Prince Harry has made a “short film” called Transform with Mental Fitness. I think this is more like filmed conversations with various people, with Harry acting as a mental health advocate and interviewer. I also think the film is BetterUp-exclusive, as in, this is something Harry is doing for his work as Chief Impact Officer with BetterUp. I’m including the five-minute-plus video which BetterUp released of Harry speaking to Olympian Chloe Kim, Adam Grant (an organizational psychologist) and Blu Mendoza. The Chloe Kim part is getting a lot of attention, but I think this video has a much larger purpose than “Harry talks to people about mental fitness.”
Chloe Kim is only 22 years old! Remarkable maturity, but something I’ve noticed with professional athletes over, say, the past five years or so is that the dam broke on mental health in sports in a big way. So many professional athletes are working with therapists or sports psychologists or “mental coaches” now. So many professional teams bring in someone with psychological training to help out the team dynamics. It’s interesting. And I think regular non-athletes can try to follow that example generally, meaning the approach of “mental fitness first, or mental fitness alongside physical fitness.”
I also liked what Adam Grant said about his non-negotiable mental fitness time, which (for him) is working out. I’m the same! It’s not just endorphins (although those help), it’s just being able to zone out and daydream and move at the same time.
Screencaps courtesy of BetterUp.
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- London, UNITED KINGDOM – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall visit the Trinity Buoy Wharf site of The Prince’s Foundation. Pictured: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton BACKGRID USA 3 FEBRUARY 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- London, UNITED KINGDOM – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall visit the Trinity Buoy Wharf site of The Prince’s Foundation. Pictured: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton BACKGRID USA 3 FEBRUARY 2022 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
That moment when Adam said he exercises 6 times a week n Prince Harry said I can tell killed me… wanted him to elaborate plus the conversations are good, fun yet informative more of this please 🙏
I finally figured out WHY the Brits are mad. Harry and Meghan continue to show them what SERVICE really means. Meanwhile the ones they pay to live an extravagant and privilege life attend Wimbledon and take photos in a garden and call that Service.
It’s honestly such a stark difference isn’t it.
I can’t remember if I saw this here or on twitter, but someone said the royal family doesn’t work they attend. That sums it up so well for me. Harry and Meghan strive for impact and work to achieve it. Showing up and listening without action is a lost opportunity. And yes I know that when a famous figure “attends” it can highlight a cause and help them. Like Kate could attend more women’s sports and bring attention to that, but she doesn’t. When the BRF is attending 100’s of places a year the impact and visibility is lessoned. Their service amounts to “I have graced you with my presence, behold”.
It’s because the royals think they’re doing is a service just by existing.
It’s what makes you a a better you—what makes you feel like you can conquer the day and be present, engaged, and healthy. Working out can be great for me in that regard, especially if I can pop on a few reruns of Seinfeld as I’m doing it and revving up for the day. Then my mood is bright, my body taut and the blood is flowing, mind is alert.
Professional athletes used to only be allowed to think about results and not journeys. Winning and not progress. Ends and nothing more, to the detriment of everything else in their lives. Taking a day off, down time, mental relaxation time, you need all these things to maintain peak performance and not burn or flame out. I think, lol. Oh, and you need a say and to be heard—coaches that don’t listen to your needs on any given day are not the answer.
I liked that part of Chloe’s interview, where she said she reminds herself of the progress she’s made rather than focusing on not quite achieving whatever high standard she set for herself.
It is good to see PH “thriving”. I liked the exchange with Blu. He is a good interviewer.
he really is! He’s so laid back but at the same time takes it seriously and is engaged. I noticed it during the Dax Shepherd podcast – there was that one segment where all of a sudden Dax was like, wait who’s interviewing who here?? Because Harry was just talking to him and asking him questions.
It’s really fun to just not know what we’re going to see from them next. This was a good series of interviews.
He is an exceptional human being. Harry comes across as engaged, thoughtful, supportive as well as funny. Harry has a such welcoming presence which is apparent by his interactions with everyone he comes into contact with. I loved how he graciously brought those that he interviewed into not only the emotional connection but also the physical connection.
Harry is willing to do to lend a hand to every person, no matter their geographical boundaries, to uplift as many people as he can. Harry is truly selfless while using his platform to identify causes that desperately need to be brought to light and is creating solutions for anyone and everyone that needs access to.
I’m loving this journey for Harry! Every time he speaks about or talks with someone else about mental fitness I’m able to pick out a small gem from the conversation which helps me and my mental fitness. And just by looking at him and seeing how calm and content he seems to be now, he’s finding gems too. 😃 So Thanks Harry for truly moving the conversation about mental fitness forward!
Me, too! I took away a little nugget from each of the three interviewees.
I really like the practical steps articulated by both Blu Mendoza and by Chloe Kim. Especially key is Kim’s positive self-talk, and calmly understanding the necessity of pivoting to address challenges. I love Mendoza stating, “I know I can do anything, but I have to practice … and keep my finger off pause and on play… keep moving.” Mendoza’s discussion of journaling daily, I relate to as essential. Kim also spoke of giving oneself credit for what went right, whenever you have had a bad day. I absolutely love Kim’s cute multiple dimples. 🥰 😆
I echo what everyone has already said about Prince Harry. He’s scrumptious and amazing! 🤩 We are getting to see a glimpse of Harry doing his job as CIO. He seems super fit, happy, and in his element. This contrasts with the tension and bit of sadness on his face in London at St. Paul’s Cathedral. It’s apparent more and more that M&H only went back to support the Queen. Harry’s life is in America and amidst the global community, with Meghan, Archie, Lili, Doria, and their closest friends and colleagues. 💓
Prince Harry has CHARISMA, omg. I was swooning by the end of this video, not to mention actually thinking I should give Better Up a try, so job well done.
Harry is very quick, and wicked funny, and you really have to pay attention to catch how many times he inserts little gems into this video. I am more impressed each time I hear and see him. Really great video, and I enjoyed all three of those being interviewed as well. Much food for thought.
He really does. There is just something about him….. You can understand why Meghan looks at him like he hung the moon.
This was a great conversation and he is really good as a CIO.
Harry walks the walk. That’s what sets him apart from the royal wolf pack.
@ Merricat, well said!!
Yes, but he’s also honest and that makes it seem like he really cares about the issue. By contrast, I dislike the way William only *pretends* to care about mental health — but it’s always OTHER PEOPLE who have mental health issues, not him or his perfect family. William claims to care, but ignores his wife’s ED. He claims to care, but doesn’t admit or try to get help for his own anger issues. He claims to care, but shows no concern for a family member who contemplated suicide. William is such a phony, but Harry’s concern is real.
Yes he does. It looks like he also got BetterUp to donate coaching services to Invictus Games participants.
Harry is really charming. I sent this to a couple friends who I’ve been talking to about mental fitness. They had never really heard the term before so it was really informative. Great reminder on what practical steps look like to maintain a healthy self.
I loved the part about leaders & managers putting mental health first. I sincerely hope we can change the work culture of money & greed over health. How many of us have worked twelve hour shifts for little money. It takes a huge toll, stress can be deadly. Thanks Prince Harry, for shining a light on this important issue. I hope all business owners, managers & leaders watch this video.
When Adam Grant said that it’s important for leaders to convey, “I care more about your well-being than your results,” it brought tears to my eyes. If you’ve ever worked for someone with the opposite attitude, you know how damaging it can be. And the leaders who actually care about you as a human being usually get better results anyway.
A bit of a fun fact: the song used in the background for this video is also used in season 1 of suits. Funnily enough, Suits had a lot of British references as well. It was always written
Suits had some of the best music in a show I had seen in years. It’s how I discovered Charles Bradley and got to see him live right before he passed.
“Intro” by the XX! I love this song. It’s really meditative when you listen to the long version or a looped version that lasts three hours on YouTube…great for work music.
Thanks for pointing that out about the intro background music @Layla. It was familiar and soothing, but I barely registered it till you pointed out its origins! 😎 Thanks @Shawna for providing the music title too! 🎶
How great that Meghan’s presence is reflected in this familiar theme music from Suits! Not only that, Mendoza said her coach helps her understand how to not only survive the day, but — and Harry completes her thought, with a knowing smile: “to thrive.” In the S.A. interview, that’s what Meg said she told Harry is important to do, “not to just survive something, but to thrive, to be happy.” It’s also similar wisdom previously written by Maya Angelou!
I really like that Harry has been pushing for mental fitness – it’s such a great spin to get away from the stigma of mental health, and he’s been consistent about it for years now – you can tell he truly believes in its importance and is passionate.
And it IS so important. I see my therapist monthly even though my anxiety has been okay for awhile now, and I know when I need to take mental health breaks from work, etc. You really need to stay on top of it!
The first few times I saw him in public appearances post Sussexit, I felt like I was really aware of his posh accent, and I was like “OMG, Prince Harry is doing real world stuff.” But now, he just seems way more . . . American? I mean, he still has a cute accent, but there’s nothing at all about his demeanor or body language that would suggest his origins to someone who didn’t know. (Such a person doesn’t exist, but you know what I mean.)