264 — Gratitude for Skeptics: What It Is, Why It Works, and How to Avoid Toxic Positivity
Do you ever feel like gratitude is overrated? Or do you get angry at the thought of being grateful when you're going through a tough time? If gratitude feels fake, forced, or like you're denying reality, you are not the problem. The method is.
Gratitude isn't about pretending everything is okay. It's a science-backed mental strength tool, and today we’re going to make it practical and useful, even for the biggest skeptics. You can learn how to practice it without it feeling like a chore or crossing over into toxic positivity.
Some of the things I share are:
How understanding the real purpose of gratitude can help you retrain your mind — and change what you focus on every day.
How uncovering your brain’s natural negativity bias can unlock the power of gratitude — even if you’re a skeptic.
Surprising micro-practices you can try in just 60 seconds — and why these tiny shifts can create real change, no matter how busy or skeptical you are.
Ways to let gratitude exist right alongside pain — and how it can actually help you weather your hardest moments.
How to recognize the hidden risks of toxic positivity — and what you can do to protect yourself from it while still finding genuine gratitude.
How adding just one word to your self-talk can completely change the way you see your challenges.
Easy ways to weave gratitude into your routine without piling on extra tasks or taking up more of your day.
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
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Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
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Lola Blankets — Get 35% off your entire order at Lolablankets.com by using code STRONGER at checkout. Experience the world’s #1 blanket with Lola Blankets.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
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263 — How 15 Minutes of Solitude Can Change Your Life with Professor Robert Coplan
Do you ever feel guilty for wanting time to yourself? Or do you struggle to be truly alone with your thoughts without the distractions of your phone?
If you feel pressure to be productive or you get uncomfortable when you're alone, this episode is for you. I'm talking to Dr. Robert Coplan, a developmental psychologist, college professor, leading researcher on solitude, and author of the new book The Joy of Solitude.
Some of the things we discuss are:
The true definition of solitude
Why alone time is actually the opposite of loneliness—and it's essential for your well-being
How the “deactivation effect” of solitude helps regulate your emotions and restore your energy
The science behind how being alone can spark creativity and even make your relationships stronger
The simple tech guidelines for solitude that can help you get the most out of your time alone
What the famous 15-minute electric shock study really tells us about being alone
How to build your “solitude muscles” with micro-moments of intentional alone time
What to say when you need to set boundaries and request alone time without offending others
How to embrace the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO) instead of the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
Why it’s crucial to start building solitude skills in kids and how the benefits change with age
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Links & Resources
RobertCoplan.com
The Joy of Solitude
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
OneSkin — Get 15% off OneSkin with the code STRONGER at https://www.oneskin.co/
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Shopify — Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/mentallystronger
L-Nutra — Visit ProlonLife.com/MS to claim your 15% discount and your bonus gift.
Jones Road Beauty — Use code STRONGER at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Cool Gloss with your first purchase! #JonesRoadBeauty #ad
Lola Blankets — Get 35% off your entire order at Lolablankets.com by using code STRONGER at checkout. Experience the world’s #1 blanket with Lola Blankets.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
AquaTru — Go to AquaTru.com now for 20% off using promo code STRONGER
Uncommon Goods — Go to UncommonGoods.com/Stronger for 15% off
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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262 — You Don’t Need Closure to Heal: 4 Steps to Move Forward
What if you didn’t have to wait for an apology, an explanation, or that perfect last conversation to feel at peace with your past? You don’t need closure from someone else to move forward. You can create it for yourself.
The good news is there’s a practical, research-backed strategy you can use starting today. So instead of chasing one final conversation or piece of information that you think would give you closure, reclaim your energy, and write your own ending.
Some of the things I share are:
What closure really is — and why your brain craves it after breakups, ghosting, or rejection
The science of unfinished stories and why rumination keeps us stuck
Why chasing “just one more conversation” almost always leads to more questions, not answers
The simple four-step plan to create your own sense of closure
The biggest mistake people make and how to avoid it
How to cope with unfinished business
The one time it makes sense to seek closure
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
OneSkin — Get 15% off OneSkin with the code STRONGER at https://www.oneskin.co/
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Shopify — Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/mentallystronger
L-Nutra — Visit ProlonLife.com/MS to claim your 15% discount and your bonus gift.
Jones Road Beauty — Use code STRONGER at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Cool Gloss with your first purchase! #JonesRoadBeauty #ad
Lola Blankets — Get 35% off your entire order at Lolablankets.com by using code STRONGER at checkout. Experience the world’s #1 blanket with Lola Blankets.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
AquaTru — Go to AquaTru.com now for 20% off using promo code STRONGER
Uncommon Goods — Go to UncommonGoods.com/Stronger for 15% off
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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261 - The Small Social Risks That Spark New Connections and Deepen Your Relationships With Ben Swire
Do you struggle to share what you're really thinking or feeling due to fear that you might be judged or rejected? Or, do you worry that someone might use your personal information against you if you put yourself out there?
If you've ever struggled to take social risks, this episode is for you. I'm talking to Ben Swire, a top thought leader on human connection and authentic living,
Some of the things we discuss are:
What "safe danger" is and why it's the key to meaningful growth
How to take micro risks (like admitting you don’t know something or giving honest feedback)
The crucial difference between comfort and true safety
Using playful and creative tasks to lower defenses and build trust
How to practice vulnerability without taking reckless, all-or-nothing leaps
The specific activities that will deepen your connections in fun ways
How to create safety in groups so people feel safe enough to share their real ideas
The art of sharing things you love (like poetry or a creative project) without fearing judgment
Why even small risks feel harder when you care deeply—and how to push through the fear
Turning your hardest struggles into your greatest emotional “superpowers”
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like weekly bonus episodes, mental strength challenges, and office hours with me.
Links & Resources
BenjaminSwire.com
Safe Danger
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
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Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Shopify — Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/mentallystronger
L-Nutra — Visit ProlonLife.com/MS to claim your 15% discount and your bonus gift.
Jones Road Beauty — Use code STRONGER at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Cool Gloss with your first purchase! #JonesRoadBeauty #ad
Lola Blankets — Get 35% off your entire order at Lolablankets.com by using code STRONGER at checkout. Experience the world’s #1 blanket with Lola Blankets.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
AquaTru — Go to AquaTru.com now for 20% off using promo code STRONGER
Uncommon Goods — Go to UncommonGoods.com/Stronger for 15% off
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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45:52
260 - Temptation Bundling: The Science-Backed Trick to Make Habits Stick
What if you could make your hardest habits feel easier—without relying on willpower? There’s a simple, science-backed strategy that pairs what you “should” do with something you “want” to do, so you actually look forward to it.
The good news is, you don’t need more motivation. Instead, you can create instant gratification that makes you want to keep engaging in a habit like going to the gym or doing chores.
Some of the things I share are:
What “temptation bundling” is—and why it works in your brain
The dopamine-based reason this makes good habits stick
One strict rule that transforms chores into treats (and why cheating ruins it)
How temptation bundling differs from habit stacking and commitment devices
Real-life examples you can copy for the gym, cleaning, travel, and taxes
The mistake that makes bundles fail (competing attention) and how to avoid it
Mentally Strong App
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Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
OneSkin — Get 15% off OneSkin with the code STRONGER at https://www.oneskin.co/
Quince — Go to Quince.com/stronger for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns!
Shopify — Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/mentallystronger
L-Nutra — Visit ProlonLife.com/MS to claim your 15% discount and your bonus gift.
Jones Road Beauty — Use code STRONGER at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Cool Gloss with your first purchase! #JonesRoadBeauty #ad
Lola Blankets — Get 35% off your entire order at Lolablankets.com by using code STRONGER at checkout. Experience the world’s #1 blanket with Lola Blankets.
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
BetterHelp — This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/mentallystrong
AquaTru — Go to AquaTru.com now for 20% off using promo code STRONGER
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Acerca de Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin
Growing mentally stronger will change your life and therapist Amy Morin wants to show you how to make it happen.
Whether you want to improve your mental health, boost your resilience, gain emotional intelligence, or gain a competitive edge that will help you reach your greatest potential, this show is for you.
Mentally Stronger provides therapist-approved strategies for tackling the biggest battle we all face--the one in our minds.
Webby Award-Winning Host Amy Morin is a psychotherapist and the bestselling author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do. Every episode dives into science-backed strategies for building the mental strength you need to handle whatever life throws this way.
No one understands the importance of having mental strength more than Amy. Her personal journey surrounding grief and loss has led to her to take a deep dive into mental strength. And now, she's sharing what she learned along the way.
Her TEDx talk, The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong, is one of the most viewed talks of all time with 25 million views and she's sold over 1 million books. She's a speaker and a consulted who teaches companies like Google, Under Armour, and NBC how to grow mentally stronger.
Unlike other shows, Mentally Stronger provides a unique blend of research-backed tips, stories of mental strength, and therapist-approved strategies that will empower you to thrive.
Join Amy on the transformative journey to mastering your mind. And the fun part is, she records the show from a sailboat in the Florida Keys.
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