping them break out of performative success and into embodied authenticity.
The transformation, he shared, isn’t just personal—it ripples into relationships, parenting, business, and legacy.
Insight: This one’s for the people wearing the mask of “high performer” while slowly burning out. Real leadership doesn’t hide the wounds—it leads through them.

Breaking Generational Cycles

Chris got real about the generational patterns that shaped his early life—expectations of toughness, silence, and success at all costs. But instead of staying stuck in that conditioning, he chose to break the cycle.
“I want my son and daughter to see a man who feels,” he said. “Who listens. Who takes care of himself. That’s the legacy I want to leave.”
He spoke about how healing yourself doesn’t just benefit you—it shifts the entire ecosystem of your family and future generations.
Takeaway: You’re not just healing for yourself. You’re healing for everyone who comes after you.

The Intersection of Faith and Function

Chris also shared how his faith played a central role in his recovery—not just as belief, but as trust.
“There were moments I had nothing left but my faith,” he said. “That’s when I realized I was never alone.”
He now sees healing as a sacred partnership between biology and belief—a blend of functional practices and spiritual surrender. Whether it’s breathwork, prayer, or stillness, his days now start and end with intentional connection to something greater.
Insight: It’s rare to find someone who bridges science and spirit so naturally. Chris reminded me that we’re not machines—we’re souls with bodies.

Chris’s Advice for the Person Ready to Change

As we wrapped up the episode, I asked Chris what he’d say to someone who knows they need to change—but feels overwhelmed or stuck. His advice was clear and grounded:
  1. Start small – “You don’t need a 180. Start with five minutes of breath. One walk. One better meal.”
  1. Get honest – “You already know what’s not working. Stop lying to yourself.”
  1. Forgive yourself – “You did the best you could with what you knew. Now you know better.”
  1. Find community – “Healing happens in connection, not isolation.”
  1. Lead yourself first – “The world doesn’t need more performers. It needs more present, whole human beings.”
Takeaway: You’re not too far gone. You’re just one decision away from a different direction.

Closing Thoughts: Lessons from Chris Terzakos

My conversation with Chris Terzakos was raw, grounded, and transformative. He reminded us that success without health is failure in disguise. That healing isn’t about hustle—it’s about honoring yourself. And that self-love isn’t indulgence—it’s power.
If there’s one thing I took away from our talk, it’s this: You don’t need to be perfect to begin. You just need to begin.
For more on Chris’s journey and his coaching work, visit ChrisTerzakos.com or follow him on social for daily inspiration on healing, leading, and living from the heart.
Until next time, remember: you are not broken. You’re becoming. And that process deserves your full attention.