202. Taking the Wheel of the Driven Personality with Gary Trosclair

In this episode, I sit down with psychotherapist, author, and former professional musician Gary Trosclair to explore what it really means to have a driven personality and how to take the wheel instead of letting it drive you. Gary’s work, The Healthy Compulsive Project, sheds light on obsessive-compulsive personality traits (OCPD) and how the same tendencies that push us to achieve can also cause stress, rigidity, and disconnection if left unchecked.

We dig into how perfectionism, control, and urgency show up in endurance sports, work, and family life and how to transform those patterns into strengths through awareness, mindfulness, and compassion. Gary shares insights from Jungian psychology, personal stories from his journey as a musician turned therapist, and practical ways to move from “proving yourself” to simply being yourself.

We also talk about the mental side of endurance how athletes can find balance between excellence and ease, the role of meditation and body awareness in releasing tension, and how learning to “hold the pen more loosely” can actually improve both performance and happiness.

If you’ve ever felt like your ambition is both your greatest gift and your toughest challenge, this conversation is for you.

Learn more about Gary: thehealthycompulsive.com | garytrosclair.com

skimo gold, endurance and life coaching with brief testimonials