The Psychology of your 20s 360. How to be ambitious (without burning out) ft. Amina AlTai
Dec 1, 2025
Amina AlTai, an executive coach and author of The Ambition Trap, joins the conversation to decode the complex relationship between ambition and wellness. She highlights how the pressure of perpetual growth can lead to burnout, especially in your 20s. Amina shares her journey from burnout to recovery, advocating for cyclical ambition and the importance of slowing down. They discuss the pitfalls of a scarcity mindset and the need for purposeful ambition that stems from joy rather than pressure. Amina encourages listeners to find their 'zone of genius' and prioritize joy over external validation.
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Burnout Led To A Career Recalibration
- Amina AlTai burned out at 28 after 80-hour weeks and developed two autoimmune diseases.
- That crisis forced her to study coaching, mindfulness and somatics and change her relationship with ambition.
Ambition As A Double Bind
- The "ambition trap" is a double bind where systems penalize marginalized people for striving.
- We internalize those messages and then police our own desire to take up space.
Ambition Goes In Seasons
- Constant "more for more" ambition is dysfunctional and often harms health and relationships.
- Ambition naturally cycles like seasons; rest fuels creativity and better decisions.
