Could your child’s future success depend on mental skills you’ve never thought to teach them? In this episode of The Anthony Amen Show (formerly Health & Fitness Redefined), I sit down with Dr. Christine Silverstein, a peak performance coach with 29 years of experience, to explore the transformative power of what she calls mindful toughness — mental training techniques that strengthen resilience, confidence, and emotional regulation in both kids and adults.
Dr. Christine blends her background as a registered nurse with decades of coaching athletes, executives, and individuals through some of life’s hardest battles. She shares her personal story of using self-hypnosis to navigate multiple pregnancy losses and how a near-drowning incident in 2021 pushed her to document her techniques in her book, Wrestling Through Adversity. Her approach is grounded, practical, and deeply human.
We confront a growing crisis exposed by the pandemic: a generation of kids (and adults) struggling with anxiety, fear, and emotional fragility. Dr. Christine believes this stems not from weakness, but from a lack of resilience skillsets—tools that were never taught. Her mindful toughness system includes:
• Strategic breathing techniques to calm the nervous system
• Progressive muscle relaxation for anxiety and pain
• Visualization to build confidence and reduce fear
• Mental rehearsal to prepare the mind for success
She shares powerful real-world examples, including how these techniques helped turn a struggling high school wrestler into an undefeated champion, and how they helped a college athlete overcome debilitating postoperative pain from knee surgery. These stories highlight a core theme we live every day at Redefine Fitness in Stony Brook and Mount Sinai: the mind and body are inseparable — and fitness is medicine.
One of the most eye-opening parts of the conversation is Dr. Christine’s take on modern parenting. In an effort to protect children, many parents unintentionally prevent them from developing coping skills. Resilience comes from exposure, not avoidance. When kids learn to navigate discomfort in healthy ways, they build mental strength that lasts a lifetime.
“You move in the direction of your dominant thoughts,” Dr. Christine says — a reminder that our mental habits shape our outcomes. Whether you’re an athlete pursuing peak performance, a parent looking to help your child become mentally strong, or someone facing adversity yourself, these accessible techniques offer a pathway to real transformation.
Listen now to discover how simple mental tools can change your life — and why mental resilience is one of the greatest gifts you can pass on to the next generation. Subscribe, share with someone who needs this message, and leave a review to help more people understand the true power of the mind.
Learn More at: www.Redefine-Fitness.com
