April 17, 2026

308 — Pause. Pick. Play. The Formula for Getting Through Any Hard Moment

19 minutes

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Imagine being a therapist from small-town Maine who has never spoken in front of more than 20 people — and suddenly finding yourself backstage at a massive conference, about to share a stage with Gary Vee. That's exactly what happened to me.

And instead of running for the exit, I ran a play. Here's what that means — and how you can run a play to solve any situation or uncomfortable emotional experience you find yourself in.

Some of the things I talk about are:

The story of my very first big speaking gig — sharing a stage with Gary Vaynerchuk as a therapist from Maine with zero experience on stages like that one.

The "Act As If" play — what it is, why it works, and how cognitive dissonance and behavioral activation explain the science behind it.

Why "Act As If" isn't the same as toxic positivity or fake-it-till-you-make-it.

A completely different situation that called for a completely different play — and how the If/Then Plan saved a 3-hour workshop.

The 3Ps framework — Pause, Pick, Play — and how to use it to find the right play for any situation you face.

How to figure out whether your thinking, your emotions, or your actions need support — because those are three different problems that call for three different plays.

Why an imperfect play you actually run beats a perfect play you never do.

Related Episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠206 — Why You're Stronger Than You Think (and How to See Proof of That Today)⁠

⁠⁠232 — 5 Daily Habits To Build Unstoppable Mental StrengthConnect with the Show

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By Amy Morin

4.8

367367 ratings