Click here to start your FREE 10 days Back Pain Relief Training

Contact us

01707 662 704

Contact us

01707 333 390

body in balance logo

Stutz: Get Heroic with the Hollywood Shrink

Home 9 Wellness Coaching 9 Stutz: Get Heroic with the Hollywood Shrink

Have you heard of Phil Stutz? He’s the psychiatrist to Hollywood’s elite, featured in Jonah Hill’s Netflix documentary “Stutz,” and he’s revolutionized how we think about personal transformation.

And the Apple TV series ‘Shrinking’ starring Harrison Ford is based upon his work.

I first heard of him when I went through my Heroic Caoch training, but didn’t really ‘get’ him until the documentary ‘Stutz’ came out on Netflix.

And I’ve just started reading his fourth book, ‘True and False Magic’ for a second time.

This is why I thought I’d share some of his wisdom, and why I think Heroic.US will help you.

(Phil is actually an investor in Heroic).

Phil’s teaching and methods centre around what he calls the three certainties of life:

– Pain (which we must embrace, not avoid)

– Uncertainty (which we must navigate with courage)

– Constant Work (which we must approach with dedication)

He calls these the Three Domains.

The first two books, The Tools, and Coming Alive are written with Barry Michels.

Stutz and Michels teach that life isn’t meant to be figured out—it’s meant to be worked with. The Tools help you cooperate with invisible forces through deliberate, disciplined action. You don’t wait to feel better or clearer. You act your way into clarity, courage, and aliveness.

You can get the books here:

The Tools – https://amzn.to/4jHpNtl

Coming Alive – https://amzn.to/42XDBcc

Lessons for Living – https://amzn.to/4d3yXhz

True and False Magic – https://amzn.to/4iMcUNl

Or for a faster way to learn and apply read on….

Here’s an overview, written from some of my notes.

Pain → Embrace It Through Reactive Discipline

“Pain is not a sign something is wrong. It’s a doorway into transformation.” — Phil Stutz

Explanation: Pain will always show up—but it doesn’t have to defeat you. The first certainty of life is suffering, and Stutz offers Reactive Discipline to deal with it. This involves training your nervous system to lean toward discomfort, not away.

Tool: Reversal of Desire — Instead of avoiding emotional pain, you walk directly into it, saying: “Bring it on… I love pain… Pain sets me free.”
This initiates movement and builds strength of will.

Higher Force: Pain becomes a portal to the Source, the force that fuels transformation from the inside out. Facing pain head-on returns you to the present, where you can act.

Uncertainty → Trust Higher Forces Through Expansive Discipline

“When you act with faith, the higher forces reveal themselves.” — Coming Alive

Explanation: Uncertainty isn’t a flaw in life—it’s a design feature. Stutz names this as a core truth: we cannot control outcomes, but we can choose action. To thrive in uncertainty, we must move beyond the rational mind and draw power from higher realms.

Expansive Discipline is about repeatedly stepping into the unknown with tools that connect you to the higher energies of creativity, love, and meaning.

Tools:

  • Active Love (releases resentment and judgment)
  • Grateful Flow (breaks negativity loops)
  • Inner Authority (reconnects you with deep self-worth)

These tools train you to act without guarantees, building spiritual momentum.
You become a channel for The Force of Outflow, which requires you to give without certainty of return.

Mantra: “I don’t wait. I create.”

Constant Work → Build Daily Systems with Structural Discipline

“You’ll never be done. But you can be strong.” — Phil Stutz

Explanation: The work never ends. That’s the point. Structural Discipline is your foundation for daily living—rituals, boundaries, routines, and systems that keep your Life Force high even when motivation lags.

You build a life that automatically generates vitality, direction, and emotional strength.

Life Force Model:

  1. Body – move daily, eat well, sleep.
  2. People – connect, share, engage with others.
  3. Self – create, reflect, and develop spiritually.

Tool: Jeopardy — You imagine your Future Self in crisis because you didn’t act today. It brings urgency and commitment to daily action.

“You’re in jeopardy. You must act today.”

Truth: Discipline isn’t about rigid control. It’s about respecting your potential and protecting the fragile fire of transformation.

Integration: A Life Powered by Tools

3 Disciplines → 3 Ways to Work the Tools

  • Structural = Build strong daily rhythms and rituals (Jeopardy, Grateful Flow)
  • Reactive = Meet adversity with courage (Reversal of Desire, Inner Authority)
  • Expansive = Create from love and abundance (Active Love, Outflow)

3 Domains of the Life Force

  • Tend your body, nurture your relationships, and expand your self-respect. These are non-negotiables.

3 Certainties of Life

  • You will face Pain, you will walk through Uncertainty, and you will require Constant Work.
  • But with the right tools, these certainties don’t destroy you — they shape you.

Heroic

I first learned of Phil Stutz and the Tools via my Heroic Coach training.

I’ve written more about that elsewhere:

https://www.thepainreliefcentres.co.uk/heroic/ & https://www.thepainreliefcentres.co.uk/a-stoic-stay-in-hospital/

For now sign up either for the 100% free version, or the 14 day free trial of the premium version here:

https://www.heroic.us?fpr=peace

You’ll be able to access these short ‘Plus One’ trainings to help you develop in each of the three domains.  If you go for the Premium version you’ll get access to the more in-depth Philosophers Notes (scroll down further, which also include notes on The Tools, Coming Alive and Lessons for Living.

1. Pain

“Face it, feel it, and move through it.”

These Plus Ones will help you embrace discomfort, adversity, emotional struggle, or challenge as a path to growth.

2. Uncertainty

“Act with courage even when the outcome is unknown.”

These Plus Ones develop your ability to navigate the unknown and live without needing all the answers:

3. Constant Work

Showing up daily, sticking with disciplines, training consistently, and staying engaged with life.

“Keep showing up. Especially when it’s hard.”

These Plus Ones reinforce habits of daily discipline, grit, and momentum, even in the absence of motivation:

Philosophers Notes 

1. Pain

These books help us face suffering, emotional challenge, or discomfort as catalysts for growth.

2. Uncertainty

These books emphasize embracing unpredictability, navigating doubt, or acting despite the unknown.

·        A Joseph Campbell Companion

3. Constant Work

These books teach the necessity of daily effort, building habits, and committing to ongoing personal development.

Written by Dr Chris Pickard

Posted In:

Wellness Coaching

First published on: May 6, 2025

You may also be interested in

Heroic

May 8, 2025 |

Heroic Coaching Manifesto: How We Change the World, One Hero at a Time Introduction: The Crisis We Face We are in a global crisis. Not just politically or economically—but spiritually, mentally, and physically. Depression is the leading cause of...

read more

Subscribe To The Newsletter!

Join over 2300+ magnificient health heroes who have subscribed to receive weekly emails. Get access to my exclusive offers and weekly health coaching.