
What is MLO, and Who Designed It?
Mindful Life Optimization (MLO) Methodology, designed by Dr. Manijeh Motaghy, is the culmination of decades of experience in improving mental health, mindfulness, and other practical wisdom and heart practices. It is a comprehensive framework that is clinically proven to enhance health and well-being by reducing stress and anxiety, blood pressure, symptoms of illnesses, and optimizing relationships, communication, leadership, resiliency and overall human potential by integrating fundamental lessons from natural systems and laws, connection to the planet and human experience, conduct and happiness factors. The methodology is built on three core Domains of Mindful Life Intelligence and five stages of Human Software Optimization.
Together, these developmental lessons help individuals and organizations benefit from optimized inner navigation qualities that can withstand both internal and external turmoil, make sound judgments, and keep compassionate and caring for oneself and others on our planet Earth.
Background
Despite continual advancement in every aspect of life including health, education, technology, material comfort, and increased access to mindful conscious living resources, our human and environmental issues remain and continue to escalate:
1. Dissatisfaction and Prevalent Mental Illnesses:
Human dissatisfaction remains unresolved, causing more problems and increased rates of mental illnesses across the world. All of our advancements in knowledge, research, medicine, psychology, culture, religion, philosophy, art, music and social reform have not been able to solve the issues of biases, inequality, identity crisis, stress, worry, and general unhappiness that humanity is facing. We are not properly programmed to understand life and lack many skills to live an integrated happy life.
In 2021, the National Institute of Mental Health reported an astonishing number of people suffering from mental illness, which burdens both families and the society.
Sample Report:
In 2021, there were an estimated 57.8 million adults aged 18 or older in the United States with AMI (Any Mental Illness). This number represented 22.8% of all U.S. adults.
The prevalence of AMI was higher among females (27.2%) than males (18.1%).
Young adults aged 18-25 years had the highest prevalence of AMI (33.7%) compared to adults aged 26-49 years (28.1%) and aged 50 and older (15.0%).
The prevalence of AMI was highest among the adults reporting two or more races (34.9%), followed by American Indian / Alaskan Native (AI/AN) adults (26.6%). The prevalence of AMI was lowest among Asian adults (16.4%).
2. Factors that Perpetuate Anxiety:
This unskillfulness has caused tremendous negative side effects for personal and professional life, as well as for the environment. We continue to experience and cause trauma, which is also worsened by rising eco-anxiety and uncertainty about the future.
3. New forms of Anxieties:
Climate Anxiety or Eco Anxiety are amongst recent mental health issues that cause a sense of helplessness, stress, and concern affecting both conscious and unconscious leadership.
The prospect of preventing climate catastrophes, food shortages, famines, and mass displacement weighs heavily on some, while others face heavy stress in adapting to new mandates and complying with climate related regulations.
4. Incomplete/Faulty Training Models:
We believe much of these personal and societal issues are due to learning from parents, teachers & educational systems, siblings, relatives, and the society as a whole, who are in most cases not fully developed. The need for more comprehensive training solutions to resolve the issues of unhappiness and harmful living remain unanswered. Read more about our vision to optimize 1 billion people by 2042.
MLO Programs Draw From:
MLOM, the Mindful Life Optimization Methodology was created and perfected through decades of exploration, understanding, development, and application of concepts, qualities and skills necessary for every human to live fully and successfully. Some of the areas and disciplines that influence MLO training practice and methodology include the following:
Here is a Testimonial From a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
The amount of emotional and spiritual growth I have had through the privilege of working with Manijeh is difficult to articulate with words. The connection and growth are on such a deep level, creating opportunities for different perspectives and insights. It’s not just mindfulness and meditation; it’s an actual expansion of my intelligence around a fuller perspective of life that required her five-stage human software optimization model with knowledge, awareness, development, transformation, and optimization. The work this process requires is not always easy, but the outcome is the best gift you can give yourself, regardless of whatever life phase you are currently in.
We are all works in progress and always have room for growth and development. I had done plenty of work for healing and self-growth prior to meeting Manijeh in December of 2020. I felt like I was still missing something – it turns out there were several things! Gently, coached by her, I was able to work through judgment (internal and external), anger, depressive and anxious symptoms, cognitive distortions, as well as negative patterns and biases that had accumulated throughout my life and career. These have now drastically shifted. Through this process, I now have a better understanding and love for myself that I had been missing for quite some time.
My ability to recognize and practice an abundance of love and compassion for myself and others has strengthened and increased in duration and frequency. So much so that I’ve reached a point where the current obstacles/conflicts no longer seem daunting. My skills as a psychotherapist have improved and continue to evolve. My relationships have and continue to improve. Most important of all, I am more accountable to myself.
I feel more connected with my spiritual self, nature, and universe, and I am deepening my intuitiveness. I now allow myself to touch my talent of intuitiveness because I finally can. I am eternally grateful for Manijeh and her methodology.
Mary Aroyan, LMFT
The How/Methodology:
The 3-Domains of Life Intelligence includes:
- Systems both natural and constructed that govern our lives
- Planet and stewardship
- Human experience and happiness
The five-stage Human Software Optimization (HSO) methodology includes definitions, explanations, lessons, applications, practices, exercises, and guidance assist in healing from life’s difficult experiences and becoming skilled at the 3-Domains of Life Intelligence.
Result: An Optimized Inner Navigation Systems and Asset

Learn about our connection hour events and how MLO can help you not only cope with life’s challenges but also to grow in 3-Domains of Life Intelligence and live a successful happy life. Click this video to learn more.
Note: We are compiling a list of Questions and Answers that will be uploaded soon. Please reach out to us for any questions, clarifications, and or request for courses, retreats, or private lessons. Write to: info@deepskyblue-gnat-427102.hostingersite.com
Become an MLO Professional
MLO (Mindful Life Optimization) Professionals become counselors who can guide individuals, groups, and corporate clients in creating holistic lifestyles and work environments.