In this revealing episode of The Next Chapter, TD Jakes opens up about the life-altering moments that shaped him — childhood trauma, losing his father as a teen, watching his mother decline from Alzheimer’s, and the near-fatal heart attack that struck while he was preaching. He breaks down how the body responds to shock, stress, grief, and unexpected change, and why emotional honesty, adaptability, and faith are essential to survival. Jakes shares the physical and spiritual battle that followed his heart attack, what he learned about trauma from neuroscience and The Body Keeps the Score, and how buried emotions can erupt in our health, our relationships, and our leadership. He also reflects on poverty, uprooting his family, and rebuilding his life from seven members in West Virginia to leading The Potter’s House in Dallas. Packed with wisdom, science, and spiritual grounding, this episode is a guide for anyone navigating sudden loss, anxiety, burnout, or a new beginning. TD Jakes shows that even when life breaks you, you can still rise — and rebuild what’s next with strength, clarity, and purpose.