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As this 2-part solo podcast goes Live I’ll have started my new life! That sounds dramatic and it feels dramatic in the best possible way.

At this time of year you are likely reflecting on the year that was and the year to come that you would like to see. You might be lucky enough to celebrate with people you love while also missing people you have loved and lost.

All of that reflecting, hoping and planning. Celebrating, loving and grieving is true for me. As such I’d love to share: the most impactful lessons this past year so far as Health, Happiness and also, having the courage to create a Life You Love.

For the third time in my life I am leaving my job and my home to start afresh.

After 26 years in Sydney and 18 years as a Personal Trainer it is time for a new chapter.

Almost 13 years ago when I escaped what I not so affectionately call “The Business from Hell” I came away with both an understanding that knowing what you DON’T want is just a valuable as getting clarity on what you DO want.

Also, I had built – over roughly 30 months of money-haemorrhaging, drama-filled, sleep-deprived extreme UN-fun – a formidable certainty of self and ability to Back Myself, that I rely on to this day.

Lesson One: Back Yourself 100%.

I’ve shared this before and I’m leading with it today because it is that important and also, because it relates to every aspect of your life.

From Business to your Body to any unhelpful Beliefs you want to upgrade.

I am leaving a successful career and a city I have called home to start afresh, because I back my ability to build the life and business I now want.

To make this actionable, if you have not yet experienced the sort of situation that forces you into a sink or swim attitude of self certainty then you can more calmly and enjoyably build an ability to Back Yourself with any of all of these actions:

1. Jot down (and consciously focus on) 3 reference points for successor things you did well each day.
2. Recall in as much detail and with as much emotional intensity that thing or that time, you did step up or learn a new skill or achieve something that had once seemed impossible or at the least, very challenging.
3. Decide now on something that stretches you and commit to take the steps to achieve it. You can consciously build your belief in yourself by one step at a time coming through for you and DOING what you say you are going to do. You can start this process TODAY by deciding on the next step even if you don’t know ALL the steps. Odds on, with most things of value, you won’t know all the steps before you start and even if you think you do, it’s almost certain, they will change and you will need to adapt!

Lesson Two: Utilise the power of Identify Beliefs to change a bad habit.

This is an approach I’ve used for decades  in relation to how my body looks and feels.

An identity Belief is anything that comes up when you say, “I am…”

So consider it, in relation to Food? Or perhaps Movement? Or even in relations to your Family?

Is the language – the belief you likely cling to – positive and supportive? If so, it is propelling you to take the actions and maintain the habits that are in your best interest.

Perhaps, “I am a person who prioritises the food and movement that keeps my body looking and performing how I want it to look and perform.”

Negative, unsupportive language that needs to be consciously reframed might sound more like, “I am a natural couch potato with a slow metabolism and am too busy for exercise or planning my meals.”

In short, it is about choosing the Identity Beliefs that allow you to be the type of person who makes YOU proud. 

Now my recent learning here was in relation to alcohol. Shiraz is my only true vice. It’s really the only way I let myself – and my body – down. And recently, among all the leaving Sydney farewells I really did too much Cheers’ing!

I woke up feeling rubbish and ready to acknowledge that my Identity Beliefs around alcohol needed to change.

A belief that “I am a person who still eats right, exercises consistently and non-negotiably turns up to work after drinks” was NOT serving me.

If you have a bad habit you’re ready to upgrade, consider the power of your identity beliefs to help you make that change.

1. Acknowledge what you don’t like / don’t respect / what isn’t working about the way it is now.
2. Decide on the way you want it to be/ the person you want to be.
3. Consciously focus on that new belief and the actions you need to take every single day to reinforce it until the belief and the actions become unconscious, natural and sustainable.

Lesson Three: Embrace Food Prep over Meal Prep. 

Now this sounds super basic however it’s aligned with the reality that most of us make things tougher than they need to be!

Whether we are talking the new plant-based meals you might be trying to incorporate or a consistent exercise routine you are looking to return to or even the perfect approach to planning your most effective day to come, most of us would benefit from ditching that P-word!

Perfect is an excuse to get STUCK in “information gathering” and just not start.

Perfect is waiting for the right time, the right meal plan, the right workout and all too often it’s just waiting!

Back to the idea of Food Prep over Meal Prep, I did use to prepare complete meals on mass each weekend and sometimes I still do. However it takes a lot of time and also, either a lot of freezer space or A LOT of the exact same meals each week.

Your alternative?

• Cook a batch of lentils rather than the whole cauli-lentil curry.
• Grate carrot and beetroot on mass in your food processor.
• Marinate a few serves of tofu.
• Bake a huge tray of root vegetables.
• Blitz up one or two sauces to tie your meals together. I love dairy free pesto and hummus and when I’m being extra lazy my Go2 is currently a drizzle each of balsamic glaze + Sriracha + tahini.

Then you can throw together the meals you happen to actually feel like each day with minimal effort, maximal deliciousness and zero waste. To get specific:

1. Sometimes I crumble that tofu over a tray bake of whatever veg I need to use up.
2. Or maybe I cut the tofu into wedges to serve over a fresh salad with vegan mayo, balsamic glaze and Sriracha.
3. Pre-cooked lentils and that grated veg are perfect scattered over some fresh leaves and those baked root veg for a simple yet substantial bowl that is even better with both pesto and hummus.

To recap and get actionable with these End Of Year Reflections on Health, Happiness and Creating a Life You Love,

we covered:

Lesson One: Back Yourself 100%.

Lesson Two: Utilize the power of Identify Beliefs to change a bad habit.

Lesson Three: Embrace Food Prep over Meal Prep.

Does one jump out at you as something to improve on?

If Backing Yourself is a to work on, might I suggest the Plant Positive Journal has a space for 3 daily reference points for success each day!

So far as your most effective Identity Beliefs, your focus in Month One of the journal is to Define your Values, Beliefs and Goal.

This will lay the foundation for your results to come and make everything you do throughout the rest of the year so much easier.

If the idea of Embracing Food Prep over Meal Prep sounds like the place to start, then Month Four of the journal has you covered.

For now, I hope you’re enjoying a safe, happy and healthy end to the year. I know right now it can be A LOT of effort to find and focus on the good in our world.

I’m grateful that you’ve chosen to spend this time with me, and wherever you are on your plant positive journey thank you for having the compassion and open-heartedness to embrace an approach to a lifestyle that is sadly not yet normal, though absolutely IS natural and necessary.

I’ll be back next week to cover, Start Of Year Reflections on Health, Happiness and Creating a Life You Love including:

Lesson Four: Opportunity Cost.

Lesson Five: It’s never ONE big thing. 

Lesson Six: Effective beats right.

That’s it for this week in Healthification.

However, have you checked out my Plant Positive Journal yet? 

I am so very proud of this stunning journal. There is now also a fillable PDF version available for immediate download so wherever you are in the world you can still get Plant Positive with me!

If you are plant-based curious. Or already vegan and need a healthier approach to the lifestyle.

In this daily journal you will learn how to consistently prioritise food, exercise and other healthy habits that build on each other to have a compounding and lasting effect.

To help you create a BODY and LIFE you LOVE by successfully managing your TIME and your MIND.

It makes a great gift to YOU!

Or, for the loved one who is plant-based curious or who has been a valuable vegan ally to you.

You can check out the printed version HERE: 

Plus, the fillable PDF HERE: 

Importantly, the journal follows a twelve month format however is not dated so it is perfect to use at ANY time of the year.

With love and gratitude plant friends.

If you liked “End Of Year Reflections on Health, Happiness and Creating a Life You Love.” you’ll also like E656: Plant Strong Blueprint: 6 Steps To Prevent Weight Gain Over Christmas and New Year (Part 1).

If you liked “End Of Year Reflections on Health, Happiness and Creating a Life You Love.” you’ll also like 446: 3 Strategies To Stay On Track With Your Best Plant Based Eating Choices This Holiday Season.

If you liked “End Of Year Reflections on Health, Happiness and Creating a Life You Love.” you’ll also like 502: How To Conspire For Your Success This Holiday Season!

If you liked “End Of Year Reflections on Health, Happiness and Creating a Life You Love.” you’ll also like 364: 12 Tactics To Tackle Holiday Season Stress.

If you liked “End Of Year Reflections on Health, Happiness and Creating a Life You Love.” you’ll also like E641: 11 P.L.A.N.T. S.T.R.O.N.G. Standards For A Fit, Healthy, Mind and Body.