#60- The Pressure Paradox

The Psychology of Peak Performance — Dr. Adam Formal on What High Achievers Get Wrong About Success

What happens when you reach the top of your game — and suddenly everything feels harder, not easier? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Adam Formal, a clinical psychologist who works with Team USA athletes, C-suite executives, and elite performers who look superhuman from the outside but are very much human on the inside.

From Olympic athletes dealing with post-career identity crises to executives burning out despite having "everything," Dr. Formal shares insights that cut through typical success narratives to reveal what actually drives sustainable performance — and what destroys it.

We cover:

• Why adding rewards to something you love actually decreases your motivation
• How social media creates "need substitutes" that feel like connection but leave you emptier
• Why most elite athletes retire before 24 and struggle more than anyone talks about
• His "donut hole theory" — why we can't see our own patterns even when they're obvious to everyone else
• The uncomfortable truth about why people who "have it all" often feel the most lost

🎯 Key takeaways:

• Success without sustainability is just delayed failure. Focus on your "why," not "what if I fail."
• Your coping strategies reveal your unmet needs. Whether it's Netflix binges or 80-hour work weeks, we're all avoiding something.
• The higher you climb, the scarier it gets. Peak performance means confronting your actual limits.

This isn't your typical "mindset and motivation" conversation. Whether you're climbing toward your own version of "the top" or wondering why success doesn't feel the way you thought it would, this episode offers real talk about achievement, burnout, and sustainable excellence.

Connect with Dr. Adam Formal:

• LinkedIn: Adam Formal, PhD
• Practice: www.formaltherapy.com
• Hyer Calling: hyercalling.org/adam.html

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