The Human Optimization Project

Hosted ByMayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project
The bar for human performance is higher than it’s ever been. As a result, we all feel the need to do MORE. At the same time, we are becoming increasingly aware of the value of sleep, rest, recovery, and wellness. Accordingly, we also feel the need to do LESS. If you’re like most people, it can be challenging to reconcile this conflict of feeling the need to do MORE and LESS simultaneously, and that is likely contributing to high rates of burnout and decreased performance. So how do we reconcile these seemingly competing desires? That is where Human Optimization comes in. Human Optimization is the process of achieving more (however you define that for yourself) while simultaneously improving your wellness and well-being. Although it’s not easy, it’s certainly possible. Not only is it possible, but it is becoming increasingly essential. In this Mayo Clinic Talks Mini-Series, we are going to dive into the topic of Human Optimization and will focus on a few key areas including: exercise, nutrition, culture, emotional intelligence, and finding joy in all you do.

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Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project 51: E51 Things You Should Stop Doing to Improve Your Mental Strength

11 de febrero de 2026 casimedicos The Human Optimization Project 00:56:38 Comentarios desactivados en Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project 51: E51 Things You Should Stop Doing to Improve Your Mental Strength

Host: Christopher L. Camp, M.D., Creator & Guide | Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project 

Guest: Amy Morin, LCSW, Psychotherapist / Mental Strength Coach / International Bestselling Author | Mentally Strong 

 

One of the biggest limiters of our mental strength is our very common (usually unintentional) struggle with self-sabotaging behaviors. Since we all feel too busy to do more, maybe the answer is to actually do less? For some behaviors, that is absolutely the case. To help us better understand how we can do less, and be better for it, our expert guest for this episode is bestselling author, Amy Morin.
 
The three big questions she is going to answer for us today are:
1. What exactly is “mental strength?”
2. What are the things we are doing that commonly sabotage our mental strength
3. How can we remove these things from our lives in order to maximize our mental strength?
 
 
How to start a Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project “Pod-Club”:
Step 1: Find 2-30 friends who want to get better
Step 2: Choose your episodes (can be focused on specific themes or random)
Step 3: Listen to/watch the episodes
Step 4: Meet with your group to work through the provided discussion questions for each episode, and feel free to add your own!
Step 5: Celebrate the fact that you are turning passive knowledge into action!
 
Discussion Questions for this Episode:
1. Amy Morin defines mental strength as finding the courage to live the life you want according to your values. How does this definition resonate with your personal understanding of mental strength?
2. Morin breaks mental strength into three components: thinking, feeling, and behaving. Which of these areas do you find most challenging to manage?
3. The podcast highlights that venting can sometimes reinforce negative thought patterns rather than alleviate them. How do you typically process frustrating experiences?
4. Morin suggests that giving away our power, often through language like «I have to,» can be self-sabotaging. What is one instance where you’ve used this language? How could you rephrase it to reclaim your power?
5. The concept of focusing energy on what we can control, rather than what we can’t, is discussed. What is one area of your life where you tend to focus on the uncontrollable?
6. Morin identifies making the same mistakes repeatedly as a common self-sabotaging behavior. What is one recurring mistake you’ve made, and what strategy could help you break that cycle?
7. The pressure for immediate results is identified as a common societal challenge. How does this expectation impact your approach to personal growth or habit formation?
8. Amy emphasizes that mental strength is a spectrum and requires ongoing effort, not just a destination. What is one small, proactive step you can take this week to build your mental strength?
 
Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize
X: @MayoHumanOpProj
Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj
YouTube: The Human Optimization Project – YouTube
Email: optimize@mayo.edu

Podcast de Medicina es un proyecto de divulgación que nace de la experiencia de Radio casiMedicos y evoluciona hacia el audio digital, los podcasts y nuevas formas de compartir conocimiento sanitario.