SURVIVE OR THRIVE, IT’S YOUR CHOICE

PODCAST #186:

In this week’s episode of Confidence on the Go we’re chatting about:

• The difference between surviving and thriving and how to know which mentality you are choosing subconsciously – and then how to consciously choose the mentality you want to really live out
• The most often-overlooked way we are hindering our thriving selves physically
• 5 questions to ask yourself daily to help you thrive more as well as 5 simple ways you can actively choose to thrive on a daily basis

Just a quick hello to all of my Keep the Faith listeners out there – thanks for being part of the community of contagious encouragement.

SPONSORSHIP NOTE:

I am proud to be an educator and consultant for Beautycounter, a B-Corp company on a mission to get safer products into the hands of everyone.   The lack of regulation in the personal care and cosmetic industry is astounding and it is harming our health in very serious ways. We need more voices to join up on our mission. If you want to put your passion to purpose while being generously compensated, then I would love to start a conversation with you about what it means to be involved in the #saferbeauty tribe that is Beautycounter. Join the movement of #betterbeauty and message me via email to make your voice really resonate for a cause. Shop at www.beautycounter.com/trishblackwell

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THRIVING AND SURVIVING? WHAT MENTALITY WILL YOU CHOOSE?

SURVIVING:

A relinquishment of control in life, an abandonment of active ownership to make a change in any capacity, a minimization of thoughts, feelings and emotional engagement in the world in order to simply do the bare minimum to “get by”, depletion of energy and dependence physiologically on adrenaline, caffeine and cortisol to take action, leaving body feeling de-energized and depressed.

THRIVING:

Alive, energized and enthused for life, paired with an innate satisfaction in and with life for who we are and how we are contributing to the world, creativity and contribution as expressions of our deepest selves, knowing that we are aware and in control of our thoughts, feelings, emotions and decisions and that we have an ability to take ownership and take action instead of resigning to blame and resentment. Motivation and energy is boundless because we are living in our flow and feel like we are living a full life as we pursue goals and dreams and connect authentically with others.

THE DAILY DECISION WE ARE GIVEN:

The initial question as to why some people thrive and others merely survive leads me to start the show with a powerful answer: most people don’t know that thriving is a choice.

I believe in you. The very essence of all that I believe lies in the confidence I have that you were created for a purpose and that you have something unique to create and contribute to the world.  I understand that sometimes it’s hard to remember this amazing truth about yourself in the midst of life – life is busy, messy, distracting, overwhelming, discouraging – but it can also be fulfilling, invigorating and amazing when you can remember that you are here for a reason.

We each have choice every day: to survive or to thrive.  What is it that you will decide? You have a big choice today to make – it’s a choice to make today and every day, so make today the day you decide what it is that you will choose.

The truth is, both decisions take effort.  So decide based off what you really want in life and what legacy you want to leave to this world.  I know that as you read this, you assume that everyone’s answer should be obvious: we should choose to “thrive,” right?, but the reality is that over 75% of people proactively, and consciously (though they often don’t slow down to realize it) choose to survive instead of to thrive.

Here’s the deal – the truth is, I’m fired up about this concept right now after a conversation I had with a friend on Friday night.  My friend is very openly “surviving” – and he has no desire to do more, to become more or to help others as long as his life stays “good.”  This is my friends decision, and I can’t change how he thinks, but I can get fired up about helping those who are ready to move from surviving to thriving, because what I really believe is that this friend has resigned himself to believe that life can’t really be that good, that it really can’t get that much better, that he really doesn’t have anything to contribute to this world, and that the effort that he might put out really might not make a difference.  And on all of those things I call bluff.   They are simply untrue.  He needs to know that he is built for more.  He needs to know that the world needs him.

We were created to create and to contribute, and even if you don’t know exactly how or what that looks like for you – start by knowing it’s in you to do so and focus on loving and serving others.  Spend time engaging fully – as fully as you can in life – and be someone who thrives.

HOW TO THRIVE PHYSICALLY … AND THE #1 MOST OFTEN OVER-LOOKED WAY TO THRIVE MORE PHYSICALLY…

(1) Sleep more – make it a priority

(2) Drink more water

(3) Move your body more

(4) Eat real food

(5) Reduce the amount of toxic chemicals you put around your body (believe and know that you do have some ability to protect your health – and while we can’t protect ourselves from everything we certainly can do what we can and the best that we can … that’s a thriving mentality. Start by switching over your personal care and cosmetic products at www.beautycounter.com/trishblackwell

THRIVE PHYSICALLY BY REDUCING YOUR RISK CANCER AND OTHER HEALTH TRAUMA … MINIMIZE YOUR EXPOSURE TO TOXIC AND UNREGULATED CHEMICALS:

The #1 way we can thrive more physically is by paying attention to the cosmetics and personal care products we use. Keeping our head in the sand about toxins is not serving us well.

The main reason I started my journey of #SwitchingToSafer is because I was alarmed beyond measure when I started to learn about the lack of chemical regulation and transparency that lurked behind the labels of my personal care products and cosmetics.  I know that I can’t necessarily prevent a cancer diagnosis in my life, but what I do know is that I can do my absolute best to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals I put on my body and around my body.  It’s a small step, but it’s something, and it’s the best thing I can do to honor and protect myself and reduce my chances of cancer.

The truth is, cancer is rampant.  Especially breast cancer.  Right now, in the United States, 1 in 4 women are diagnosed with cancer. Just 40 years ago, this number was 1 in 20.  The increase is more than alarming, it is tragic and compelling.  So compelling that I partnered with Beautycounter to become an educator and consultant so that I could be a voice that demands change in the legislation of these toxic chemicals.  In the European Union, over 1400 chemicals have been identified as being harmful and detrimental to human health, but in the United States, only 11 of these have been banned, which is why at Beautycounter we have taken our standard of safety to the strictest measure and we adhere to a “Never List” of over 1500 chemicals that we will never consider to be included in our products.

At Beautycounter, we want other companies to clean up their act too when it comes to using ingredients linked to health harm. It’s time to #RethinkThePink …There are 80,000 synthetic chemicals registered for use in the United States… but since 1976 only 200 of these chemicals have been tested for safety. Every year over 250,000 men and women are diagnosed with breast cancer and the numbers are growing.  It cannot be a coincidence that, as we are being flooded by more and more synthetic chemicals, we are becoming sicker and sicker as a nation.

We can and must choose to thrive physically by creating environments for ourselves physically that will help us stay healthy. While we can’t control absolutely every chemical that surrounds us, we can control and choose what chemicals we apply topically to our body and what we use on and for our families too.   And since “thriving” is an attitude – one that embodies positivity, ownership and action, I am in constant acknowledgment that although I can not choose or control everything that happens to me, I can do my best to create the best environment possible and I can rest assured knowing that I have done my best.

It’s like Maya Angelou once said, “do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU THRIVE MORE:

1. How are you engaging your creativity today?
2. In what ways did you intentionally contribute to the world?
3. What can you do today to make someone feel competent, likeable or valued?
4. How can you love others well today?
5. In what ways did you pursue the best version of you today?

5 SIMPLE WAYS TO THRIVE EVERY DAY:

1. Stay purpose-driven
2. Spend time with people who are obsessed about growing.
3. Saturate your mind with truth and continual personal development
4. Specifically do at least one thing every day to stretch yourself
5. Select your thoughts and attitudes and take ownership of them – you have the power!

LISTENER OF THE EPISODE:

BRANDY MACKINTOSH

Thank you for sharing your story. This episode was incredibly moving and inspiring, and it reminded me of what is really important. Your vulnerability and courage in sharing is so appreciated. I’m sorry you had to go through that situation, but the love and care you are extending to others as a result is beyond amazing. Thank you for being an example of true strength and for walking with each of us on our own journeys. Thank you

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Are you stuck in “survival” mode but yearn for “thrival” mode and simply aren’t sure how to get from point A to point B?  Let me help coach your mindset to start seeing yourself for the creative contributor and influencer you are … let me help you emerge into the person you were created to be so that you can make the positive impact in this world you were created to make. Enroll in my 7-day online Emerge Experience for less than the cost of a cup of coffee per day and start thriving! Enroll now at >>> www.trishblackwell.com/emerge

Also, grab a copy of my free eBook, Building a Better Body Image >>> www.trishblackwell.com/freebook