Do you ever feel like you’re doing everything “right”? Performing at a high level, meeting everyone’s expectations, carrying the load—and yet still feel yourself slowly wearing down?

It’s more common than you might realize—and there’s a way out.

Jay Papasan is joined by behavioral psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe to unpack why the people who look the strongest are often the most at risk for burnout. She calls it “the curse of the strong”—the slow erosion that happens when high achievers overuse the very muscles that once made them successful.

Together, they explore why burnout isn’t just about workload, but about losing agency, operating outside your values, and ignoring the subtle signs your body sends long before the collapse. Dr. Hanley-Dafoe shares practical, compassionate strategies to prevent burnout, restore alignment, and regain control—from tiny daily decisions to intentional pauses, grounding techniques, and value-based prioritization.

Challenge of the Week:Look at your to-do list. If you have more than three items, you’re writing fiction. Remove one thing. Delegate it, delay it, or release it completely—and notice how much agency returns with that single act.

To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: the1thing.com/pods.

We talk about:

•  Why high performers are uniquely vulnerable to burnout  

•  How agency, choice, and language shape resilience  

•  The role of values alignment in preventing exhaustion and cynicism

Links & Tools from This Episode:

• Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe 

• Follow Dr. Hanley-Dafoe on Instagram: @dr_robynehd

• Her Books:

• • Calm Within the Storm 

  • Stress Wisely

• Free Resources

• Want to be a guest or share feedback? Email podcast@the1thing.com or send us an audio note at Speakpipe.com/the1thing.

Produced by NOVA