The Three A’s: A Framework for Change—That Actually Works

Overwhelmed or stuck? The Three A’s—Acknowledge, Accept, Act—offer a simple, powerful path from chaos to clarity, with heart-led action that lasts.

I used to feel like I was always sprinting toward a finish line that kept moving.

Chronic pain. Burnout. Mental health battles. OCD. Autism. The pressure to “just figure it out” was deafening, but I didn’t have a clear path forward. At times, I felt like a prisoner, held hostage on an island by my very own brain.

What I needed wasn’t more advice, more information, or another productivity hack.

I needed a process—something repeatable, grounded, and built for how I’m wired.

Enter: The Three A’s Framework

This model didn’t come to me in a lightbulb moment. It was built over time through trial, failure, therapy, mentorship, and a ton of lived experience.

Today, the Three A’s are the backbone of my coaching, my talks, and honestly, how I live my life.

It’s the simplest and most sustainable way I’ve found to move from stuck to steady.

From overwhelmed to in motion. From “what now?” to “I’ve got this.”

The Three A’s: Acknowledge. Accept. Act.

Each phase builds on the one before it.

Skip one, and you'll feel friction.

Master all three, and you'll feel momentum.

🅰️ Phase I: ACKNOWLEDGE

Acknowledge what’s real—so you can move toward what’s possible.

This phase is about clarity.

No sugarcoating. No denial. Just naming what is.

Think of it like turning on the light in a messy room. You can’t clean what you can’t see.

It’s where we step back from the panic, look at what’s actually going on, and get honest, without judgment. This is the foundation.

“Clarity breeds confidence.”

🅰️ Phase II: ACCEPT

Accept what’s here—so you can work with it, not against it.

This is the step most people skip.

But acceptance doesn’t mean giving up. It means saying, “Okay, this is what I’ve got. Now what can I do with it?”

It’s where we get emotionally grounded, regulate the nervous system, and respond, not react. Acceptance is what steadies you when the storm comes.

“We can’t control everything, but we can ground ourselves in routines that hold us steady.”

🅰️ Phase III: ACT

Act with intention, not urgency.

This is where clarity and calm become movement.

We don’t jump into 40-point plans. We focus on one true next step.

Consistent. Aligned. Purposeful.

Action without clarity is noise.

Action without acceptance is fragile.

But action with both? That’s unstoppable.

“Routines are structure. Structure is safety.”

🌀 How It All Comes Together

Each “A” has a job:

Acknowledging gets you clear and confident.
Acceptance keeps you grounded, patient, and focused.
Action helps you build sustainable habits and routines that align you with your goal.

Together, they create a rhythm you can return to again and again—through every life shift, every season, every challenge.

This isn’t about doing more.

It’s about doing the right things, in the right order, at the right time—for you.

Why This Matters, Now More Than Ever

The world is noisier than ever. Between AI, smart devices, and the never-ending scroll, we're drowning in information, but starved for integration.

We don’t need more “what.”

We need a better how.

The Three A’s give you a sequence, a language, and a structure that helps you stay grounded and focused—even in high-pressure moments.

Once you see them, you can’t unsee them.

My clients use this to:

Make tough decisions with less anxiety
Stay calm in chaos
Build habits that actually stick
Lead teams and conversations more effectively
Parent with more patience
Navigate chronic pain and mental health without spiralling

One More Thought…

I wish I had this framework years ago:

As a new entrepreneur and leader, quietly drowning in overwhelm and expectations
As a husband trying to keep it all together, and as a father feeling like I was failing
As a young hockey player and golf professional struggling with performance anxiety

Better late than never, right?

Now, it’s yours to use.

**🅰️ PS...There Is An Unofficial Fourth A: ASK**

Sometimes the bravest move you can make… is asking for help.

If you’ve tried to figure it out on your own a dozen different ways, but you’re still spinning your wheels, maybe it’s time to try it with someone.

Someone who’s been there. Someone who understands the battlefield. Someone who can help you make sense of the noise and walk the path with you.

That’s what I do.

My coaching isn’t for everyone, and that’s perfectly okay. But if something in this post resonated, and you’re wondering if this might be the kind of support you’ve been looking for…

Let’s talk.

No pitching. No pressure. Just a genuine conversation to see if we’re a good fit for one another.

👉 Book your free discovery call here

One step. One “A” at a time.

And if that next “A” is Ask—I’d be honoured to walk beside you.

✅ What’s Next?

In the next post, we’re going deeper into the brain itself—specifically, how your threat detection system (hi, amygdala 👋) can hijack your calm, clarity, and confidence… especially if you're neurodivergent like me.

Here’s the thing: your brain isn’t broken. It’s doing exactly what it was designed to do—keep you safe. But when it gets stuck in overdrive, you can find yourself living in survival mode, operating outside your window of tolerance, and unable to access the very tools you need—like focus, logic, and problem-solving.

This isn’t about blame.

But it is about responsibility, and knowing the difference is empowering.

Because when you understand what’s happening inside your brain, you stop seeing your struggles as personal failures… and start seeing them as signals.

Not excuses.

Not character flaws.

Just brain things doing brain things.

And once you know what’s going on, you can do something about it.

That’s where we’re headed next. Stay tuned.

You won’t want to miss it.

Be well, and have the best day you can.

—Trev

About the Author: Trevor Moore is a mental health and wellness speaker, resiliency coach, and chronic overthinker turned clarity-creator. He helps high-performing humans stop spiralling and start leading—with more energy, less burnout, and way better coffee. He’s also a mental health advocate, chronic pain warrior, kindness crusader, and self-proclaimed above-average podcast guest, with below-average spelling.

Categories: : Clarity & Decision-Making, Frameworks for Growth, Life & Resiliency Coaching, Mental Health & Burnout, Nervous System Regulation, Neurodivergent Leadership, Resilient Leadership, Self-Trust & Sustainable Habits