Episode 68#: Resilience, Performance and Growing the Good, with Sonya Looney

Sonya Looney is a World Champion mountain biker with nearly two decades of elite racing experience across 25+ countries, earning titles including 2015 World Champion and four times USA National Champion. Her unique background combines endurance sports with a deep expertise in positive psychology. She holds a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s in Electrical Engineering with a focus on neuroscience.

Driven by her passion for personal growth and well-being, Sonya focuses on helping high performers navigate perfectionism and balanced striving while cultivating vitality, purpose, and resilience. Known for her infectious energy and relentless curiosity, she is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach dedicated to guiding others toward meaningful accomplishments – without burning out.

Through her work as a TEDx speaker, podcast host, consultant, writer, and professional speaker, Sonya brings her knowledge and experiences to life. As the host of the Grow the Good podcast, Sonya inspires listeners by diving into topics like grit, mindset, self-worth, purpose, success, and healthy striving.

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Timestamps:

00:02:30 - Sonia's Background and Journey 00:05:00 - Interdisciplinary Approach to Well-being and Performance 00:07:00 - Defining Well-being and Balance 00:09:00 - Problems with Sacrificing Well-being 00:11:00 - The Role of Relationships in High Performance 00:14:00 - Mastery vs. Outcome-focused Goals 00:15:00 - Meaningful Accomplishment 00:18:00 - Social Contribution and Mattering 00:19:00 - The Dark Side of Meaningful Work 00:20:00 - Balancing Vitality and Meaningful Work 00:24:00 - Personal Fulfilling Goals vs. Meaningful Otherish Goals 00:25:00 - Building on the Initial Model 00:27:00 - The Six Striving Mindsets 00:29:00 - The Importance of Belonging 00:30:00 - The Role of Recognition and Self-acceptance 00:32:00 - Practical Advice for Finding and Maintaining Meaningful Accomplishments 00:33:00 - The Importance of Savoring and Celebrating Wins