In times of challenge, it’s difficult to continuously show up at our best day after day. And as we live through what many are calling a “permacrisis”, this difficulty only becomes more profound as evidenced by the rising rates of burnout, anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders.
A Juno Award-nominated singer-songwriter, Peter Katz is one of our most in-demand speakers in 2025. His message resonates now more than ever. Through an unforgettable combination of original songs and vivid storytelling, his keynote concerts remind people of their inherent resilience, while giving them the tools to be proactive about their mental health so they can show up wholeheartedly everyday, no matter the circumstances.
Peter recently shared some of the tools and strategies he himself employs to keep his cup full, as well as other research-based self-regulation techniques individuals can apply to support their own mental well-being as well as those around them.
Showing Up Wholeheartedly
Showing up wholeheartedly isn’t about being perfect — it’s about bringing intentionality to whatever you’re doing. “It’s the difference between being pulled along vs. propelled,” Peter said. “It means that whatever you’re doing, you’re doing it with intention and a sense of purpose. You feel connected to the impacts you’re creating and you’re showing up resourced, ready, and energized to create them.”
This means adopting a mindset of being forever curious. This fuels life-long learning and growth, ensuring you evolve alongside our ever-evolving world. To do this, however, you need to be able to withstand the self-doubt, the inner and outer criticism, the not-knowing.
This is where mental health strategies become essential — not as an end goal, but as the foundation that makes wholehearted living sustainable.
Your Mental Health Toolkit
Showing up wholeheartedly and being proactive about your mental health doesn’t require dramatic lifestyle overhauls. Peter offers simple, practical strategies for staying grounded even when everything around you feels uncertain, challenging, or even chaotic.
Return to Your Body When Your Mind Takes Over
Movement is Peter’s primary mental health tool. In 2018, he fell off a 100-foot cliff that shattered his right ankle and left him unable to walk for nearly a year.
“I remember when I finally got the ability to walk again — something that wasn’t a given — I was moved to tears. All these years later, I’m still moved to tears sometimes that I can simply walk,” he said.
“Whenever my head starts to get the better of me and the stressors and anxieties are piling up, I return to my body. It immediately reminds me what a gift it is to be alive.”
Identify Your Non-Negotiables
Your non-negotiables are things that must be in place for you to be at your best. It’s important to get clear on what those are, Peter said, and the different versions of them.
For example, one of Peter’s non-negotiables is movement or exercise. “My gold-standard is working out every morning for an hour,” he said. “I travel a lot though and can’t always do my optimum version. But I can always do a minimum viable version. That might be a five-minute head-clearing, body-activating walk. That’s better than abandoning myself completely.”
Having an optimal and minimum viable version of your non-negotiable, self-care activity ensures that no matter what is happening in your day to day, you can fit in what’s most important to your well-being.
Focus on Service
Another go-to strategy for Peter is service — focusing on who he serves through his work and why it matters. As a keynote speaker, Peter has integrated this into his preparation process.
“With every keynote I give, I don’t just interview the meeting planners or event coordinators, I also interview some of the attendees,” Peter said. “In those interviews, I get to hear so many humanity-affirming stories… It reminds me of who I’m there to serve, it makes my life’s work so much bigger than me.”
“In moments where you’re losing the thread, getting lost in your head, or getting in your own way — being able to make it about others and truly being of service can be hugely motivating,” he continued.
When the World Feels Overwhelming, Go Micro
A micro-focus is an antidote to the overwhelming nature of global problems and constant negative news cycles.
“When my brain gets filled with all the negativity and the bigness of the challenges we’re facing, I just go micro and focus on the person right in front of me,” he continued. “99.9% of the time they’re a good human being, trying their best, and showing up in ways that are inspiring.”
Building Mentally Healthy Workplaces
Mental health isn’t just a personal responsibility — it’s a collective one. The way we show up for others, especially during challenging times, can make the difference between someone thriving or merely surviving. Peter offers these strategies to better support the mental health of the people around you, especially in the workplace.
Embrace the Whole Human Being
“We are not robots, we are not ‘human doings,’ we are ‘human beings’ and ultimately, we need to have our humanity embraced if we want to show up at our best,” Peter said.
A leader’s job is so much more than just having all the answers. It’s about modeling what you wish to see in others, it’s about bringing your whole self to work so others feel empowered to do the same. It’s about taking the time and having the courage to engage in very human conversations, where you hold curiosity and active listening as top priorities.
“Most behaviour is a symptom of something else, Peter said. “Create the container for that ‘something else’ to be seen, held, supported, and moved through.”
Build Social Capital
Social capital is the key to changing the trajectory of company culture, and it’s created when people have shared experiences. “Think about your relationship with siblings, friends, and family… in any relationship where you’ve navigated some waters together, you’ve built social capital,” Peter said.
“You could go to those people in a vulnerable moment and trust that they know who you really are… They care for you and have a vested interest in your success because they know and trust you have a vested interest in theirs,” he continued.
Social capital is not exclusive to personal relationships. When team members have genuine social capital with each other, they’re more likely to support each other through difficult times and be vulnerable about their struggles.
Facilitate Self-Reflection and Learning
Your culture, vision, values, mission, purpose, etc., all of it comes to life through the stories your teams or clients share about you, Peter said. A leader’s job is to create the container for those stories to be unlocked.
For example, a recent client of Peter’s wanted his help to encourage their people to show up with greater personal leadership. “I could have told them all about personal leadership,” he said, “instead I had them answer this question: ‘What is a story you can share of a moment when you experienced exceptional personal leadership?’ And then we heard the most beautiful, impactful, meaningful, inspiring stories that were of them and for them. I didn’t give them any answers, I just created the right container for the answers to emerge.”
“Your greatest resource, your greatest source of wisdom and insights are your people. Create the conditions for that to be unlocked and you’ll find yourself with a highly self-motivated and well-resourced team,” he continued.
The Path Forward
In a world where crises feel constant and overwhelming, Peter’s simple, practical tools can help us stay grounded when everything feels chaotic. These aren’t temporary fixes, but sustainable practices for navigating an unpredictable world.
The solution isn’t about adding more to our already overwhelming lives but using what is already there. “We don’t need more connections, we need more connection with the people already around us,” Peter said. “Almost everything you’re looking for is already there, within the people around you in your life.”
Hire Peter Katz to Speak at Your Event
Fluently bilingual in English and French, Peter Katz is a master at creating experiential environments that encourage connection and renewal. Through his powerful songs and stories, Peter pulls attendees in and leaves them inspired, energized, and ready to show up with purpose every day.
Contact us to learn more about Peter and his transformational keynotes.
