April 13, 2025 • 37 mins
What happens when your energy levels drop so low you can barely recognize yourself? Adrienne Simmons found out the hard way when her doctor delivered shocking news: she was pre-diabetic. After years of late nights, substance use, and processed foods following her daughter leaving for college, Adrienne had to face a harsh truth – she was on a dangerous path that could cut short her dreams of seeing grandchildren and traveling the world.
But this isn't just another health transformation story. It's a masterclass in identifying what truly matters. Adrienne shares her raw "lost and found" journey with Coach Mo, revealing how a tearful breakdown in her garage became the pivotal moment that changed everything. "I can't do this anymore," she whispered – words that would mark the beginning of her remarkable return to vitality.
The wisdom Adrienne shares about reconnecting with your deepest values resonates far beyond physical health. She explains how our bodies, minds, emotions, and spirit function as an interconnected system, and why most people never recognize the connection between their physical ailments and their value-misaligned choices. "We don't give ourselves the respect our bodies deserve," she notes, challenging listeners to examine where they've placed health on their priority list.
Most powerful is Adrienne's simple philosophy: "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours." Your body wants to give you energy, creativity, and vitality – but it needs whole foods, water, sleep, sunshine, and stress management in return. This reciprocal relationship becomes the foundation for everything else in life.
Ready to reclaim your energy and live with purpose? This conversation offers both the inspiration and practical steps to start your own transformation journey today.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
Welcome to the let's Think About it podcast, where we
embark on a journey ofthoughtfulness and personal
growth.
I'm your host, coach Mo, andI'm here to guide you through
thought-promoting discussionsthat will inspire you to unlock
your full potential.
In each episode, we'll explorea wide range of topics, from
self-discovery and mindfulnessto goal-setting and achieving
(00:33):
success.
Together, we'll challengeconventional thinking and dive
deep into the realms ofpossibility.
Whether you're looking to findclarity in your personal or
professional life, or seekingstrategies to overcome obstacles
, this podcast is your go-tosource for insightful
conversations and practicaladvice.
So find a comfortable spot,chill and let's embark on this
(00:57):
journey of self-improvementtogether.
Remember, the power oftransformation lies within you,
and together we'll uncover thetools and insights you need to
make it happen.
So let's dive in.
Welcome to another episode ofthe let's Think About it podcast
(01:20):
.
I'm your host, coach Mo, andI'm here with another amazing
guest, and her name is AdrienneSimmons.
Adrienne, my sister.
What's up?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Happy.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Friday no, first and foremost.
Where are you checking in from?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
I'm in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Okay so it's
really cold right now.
You know what?
Today is a milder day.
Today our temperatures went upto seven degrees Celsius.
So that is very mild when youcompare it to a couple of weeks
ago, when it was like minus 10,minus 15, minus 20.
(02:02):
So seven degrees.
People are outside, the sun isshining, the sky is blue.
I saw a guy outside with shorts.
I said you're good, brother,you're really good.
Most people have definitelydonned a lighter jacket.
They're not wearing the hats,they're not wearing the gloves.
The snow is melting, so morepeople are wearing running shoes
versus boots.
(02:24):
So today was a really beautifulwinter day in Toronto.
Born and raised in Toronto.
I was born and raised inMontreal.
So yeah, born in Canada, butMontreal oh that's great, I love
talking to.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
I think you're like the fifth or sixth guest that
I've had from Canada.
So I'm feeling this vibe withthe Canadians.
I'm feeling the vibe, so reallyhappy that you're here.
So tell my audience who you are, what you do and the value that
you bring.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
No, absolutely.
Wow, you know who you are.
That could be quite in depth,but, as it relates to the reason
why you invited me to be aguest on your show, I am an
advocate, I am a champion, I ama motivator and I am a steward
when it comes to people livingtheir life with vitality.
We can't do anything about thelife we've lived.
(03:18):
We can only do something aboutthe life we are currently living
right now.
So if we have a choice andthat's what differentiates us
human beings from all otherspecies we have the ability to
make a choice.
So my advocacy is if we havethe ability to make a choice on
(03:38):
how we want to live our lives,why not live it to the max?
So I'm all about shouting fromthe mountaintops live your life
with vitality, because you don'tknow how much life you're going
to have left.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
How did you get there , though?
Choice, power of choice,vitality.
How did you get to this state,right now, of what you're
preaching?
Take us through that journey tohelp us to find like who you
really are.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Absolutely.
And for me it goes back toagain.
As human beings, we have atendency to take things for
granted.
We feel that we will alwayshave something, and when we
don't pay attention, sometimesit's when we lose it.
That makes us sit up and sayyou know what, if I can get a
chance to get it back again, I'mnot going to mess around with
(04:31):
it this next time.
So for me, how I got to where Iam right now is my story that I
like to call lost and found.
I was born with an abundance ofenergy.
In my 20s, in my 30s, right upuntil my late 40s, I was just
(04:52):
bounding around the place.
I bound out of bed, I'd head towork, I'd go out after work, I
could drink what I wanted to, Ismoked cigarettes, I could eat
as many Big Mac and French friesand cheesecake.
And then I over my 50-year lineand a couple of major things
happened.
So, number one I became 50 andagain there's a big deal.
(05:13):
Oh my gosh, you're in your 50snow.
You're in another phase of life.
Number two my daughter wentaway to university.
Now the backstory is I was asingle mom of my daughter from
the time that she was three, soit was always her and I, like we
, were like this and I alwayshad a reason to come home
because I had a responsibility.
(05:35):
And then she goes away touniversity.
So I am now coming home to anempty house, and you know that
term that they use, what theemptiness syndrome.
It affects us all differentlyand how it affected me.
Somebody with so much energy isI would pace around the house
with nothing to do.
I have no one to cook for, Ihave no one to do laundry for, I
(05:58):
don't have to take her here.
I was restless.
So to prevent that restlessnessbecause it started driving me
crazy, I just started stayingout after work Instead of coming
home.
I might go to a restaurant.
But I'm coming home at nine andbecause I'm high energy, I'm
still pacing around.
I'm not ready to go to sleep.
So then I said what can I startdoing after a restaurant?
(06:21):
And then I realized, oh, thereare some clubs open during the
week, so I would leave therestaurant at 9, 930.
I'm going to a club and I'mhaving a good time, and maybe
coming home at 11 o'clock-ish.
That was fine for a while,because by then I'm ready to go
to bed, because I got to workthe next day.
But then what happens?
When you're in certainenvironments, you start
connecting with differentindividuals, and I connected
(06:44):
with individuals that introducedme to after hours.
After hours are the club closesat 11.
We can go and party somewhereelse.
So I said, absolutely, you knowme with the energy.
Absolutely, let's do it, let'sdo it.
And I started indulging in afterhours activity.
So that's more alcohol startedparty drugs, a whole lot of
(07:06):
party drugs, and then with thatcomes a whole lot of processed
foods, because by three, four,five, six in the morning.
Now you're hungry.
So I'm always stopping.
And what are you going to getat that time of the morning?
It's strictly processed foods.
So remember, I've been goingall day, I've been going all
night.
I'm drinking, I'm smoking, I'mdancing, I'm drinking, I'm
indulging in a whole lot ofdrugs.
(07:27):
And it started to take a seriouseffect on my overall body.
I gained, I don't know, 25, 30pounds over the next couple of
years.
My energy levels plummeted andI remember what came to a head
was maybe I was 55, maybe I was54.
And I always would go for aregular medical checkup.
(07:49):
So I'm going into my doctorthinking everything is still the
same, and you remember hehasn't seen me since the year
prior.
So when I walked in he looks atme and says Adrian, what's
wrong?
What's wrong with you?
I said what are you talkingabout?
He goes you don't have thatspunk.
I've known you for years andyou always had a spunk and you
(08:10):
always had a pep in your stepand your skin just looks dry and
I'm seeing bags under your eyes.
What's going on now?
There's no way I'm going totell him.
We come up with stories, youknow what?
Probably a lot of projects atwork and I'm just really busy
and I'm involved with it.
I'm probably not sleeping.
He goes.
You know what, as a doctor,adrian, there's something else
(08:31):
going on.
Let's do a couple of tests andlet's see what your tests come
back with.
Yeah, doc, no problem, did mytest, whatever.
And that night I'm back in theclub again.
Week later gives me a call, saysAdrian, sit down, I got some
bad news for you.
He goes.
All these years I've known you.
I've always only called youwith positive results.
This is the first time I'mletting you know.
(08:52):
I'm very disappointed, adrian.
What is it?
What is it?
You are pre-diabetic.
I don't know what you're doing,I don't know what you're eating
.
I don't know what you're noteating.
I don't know what's going on inyour life, adrian, but you are
one step away from beingfull-blown diabetic.
And I sat up and I said, oh shit, and he goes.
Yes, you should be upset, butis there something else going on
(09:13):
?
I said my father died from hisdiabetes in his mid-sixties.
So if I'm in my mid-fifties,mid-sixties to me is 10 years
away, 12 years away, and all Ithought about is you mean I
could be dead in 12 years?
Oh, shoot, oh, maybe I shouldbe taking this seriously.
(09:34):
So I started thinking about mymortality.
I started thinking about mydaughter.
I want to be there to watch herwalk down the aisle.
What if she has children?
I want to be there to get toknow and build a relationship
with my grandchildren.
I've always wanted to travel.
How am I going to travel if Iam dead?
So all of that was ruminatingin my mind.
But even though we know better,we don't automatically stop.
(09:57):
I still continue doing what Iwas doing.
So this was, I don't know, maybeOctober November when I went
for that appointment.
Two so this was, I don't know,maybe October November, when I
went for that appointment.
A few, two months later, thefollowing January.
I remember it as if it wasyesterday Because for me that
was my turning point.
It was a bitterly cold Sundayin January.
Literally took us 10, 15minutes just to layer up.
(10:18):
No, I was still smokingcigarettes, still smoking weed.
Never smoked in my housebecause out of respect for my
daughter.
But I have a garage attached tomy house, so 10 minutes to get
dressed up, sat in my garage,had to take off the gloves
because I don't want to burn thegloves.
So I'm smoking a cigarette here, I'm smoking a joint here.
I just broke down.
I broke down and I said, god,you know what?
(10:39):
I can't do this anymore.
I can't do this anymore.
My daughter's coming home fromschool.
How can she see me like this?
I've always been her role model.
I want to be the kind of motherthat when your child is asked
years ago who was your rolemodel, you want to say your
mother, you want to say yourfather.
But I'm sitting there in thegarage.
I'm broken because every Mondayit would be that's it, that's it
(11:03):
.
I'm going to get straight, I'mgoing to go for walking, I'm
going to eat better, but byThursday back in the clubs.
So I did not know how to getoff of that madness.
I created that wheel.
It was like a mouse on a wheeland it was Monday.
I'd start, and then ThursdayI'm back again and I said, god,
you know what?
I haven't asked you before, butI'm asking you now.
Can you help me?
(11:23):
Can you help me find a way tobreak this hellhole that I had
created for myself.
I sat there for another 10, 15minutes crying, went inside,
went to bed.
All I can say, mo, is you knowwhat, up to today, even when I'm
100, I'll say it's divineintervention, because I started
(11:49):
noticing a couple of weeks.
After that, my mind started toshift.
As opposed to wanting to go outall the time.
I started to get curious about.
Let me look into how is my bodychanging?
Is it something that I can't doanything about, or do I have
the power to maybe coursecorrect and maybe build a bit of
a healthier body?
So, sure enough, as you'redoing your research, it's taking
you to all these differentchannels, and I'm realizing when
(12:12):
a woman gets as she matures,things are going to change in
her body, so she needs to bemore mindful of how she's taking
care of it.
When we're younger, ourmetabolism good to go,
everything is strong bones,ligaments, everything is good to
go.
But as we age, things start tobreak down slowly but surely.
(12:32):
So we need to be a little bitmore mindful of what we are
ingesting into our bodies.
Long story short, once Irealized you mean I have so much
control over the lifestylechoices I make and, as a result
that may yield me in a healthierbody.
Ok, let me put it to the test.
(12:54):
So I used myself as a beta test.
I created a nutritional plan.
I joined the gym.
I disassociated with that clubcrowd.
Instead, I went online and Ifound a group of women who were
into living healthier lifestyleand making those choices.
(13:14):
I started associating andbonding with them.
I started spending a whole lotmore time out in nature.
Every day I went outside in thesun, I went by the water and
slowly but surely, I noticed myenergy levels.
I feel a little bit strongertoday.
Slowly but surely, over a 12month period when I started my
(13:37):
energy levels out of 10, with 10being max and one being zero, I
got to be honest that my worstI was maybe a one or two in my
energy.
I crawled through my day, Icrawled into work.
I don't know how somebody,people at work didn't notice.
Maybe they did, but they didn'tsay anything.
But I felt like crap.
I had no energy and by the endof that 12 month beta test, my
(13:59):
energy levels shot back up to aneight, to a nine, to a 10 out
of 10.
And I can say up to todaybecause of the choices that I
choose to make on a daily basis.
My body continues to reward mewith an abundance of energy,
because I figured out how torebuild our body's energy from a
(14:21):
cellular level.
No additives, no supplements.
I only use what nature has madefor us.
We tap into what nature, whatGod gave us, and that is all
that, basically, I needed tokeep my body healthy and strong,
and that's where I am today and, as a result, people started
(14:42):
complimenting me.
Adrian, you're looking a bitbetter.
You got more pep in your stepagain.
You got more energy.
What are you doing?
And I didn't realize then thatit was because of all those
choices.
I just said I'm eating morefruits and I'm eating more
vegetables and I joined the gymand I'm out in the sun.
That's why I am feelinghealthier and stronger, and
(15:02):
people are noticing it becauseof all the choices I'm making.
And that's when I said you knowwhat people keep on
complimenting me about?
I love your energy levels.
If I had your level of energy,I could do so much more
throughout my day.
I would get so much moreaccomplished, but I'm just tired
all the time and I'm tired, andI'm tired, and I'm tired.
And that's when I said you knowwhat, if I was able to rebuild
(15:26):
my energy using some simplesteps, why don't I help others
do the same?
And that's when I created mycoaching program, the energy
edge.
Unlock your body's energypotential.
And that's the program.
It's a 12 week program andthat's what I help my clients
with to rebuild their energy,kick fatigue out the door, kick
(15:48):
brain fog out the door and letenter an abundance of natural
energy.
And that's my story.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
That's what I'm talking about.
I love it.
A couple of things that stuckout to me One about who you
surrounded yourself with.
There was a couple ofcomponents there.
You were saying that when youwere going to the clubs, the
party, then the after partythat's a different environment
of that, I would assume,produces a lot of negativity, a
(16:17):
lot of constraints, a lot ofrestriction, and you're in that
environment.
That's what you become and, asa result, pre-diabetes, weight
gain, processed food, all ofthese things.
Then you said what I also heard.
I started hanging around thisgroup of women who are about
health and things like that.
(16:38):
Next thing, you know, you're ata 10, your energy is up, it's
so powerful and who we surroundourselves with.
That makes a difference of whowe become.
But I want to go a little deepfor you In this transformation
process.
Pre-diabetic got the news, butyou already created a habit of
(17:02):
partying out late at night.
I want to go here and behealthy and be healthier.
That's what my mind is sayingof what I want to do.
But my actions was really hardto shift that because the habit
is to party all night andknowing that I'm miserable,
(17:23):
struggling throughout the day.
The habit is the habit, andit's just easier to be in that
autopilot mode to continue to dowhat I'm doing.
So take my audience through.
How did you work on thatcomponent of yourself?
In the moments of theself-judgment that we carry, I
(17:43):
want to do this, but now it'seasier to stay here.
How did you make that switch toget over?
Speaker 2 (17:49):
the hump For me.
Once I hit my rock bottom andit was in the garage that Sunday
and I just broke down cryingand I asked for help from the
Almighty.
I believe that somethingchanged inside of me during
those moments, something shiftedinside of my mind at that
moment and, like I said, overthe next couple of weeks I felt
(18:12):
more of a curiosity inunderstanding how much was I
responsible for the hellholethat I had dug myself in.
And then, as you're researching, there's a lot of information
on mindset and how your mindreally is the one that has to
buy in on any changes that youwant to make.
(18:32):
And then that took me tosomething called your why and
it's like my why.
And then you read a little bitmore and it's okay.
So why can be your anchor?
So when you go through thosestorms because through any
transformation it's never goingto be smooth they're going to be
those transformations, there'sgoing to be those storms.
For example, I had a bad day atwork, but it's probably easier
(18:54):
for me to go and smoke a joint.
I was stuck in traffic for anhour.
So you know what?
Let me just stop by McDonald'sbecause I got to pass by it as
opposed to standing up andcooking a healthy, balanced meal
for myself.
So for me, once I realized howpowerful a why could be in
helping you to stay on course,to helping you with that
(19:15):
transformation, I startedthinking what are what is strong
enough for me to reallywithstand those storms, those
hurdles that they say are goingto be ahead of me?
And for me, my why was mydaughter.
It was so important for me toknow that, if she has ever asked
that question, who is one ofyour strongest role models?
(19:38):
I want her to be able to saywith pride my mother.
I could not do that if Iallowed myself my daughter.
A second one was futuregrandchildren.
I want to be around for mygrandchildren and too many times
you will see a grandparentwho's always sitting down at the
side.
I want to be involved, I wantto be interactive.
(20:00):
I don't care how old I am.
If my grandson or mygranddaughter says you know what
?
Come to my game, can you be mycoach?
Can we go run around in thepark?
I don't want to be thosegrandparents that you see
sitting there because they haveno energy.
So that was my why I want to befully involved, interactive, in
any potential futuregrandchildren I may have.
(20:22):
I know I'm going to travel.
I love to travel and I lovediscovering new countries, but I
don't want to travel lethargic.
I want to travel fully engaged.
If I decide I want to walk upthat mountain, I'm going to walk
up that mountain.
Most people live life on defaultthey get up, they make
breakfast, they get in the car,they drive to work, they sit at
(20:46):
their desk, they go for lunch inthe lunchroom, they come home,
they sit on the sofa, they watchTV, they're on their phone,
they go to bed.
For me that's living life ondefault.
So many people when I lookaround and I see them, I work
with them every day and it's man.
There are more people justmoving around like robots, just
(21:08):
going through the motion, asopposed to people living on
purpose, living with anabundance of fun and energy.
And for me, my why was do Iwant to look like that in a few
years or do I want to look likethe few that I see?
That 89, that woman's 89.
Wow.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
You know who my hero was.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Do you remember Betty White Betty?
White died at 99, right up untilthe end, she was still
producing her comedies.
She was still acting in hercomedies.
For me, my role model hasalways been Betty White.
I want to be 99 and I want tobe full of vitality.
The only way to do that is tohold my why as my anchor.
Absolutely, once in a while I'mgoing to go to McDonald's.
(21:49):
Once in a while I'm going tohave a cheesecake, but it's once
in a while, because I know thatif I want my body to
reciprocate, I need to give mybody what my body's asking for.
My body is not going to producefor me if I just feed it with
pizza and fries and burgers andice cream.
My body will say thank you forthe vegetables, thank you for
(22:10):
the fruit, thank you for workingout, thank you for taking me
out in the sunlight, thank you.
Let's go to bed, adrian.
Adrian, I'm tired and I need todo a lot of repair while we're
sleeping, because when you wakeup tomorrow morning, I know
you're demanding a lot of energyfrom me as well too.
I found my whys and I made surethat they were strong enough to
(22:33):
get me through those turbulentdays.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
That's great, I love that and it's so powerful.
Not only how important the whysare, I think you add in the
values too, because we often getdistracted away from our values
and that is what causes a lotof times, what causes the
(22:55):
disconnect.
We don't have an ideal ofwhat's important to us.
One of the things that I workwith my clients on is let's go
to the core.
Let's look at what are your topvalues for you.
Let's talk about that, right,because if you don't know what
your why is and sometimes peoplestruggle with that I don't know
(23:15):
what my purpose is.
Let's start with your values,because when I hear you talking
about your why and your daughter, you know what value came to
mind almost immediately Family,family, number one thing, right,
and everything that you said.
It evolves around family andthen that becomes the core of
your why and as you decide Iwant to get healthier, my value
(23:38):
is higher, family, and here'swhy I want to be 99.
I want to be able to beinvolved in my grandkids.
I want to be there for mydaughter.
When we look at ourselves inthe mirror and we don't like
that person that we see.
What's your values, what's theroot core of your value, so you
can get back on track.
(23:59):
Exactly.
We all get off the track, right, absolutely.
And it's hard to get back onthe track if you don't know what
your values are Exactly,exactly, right, and that can be
the foundation to find your why.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
It has to be what you value, what you hold true to
your essence, to your identity,has to be the root that you are
building now upon that, and thatis your why.
These are my roots, these arenon-negotiables.
This is what I stand for.
And then, on top of that, thisis my why.
(24:36):
So, even if you don't know yourwhy, go back to what do you
stand for, what have you alwaysstood for, and once you realize
that, yeah, wait a minute, okay,I see.
Okay, now let's plant someseeds on that.
From now, the trunk is startingto grow, and then the branches.
Okay, go ahead, sorry.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Man, you're preaching to the choir.
I love that because when andthis is how I help my clients
and just make it easier for them.
Exactly Just what you just saidyour non-negotiables when it
comes to your values.
I don't know what my values are.
Okay, we can do this one of twoways.
You can do it yourself, whichis very simple.
You can go to chat GPT, type ingive me top 100 value and list
(25:18):
them in alphabetical order.
It will list 100 values for you.
Oh yeah, very simple.
Exactly when you see thathundred, highlight 20 of them.
That resonates with you.
Exactly, you get that 20.
Yep, rank the top 10.
Thank you, that's your top 10.
Okay, of those top 10.
(25:40):
Yes, which are non-negotiable,that's right.
Live your life, startnavigating.
That's right Around.
Your non-negotiable, that'sright.
Live your life, startnavigating.
That's right.
Around your non-negotiables.
Test number one You'veidentified your non-negotiables
when you go to work, is themission, vision, core values of
your organization in alignmentwith your non-negotiables?
(26:02):
If it's out of alignment, whatare you going to do about it?
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Some people again, the majority of us.
You know what is paying thebills, reason, reason I've been
here for so many years and whathappens is when we allow
ourselves to remain in anysituation that's not congruent
with our mental wellness, ouremotional wellness and our
physical wellness, sooner orlater you're going to start to
(26:29):
feel it and a lot of peopledon't identify that connection
with oh, it's because I hate myjob why I'm feeling this pain.
See, people have to realizethat we are a living organic
system.
We are living organisms and, assuch, everything within us is
connected.
We are a living organic system.
We are living organisms and, assuch, everything within us is
connected.
Our mind, our bodies, ourspirits, our emotions are all
(26:51):
connected.
So if you are unhappy with yourjob, that's affecting you
mentally, Sitting right here andanything that starts here, it's
going to move into our emotions.
I hate this place, so you'refeeling it.
And you're feeling it.
It's manifesting.
So you're physically feeling itand a lot of people it's.
I got a pain here, I got aheadache here, I got a bowel
(27:12):
movement here and they don'trealize it's because of
something that has affected youmentally.
It's moved into your emotionalsystem and it's manifesting
physically.
So, like you said, if whereyou're working, just as an
example, is really not alignedwith your missions, your value,
your statement, your vision, isit really worth your overall
(27:35):
mental health?
And for a lot of people, theydon't make that equation.
Ah, you know what it's, payingthe bills and we wonder why so
much of our population ischronically stressed, is
chronically embedded withdiseases, yep.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
And then they also feel that they don't have a
choice.
You always have a choice.
There's always power of choice.
When you incorporate yourvalues, you're creating your
power of choice Because here'sthe thing values.
You're creating your power ofchoice Because here's the thing.
We have our non-negotiables.
Whether we recognize it or not,we live by our non-negotiables
(28:11):
Absolutely.
When your boss, a family member, whatever, goes against your
internal non-negotiables, youhave the same right type,
feeling that's correct, do youdismiss it and keep moving?
Most of us, absolutely.
But it's compounding, thank you, it's a compounding effect,
(28:31):
thank you, thank you, it's acompounding effect.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
I got to pay my bills .
I don't have no choice, thankyou.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
But here's the thing, here's the catch when you do
pay attention to it and you dohonor your values and your goals
, yes, yes, the spirit, whateverit is, you believe in, thank
you, and you're in alignmentwith what your values are, thank
you.
It will guide you to whereyou're supposed to be and in
(29:00):
that alignment, you're adifferent being.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
You're living with more joy, even if it's a job
that pays half of what you weremaking.
If you are able to findsomething that brings you joy,
there is no financial value onthat.
And for too many of us it'sabout that financial
compensation.
Even though I know it doesn'tfeel right, even though you know
(29:26):
what, I know what's going onhere and I know it's wrong, you
know what.
I'm not giving up thatfinancial compensation.
So for me it boils down to wedon't give ourselves the respect
that our bodies deserve.
It's all about me.
It's all about me If I givethis up.
I got the house, I got the car.
(29:47):
I might not get this again, butwhat you are getting is you're
getting joy, you're getting asense of self and a sense of
peace within yourself.
But you know what?
You and I could probably go onfor hours and hours about that,
but it does boil down to hoursand hours about that.
But it does boil down to are wetreating ourselves our whole
selves?
And our whole selves is ourspirit, our emotions, our mind
(30:14):
and our physical body.
Do we treat ourselves withrespect that our selves deserve?
And the answer is profoundly no.
The majority of people do nottreat their whole self with the
respect that our whole selvesdeserve Right.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
I was living example for five years.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
I totally abused myself.
I gave no respect to my wholeself.
It was about what do I want inthe moment?
I want to drink, I want somedrugs, I want this, I want that.
I totally disregarded what mywhole self needed and it was
only about what Adrian wanted inthe moment.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
That's the purpose and the will of what we're
talking about is, if youreintegrate our values to create
our own purpose for self, youhave better and you will have
better alignment yes, Not onlywith just yourself and what you
need for yourself, but what yourpurpose is and how you can
(31:09):
navigate moving forward.
Because here's where we get introuble as well.
Everything you were saying andI'm coming from the audience
perspective everything you guysare saying makes sense, but you
don't get it.
I just can't take a pay cutright now.
I'm not doing that.
I can't walk away from my jobto do something that I feel I'm
(31:32):
in alignment with that is goingto pay me less money.
We're not saying to do that.
I wouldn't tell anybody to dothat but you have to build
toward where your alignment istaking you.
We're not asking you to makeirresponsible decisions when you
(31:54):
know you got certain bills thatneeds to be met.
Absolutely, you keep your job.
But when you can identify thesevalues and it's not in
alignment with the organizationthat you're working for, that's
paying your bills.
What's your pivot to start totransition?
Bingo, Bingo.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
That's where we're coming from, absolutely.
You know what I like to say.
Just to piggyback on whatyou're saying, we have to decide
as human beings what do wevalue, what, at the end of the
day, what's really important tous?
And I believe that our healthand wellness must be at the
(32:38):
foundation of everything else inour life.
We've got to take care ofourselves first.
From there, we can now takecare of our family and friends.
From there, we can now takecare of ourselves and our jobs,
or whether it's business orwhether we're going to school.
But too many of us, the order ofpreference is different it's
about my job, because I'm makingall that money.
(32:59):
Too many of us do not give anyconsideration whatsoever to our
health and wellness every day.
Our health and wellness nevermake it to our A-list.
It's always, you know what, noteven thought about it.
And for me, I want to create amovement of individuals that
realize for me to be successfulin any other area of my life, I
(33:22):
got to be successful with myhealth and wellness first.
Because if I don't have myhealth or wellness, how am I
going to be able to createwellness and fitness in my job,
with my family, at school, if Iam mentally tired, if I am
physically tired, if I amemotionally drained, because you
(33:43):
know what?
It wasn't a priority today, Ididn't even put it on my list.
Today I got to do this, I gotto do this, work is doing this,
work is pulling here.
My kids want me to go to thinghere.
Most people don't even puthealth and wellness on their
list and then they wonder why.
You know what?
Wow Tired, I'm just tired, I'mnot feeling well, I'm just I'm
(34:05):
not looking well, I've gainedweight, my hair is listless.
And then we got don't even,we're not even going to start on
this here, which we know is aphone and how that is affecting
our physical body.
People don't even, but that'sanother story for another day.
Those EMFs, the electricmagnetic fields that are coming
(34:26):
from all of these electricgadgets, and they keep on piling
more and more on us.
People are wondering what?
But that's okay.
I always say 10% in life wecan't do anything about.
But the 90% left over, that isin our power to make a choice on
how we react, leftover, that isin our power to make a choice
(34:48):
on how we react.
Our health and wellness must beat the root of every decision
that we make every single day,and then we build on top of that
.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
There it is.
There it is as we wrap up, ed,I'm going to bring you back on
the show because I want to getinto the energy edge and talk
about a little bit more aroundthat, and I don't think we had
the time, we didn't get intothat today, but so I want to
bring you back onto the show sothat we can get into that aspect
(35:14):
of what you do.
Lastly, final thoughts fortoday.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
My final thoughts are I would love for everyone in
your audience to remember thisphrase you scratch my back, I'll
scratch yours.
Your body is saying okay, whatdo you need from me?
You want energy, you wanthealth, you want abundance, you
want creativity, you wantinnovation, you want pep in your
(35:41):
step.
I got you, but you know what Ineed from you.
I need whole foods, I needwater.
I need a whole lot of sleep, Ineed sunshine.
I need you to manage yourstress.
If you can take care of thosesix things for me, mo, I got
your back.
You scratch my back, I'llscratch yours.
Simple, that's it, mic drop.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
I appreciate you, my sister.
Thank you, Adrienne.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
Namaste.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
Thank you for joining me in this episode of let's
Think About it.
Your time and attention aregreatly appreciated.
If you found value in today'sdiscussion, I encourage you to
subscribe on your favoritepodcast platform.
Remember, the journey ofself-improvement is ongoing and
I'm here to support you everystep of the way.
(36:28):
Connect with me on social mediafor updates and insights.
You can find me on Instagramand Facebook, at Coach Mo,
coaching or LinkedIn, at MauriceMabry, or visit my website at
mauricemabrycom for exclusivecontent.
Until next time, keepreflecting, keep growing and,
(36:51):
most importantly, keep believingin yourself.
Remember, the most effectiveway to do it is to do it
Together.
We're making incredible stridestoward a better and more
empowered you, so thank you, andI'll see you in our next
episode.
Welcome to the let's Think About it podcast, where we
embark on a journey ofthoughtfulness and personal
growth.
I'm your host, coach Mo, andI'm here to guide you through
thought-promoting discussionsthat will inspire you to unlock
your full potential.
In each episode, we'll explorea wide range of topics, from
self-discovery and mindfulnessto goal-setting and achieving
(00:33):
success.
Together, we'll challengeconventional thinking and dive
deep into the realms ofpossibility.
Whether you're looking to findclarity in your personal or
professional life, or seekingstrategies to overcome obstacles
, this podcast is your go-tosource for insightful
conversations and practicaladvice.
So find a comfortable spot,chill and let's embark on this
(00:57):
journey of self-improvementtogether.
Remember, the power oftransformation lies within you,
and together we'll uncover thetools and insights you need to
make it happen.
So let's dive in.
Welcome to another episode ofthe let's Think About it podcast
(01:20):
.
I'm your host, coach Mo, andI'm here with another amazing
guest, and her name is AdrienneSimmons.
Adrienne, my sister.
What's up?
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Happy.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Friday no, first and foremost.
Where are you checking in from?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
I'm in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Okay so it's
really cold right now.
You know what?
Today is a milder day.
Today our temperatures went upto seven degrees Celsius.
So that is very mild when youcompare it to a couple of weeks
ago, when it was like minus 10,minus 15, minus 20.
(02:02):
So seven degrees.
People are outside, the sun isshining, the sky is blue.
I saw a guy outside with shorts.
I said you're good, brother,you're really good.
Most people have definitelydonned a lighter jacket.
They're not wearing the hats,they're not wearing the gloves.
The snow is melting, so morepeople are wearing running shoes
versus boots.
(02:24):
So today was a really beautifulwinter day in Toronto.
Born and raised in Toronto.
I was born and raised inMontreal.
So yeah, born in Canada, butMontreal oh that's great, I love
talking to.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
I think you're like the fifth or sixth guest that
I've had from Canada.
So I'm feeling this vibe withthe Canadians.
I'm feeling the vibe, so reallyhappy that you're here.
So tell my audience who you are, what you do and the value that
you bring.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
No, absolutely.
Wow, you know who you are.
That could be quite in depth,but, as it relates to the reason
why you invited me to be aguest on your show, I am an
advocate, I am a champion, I ama motivator and I am a steward
when it comes to people livingtheir life with vitality.
We can't do anything about thelife we've lived.
(03:18):
We can only do something aboutthe life we are currently living
right now.
So if we have a choice andthat's what differentiates us
human beings from all otherspecies we have the ability to
make a choice.
So my advocacy is if we havethe ability to make a choice on
(03:38):
how we want to live our lives,why not live it to the max?
So I'm all about shouting fromthe mountaintops live your life
with vitality, because you don'tknow how much life you're going
to have left.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
How did you get there , though?
Choice, power of choice,vitality.
How did you get to this state,right now, of what you're
preaching?
Take us through that journey tohelp us to find like who you
really are.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Absolutely.
And for me it goes back toagain.
As human beings, we have atendency to take things for
granted.
We feel that we will alwayshave something, and when we
don't pay attention, sometimesit's when we lose it.
That makes us sit up and sayyou know what, if I can get a
chance to get it back again, I'mnot going to mess around with
(04:31):
it this next time.
So for me, how I got to where Iam right now is my story that I
like to call lost and found.
I was born with an abundance ofenergy.
In my 20s, in my 30s, right upuntil my late 40s, I was just
(04:52):
bounding around the place.
I bound out of bed, I'd head towork, I'd go out after work, I
could drink what I wanted to, Ismoked cigarettes, I could eat
as many Big Mac and French friesand cheesecake.
And then I over my 50-year lineand a couple of major things
happened.
So, number one I became 50 andagain there's a big deal.
(05:13):
Oh my gosh, you're in your 50snow.
You're in another phase of life.
Number two my daughter wentaway to university.
Now the backstory is I was asingle mom of my daughter from
the time that she was three, soit was always her and I, like we
, were like this and I alwayshad a reason to come home
because I had a responsibility.
(05:35):
And then she goes away touniversity.
So I am now coming home to anempty house, and you know that
term that they use, what theemptiness syndrome.
It affects us all differentlyand how it affected me.
Somebody with so much energy isI would pace around the house
with nothing to do.
I have no one to cook for, Ihave no one to do laundry for, I
(05:58):
don't have to take her here.
I was restless.
So to prevent that restlessnessbecause it started driving me
crazy, I just started stayingout after work Instead of coming
home.
I might go to a restaurant.
But I'm coming home at nine andbecause I'm high energy, I'm
still pacing around.
I'm not ready to go to sleep.
So then I said what can I startdoing after a restaurant?
(06:21):
And then I realized, oh, thereare some clubs open during the
week, so I would leave therestaurant at 9, 930.
I'm going to a club and I'mhaving a good time, and maybe
coming home at 11 o'clock-ish.
That was fine for a while,because by then I'm ready to go
to bed, because I got to workthe next day.
But then what happens?
When you're in certainenvironments, you start
connecting with differentindividuals, and I connected
(06:44):
with individuals that introducedme to after hours.
After hours are the club closesat 11.
We can go and party somewhereelse.
So I said, absolutely, you knowme with the energy.
Absolutely, let's do it, let'sdo it.
And I started indulging in afterhours activity.
So that's more alcohol startedparty drugs, a whole lot of
(07:06):
party drugs, and then with thatcomes a whole lot of processed
foods, because by three, four,five, six in the morning.
Now you're hungry.
So I'm always stopping.
And what are you going to getat that time of the morning?
It's strictly processed foods.
So remember, I've been goingall day, I've been going all
night.
I'm drinking, I'm smoking, I'mdancing, I'm drinking, I'm
indulging in a whole lot ofdrugs.
(07:27):
And it started to take a seriouseffect on my overall body.
I gained, I don't know, 25, 30pounds over the next couple of
years.
My energy levels plummeted andI remember what came to a head
was maybe I was 55, maybe I was54.
And I always would go for aregular medical checkup.
(07:49):
So I'm going into my doctorthinking everything is still the
same, and you remember hehasn't seen me since the year
prior.
So when I walked in he looks atme and says Adrian, what's
wrong?
What's wrong with you?
I said what are you talkingabout?
He goes you don't have thatspunk.
I've known you for years andyou always had a spunk and you
(08:10):
always had a pep in your stepand your skin just looks dry and
I'm seeing bags under your eyes.
What's going on now?
There's no way I'm going totell him.
We come up with stories, youknow what?
Probably a lot of projects atwork and I'm just really busy
and I'm involved with it.
I'm probably not sleeping.
He goes.
You know what, as a doctor,adrian, there's something else
(08:31):
going on.
Let's do a couple of tests andlet's see what your tests come
back with.
Yeah, doc, no problem, did mytest, whatever.
And that night I'm back in theclub again.
Week later gives me a call, saysAdrian, sit down, I got some
bad news for you.
He goes.
All these years I've known you.
I've always only called youwith positive results.
This is the first time I'mletting you know.
(08:52):
I'm very disappointed, adrian.
What is it?
What is it?
You are pre-diabetic.
I don't know what you're doing,I don't know what you're eating
.
I don't know what you're noteating.
I don't know what's going on inyour life, adrian, but you are
one step away from beingfull-blown diabetic.
And I sat up and I said, oh shit, and he goes.
Yes, you should be upset, butis there something else going on
(09:13):
?
I said my father died from hisdiabetes in his mid-sixties.
So if I'm in my mid-fifties,mid-sixties to me is 10 years
away, 12 years away, and all Ithought about is you mean I
could be dead in 12 years?
Oh, shoot, oh, maybe I shouldbe taking this seriously.
(09:34):
So I started thinking about mymortality.
I started thinking about mydaughter.
I want to be there to watch herwalk down the aisle.
What if she has children?
I want to be there to get toknow and build a relationship
with my grandchildren.
I've always wanted to travel.
How am I going to travel if Iam dead?
So all of that was ruminatingin my mind.
But even though we know better,we don't automatically stop.
(09:57):
I still continue doing what Iwas doing.
So this was, I don't know, maybeOctober November when I went
for that appointment.
Two so this was, I don't know,maybe October November, when I
went for that appointment.
A few, two months later, thefollowing January.
I remember it as if it wasyesterday Because for me that
was my turning point.
It was a bitterly cold Sundayin January.
Literally took us 10, 15minutes just to layer up.
(10:18):
No, I was still smokingcigarettes, still smoking weed.
Never smoked in my housebecause out of respect for my
daughter.
But I have a garage attached tomy house, so 10 minutes to get
dressed up, sat in my garage,had to take off the gloves
because I don't want to burn thegloves.
So I'm smoking a cigarette here, I'm smoking a joint here.
I just broke down.
I broke down and I said, god,you know what?
(10:39):
I can't do this anymore.
I can't do this anymore.
My daughter's coming home fromschool.
How can she see me like this?
I've always been her role model.
I want to be the kind of motherthat when your child is asked
years ago who was your rolemodel, you want to say your
mother, you want to say yourfather.
But I'm sitting there in thegarage.
I'm broken because every Mondayit would be that's it, that's it
(11:03):
.
I'm going to get straight, I'mgoing to go for walking, I'm
going to eat better, but byThursday back in the clubs.
So I did not know how to getoff of that madness.
I created that wheel.
It was like a mouse on a wheeland it was Monday.
I'd start, and then ThursdayI'm back again and I said, god,
you know what?
I haven't asked you before, butI'm asking you now.
Can you help me?
(11:23):
Can you help me find a way tobreak this hellhole that I had
created for myself.
I sat there for another 10, 15minutes crying, went inside,
went to bed.
All I can say, mo, is you knowwhat, up to today, even when I'm
100, I'll say it's divineintervention, because I started
(11:49):
noticing a couple of weeks.
After that, my mind started toshift.
As opposed to wanting to go outall the time.
I started to get curious about.
Let me look into how is my bodychanging?
Is it something that I can't doanything about, or do I have
the power to maybe coursecorrect and maybe build a bit of
a healthier body?
So, sure enough, as you'redoing your research, it's taking
you to all these differentchannels, and I'm realizing when
(12:12):
a woman gets as she matures,things are going to change in
her body, so she needs to bemore mindful of how she's taking
care of it.
When we're younger, ourmetabolism good to go,
everything is strong bones,ligaments, everything is good to
go.
But as we age, things start tobreak down slowly but surely.
(12:32):
So we need to be a little bitmore mindful of what we are
ingesting into our bodies.
Long story short, once Irealized you mean I have so much
control over the lifestylechoices I make and, as a result
that may yield me in a healthierbody.
Ok, let me put it to the test.
(12:54):
So I used myself as a beta test.
I created a nutritional plan.
I joined the gym.
I disassociated with that clubcrowd.
Instead, I went online and Ifound a group of women who were
into living healthier lifestyleand making those choices.
(13:14):
I started associating andbonding with them.
I started spending a whole lotmore time out in nature.
Every day I went outside in thesun, I went by the water and
slowly but surely, I noticed myenergy levels.
I feel a little bit strongertoday.
Slowly but surely, over a 12month period when I started my
(13:37):
energy levels out of 10, with 10being max and one being zero, I
got to be honest that my worstI was maybe a one or two in my
energy.
I crawled through my day, Icrawled into work.
I don't know how somebody,people at work didn't notice.
Maybe they did, but they didn'tsay anything.
But I felt like crap.
I had no energy and by the endof that 12 month beta test, my
(13:59):
energy levels shot back up to aneight, to a nine, to a 10 out
of 10.
And I can say up to todaybecause of the choices that I
choose to make on a daily basis.
My body continues to reward mewith an abundance of energy,
because I figured out how torebuild our body's energy from a
(14:21):
cellular level.
No additives, no supplements.
I only use what nature has madefor us.
We tap into what nature, whatGod gave us, and that is all
that, basically, I needed tokeep my body healthy and strong,
and that's where I am today and, as a result, people started
(14:42):
complimenting me.
Adrian, you're looking a bitbetter.
You got more pep in your stepagain.
You got more energy.
What are you doing?
And I didn't realize then thatit was because of all those
choices.
I just said I'm eating morefruits and I'm eating more
vegetables and I joined the gymand I'm out in the sun.
That's why I am feelinghealthier and stronger, and
(15:02):
people are noticing it becauseof all the choices I'm making.
And that's when I said you knowwhat people keep on
complimenting me about?
I love your energy levels.
If I had your level of energy,I could do so much more
throughout my day.
I would get so much moreaccomplished, but I'm just tired
all the time and I'm tired, andI'm tired, and I'm tired.
And that's when I said you knowwhat, if I was able to rebuild
(15:26):
my energy using some simplesteps, why don't I help others
do the same?
And that's when I created mycoaching program, the energy
edge.
Unlock your body's energypotential.
And that's the program.
It's a 12 week program andthat's what I help my clients
with to rebuild their energy,kick fatigue out the door, kick
(15:48):
brain fog out the door and letenter an abundance of natural
energy.
And that's my story.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
That's what I'm talking about.
I love it.
A couple of things that stuckout to me One about who you
surrounded yourself with.
There was a couple ofcomponents there.
You were saying that when youwere going to the clubs, the
party, then the after partythat's a different environment
of that, I would assume,produces a lot of negativity, a
(16:17):
lot of constraints, a lot ofrestriction, and you're in that
environment.
That's what you become and, asa result, pre-diabetes, weight
gain, processed food, all ofthese things.
Then you said what I also heard.
I started hanging around thisgroup of women who are about
health and things like that.
(16:38):
Next thing, you know, you're ata 10, your energy is up, it's
so powerful and who we surroundourselves with.
That makes a difference of whowe become.
But I want to go a little deepfor you In this transformation
process.
Pre-diabetic got the news, butyou already created a habit of
(17:02):
partying out late at night.
I want to go here and behealthy and be healthier.
That's what my mind is sayingof what I want to do.
But my actions was really hardto shift that because the habit
is to party all night andknowing that I'm miserable,
(17:23):
struggling throughout the day.
The habit is the habit, andit's just easier to be in that
autopilot mode to continue to dowhat I'm doing.
So take my audience through.
How did you work on thatcomponent of yourself?
In the moments of theself-judgment that we carry, I
(17:43):
want to do this, but now it'seasier to stay here.
How did you make that switch toget over?
Speaker 2 (17:49):
the hump For me.
Once I hit my rock bottom andit was in the garage that Sunday
and I just broke down cryingand I asked for help from the
Almighty.
I believe that somethingchanged inside of me during
those moments, something shiftedinside of my mind at that
moment and, like I said, overthe next couple of weeks I felt
(18:12):
more of a curiosity inunderstanding how much was I
responsible for the hellholethat I had dug myself in.
And then, as you're researching, there's a lot of information
on mindset and how your mindreally is the one that has to
buy in on any changes that youwant to make.
(18:32):
And then that took me tosomething called your why and
it's like my why.
And then you read a little bitmore and it's okay.
So why can be your anchor?
So when you go through thosestorms because through any
transformation it's never goingto be smooth they're going to be
those transformations, there'sgoing to be those storms.
For example, I had a bad day atwork, but it's probably easier
(18:54):
for me to go and smoke a joint.
I was stuck in traffic for anhour.
So you know what?
Let me just stop by McDonald'sbecause I got to pass by it as
opposed to standing up andcooking a healthy, balanced meal
for myself.
So for me, once I realized howpowerful a why could be in
helping you to stay on course,to helping you with that
(19:15):
transformation, I startedthinking what are what is strong
enough for me to reallywithstand those storms, those
hurdles that they say are goingto be ahead of me?
And for me, my why was mydaughter.
It was so important for me toknow that, if she has ever asked
that question, who is one ofyour strongest role models?
(19:38):
I want her to be able to saywith pride my mother.
I could not do that if Iallowed myself my daughter.
A second one was futuregrandchildren.
I want to be around for mygrandchildren and too many times
you will see a grandparentwho's always sitting down at the
side.
I want to be involved, I wantto be interactive.
(20:00):
I don't care how old I am.
If my grandson or mygranddaughter says you know what
?
Come to my game, can you be mycoach?
Can we go run around in thepark?
I don't want to be thosegrandparents that you see
sitting there because they haveno energy.
So that was my why I want to befully involved, interactive, in
any potential futuregrandchildren I may have.
(20:22):
I know I'm going to travel.
I love to travel and I lovediscovering new countries, but I
don't want to travel lethargic.
I want to travel fully engaged.
If I decide I want to walk upthat mountain, I'm going to walk
up that mountain.
Most people live life on defaultthey get up, they make
breakfast, they get in the car,they drive to work, they sit at
(20:46):
their desk, they go for lunch inthe lunchroom, they come home,
they sit on the sofa, they watchTV, they're on their phone,
they go to bed.
For me that's living life ondefault.
So many people when I lookaround and I see them, I work
with them every day and it's man.
There are more people justmoving around like robots, just
(21:08):
going through the motion, asopposed to people living on
purpose, living with anabundance of fun and energy.
And for me, my why was do Iwant to look like that in a few
years or do I want to look likethe few that I see?
That 89, that woman's 89.
Wow.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
You know who my hero was.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Do you remember Betty White Betty?
White died at 99, right up untilthe end, she was still
producing her comedies.
She was still acting in hercomedies.
For me, my role model hasalways been Betty White.
I want to be 99 and I want tobe full of vitality.
The only way to do that is tohold my why as my anchor.
Absolutely, once in a while I'mgoing to go to McDonald's.
(21:49):
Once in a while I'm going tohave a cheesecake, but it's once
in a while, because I know thatif I want my body to
reciprocate, I need to give mybody what my body's asking for.
My body is not going to producefor me if I just feed it with
pizza and fries and burgers andice cream.
My body will say thank you forthe vegetables, thank you for
(22:10):
the fruit, thank you for workingout, thank you for taking me
out in the sunlight, thank you.
Let's go to bed, adrian.
Adrian, I'm tired and I need todo a lot of repair while we're
sleeping, because when you wakeup tomorrow morning, I know
you're demanding a lot of energyfrom me as well too.
I found my whys and I made surethat they were strong enough to
(22:33):
get me through those turbulentdays.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
That's great, I love that and it's so powerful.
Not only how important the whysare, I think you add in the
values too, because we often getdistracted away from our values
and that is what causes a lotof times, what causes the
(22:55):
disconnect.
We don't have an ideal ofwhat's important to us.
One of the things that I workwith my clients on is let's go
to the core.
Let's look at what are your topvalues for you.
Let's talk about that, right,because if you don't know what
your why is and sometimes peoplestruggle with that I don't know
(23:15):
what my purpose is.
Let's start with your values,because when I hear you talking
about your why and your daughter, you know what value came to
mind almost immediately Family,family, number one thing, right,
and everything that you said.
It evolves around family andthen that becomes the core of
your why and as you decide Iwant to get healthier, my value
(23:38):
is higher, family, and here'swhy I want to be 99.
I want to be able to beinvolved in my grandkids.
I want to be there for mydaughter.
When we look at ourselves inthe mirror and we don't like
that person that we see.
What's your values, what's theroot core of your value, so you
can get back on track.
(23:59):
Exactly.
We all get off the track, right, absolutely.
And it's hard to get back onthe track if you don't know what
your values are Exactly,exactly, right, and that can be
the foundation to find your why.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
It has to be what you value, what you hold true to
your essence, to your identity,has to be the root that you are
building now upon that, and thatis your why.
These are my roots, these arenon-negotiables.
This is what I stand for.
And then, on top of that, thisis my why.
(24:36):
So, even if you don't know yourwhy, go back to what do you
stand for, what have you alwaysstood for, and once you realize
that, yeah, wait a minute, okay,I see.
Okay, now let's plant someseeds on that.
From now, the trunk is startingto grow, and then the branches.
Okay, go ahead, sorry.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Man, you're preaching to the choir.
I love that because when andthis is how I help my clients
and just make it easier for them.
Exactly Just what you just saidyour non-negotiables when it
comes to your values.
I don't know what my values are.
Okay, we can do this one of twoways.
You can do it yourself, whichis very simple.
You can go to chat GPT, type ingive me top 100 value and list
(25:18):
them in alphabetical order.
It will list 100 values for you.
Oh yeah, very simple.
Exactly when you see thathundred, highlight 20 of them.
That resonates with you.
Exactly, you get that 20.
Yep, rank the top 10.
Thank you, that's your top 10.
Okay, of those top 10.
(25:40):
Yes, which are non-negotiable,that's right.
Live your life, startnavigating.
That's right Around.
Your non-negotiable, that'sright.
Live your life, startnavigating.
That's right.
Around your non-negotiables.
Test number one You'veidentified your non-negotiables
when you go to work, is themission, vision, core values of
your organization in alignmentwith your non-negotiables?
(26:02):
If it's out of alignment, whatare you going to do about it?
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Some people again, the majority of us.
You know what is paying thebills, reason, reason I've been
here for so many years and whathappens is when we allow
ourselves to remain in anysituation that's not congruent
with our mental wellness, ouremotional wellness and our
physical wellness, sooner orlater you're going to start to
(26:29):
feel it and a lot of peopledon't identify that connection
with oh, it's because I hate myjob why I'm feeling this pain.
See, people have to realizethat we are a living organic
system.
We are living organisms and, assuch, everything within us is
connected.
We are a living organic system.
We are living organisms and, assuch, everything within us is
connected.
Our mind, our bodies, ourspirits, our emotions are all
(26:51):
connected.
So if you are unhappy with yourjob, that's affecting you
mentally, Sitting right here andanything that starts here, it's
going to move into our emotions.
I hate this place, so you'refeeling it.
And you're feeling it.
It's manifesting.
So you're physically feeling itand a lot of people it's.
I got a pain here, I got aheadache here, I got a bowel
(27:12):
movement here and they don'trealize it's because of
something that has affected youmentally.
It's moved into your emotionalsystem and it's manifesting
physically.
So, like you said, if whereyou're working, just as an
example, is really not alignedwith your missions, your value,
your statement, your vision, isit really worth your overall
(27:35):
mental health?
And for a lot of people, theydon't make that equation.
Ah, you know what it's, payingthe bills and we wonder why so
much of our population ischronically stressed, is
chronically embedded withdiseases, yep.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
And then they also feel that they don't have a
choice.
You always have a choice.
There's always power of choice.
When you incorporate yourvalues, you're creating your
power of choice Because here'sthe thing values.
You're creating your power ofchoice Because here's the thing.
We have our non-negotiables.
Whether we recognize it or not,we live by our non-negotiables
(28:11):
Absolutely.
When your boss, a family member, whatever, goes against your
internal non-negotiables, youhave the same right type,
feeling that's correct, do youdismiss it and keep moving?
Most of us, absolutely.
But it's compounding, thank you, it's a compounding effect,
(28:31):
thank you, thank you, it's acompounding effect.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
I got to pay my bills .
I don't have no choice, thankyou.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
But here's the thing, here's the catch when you do
pay attention to it and you dohonor your values and your goals
, yes, yes, the spirit, whateverit is, you believe in, thank
you, and you're in alignmentwith what your values are, thank
you.
It will guide you to whereyou're supposed to be and in
(29:00):
that alignment, you're adifferent being.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
You're living with more joy, even if it's a job
that pays half of what you weremaking.
If you are able to findsomething that brings you joy,
there is no financial value onthat.
And for too many of us it'sabout that financial
compensation.
Even though I know it doesn'tfeel right, even though you know
(29:26):
what, I know what's going onhere and I know it's wrong, you
know what.
I'm not giving up thatfinancial compensation.
So for me it boils down to wedon't give ourselves the respect
that our bodies deserve.
It's all about me.
It's all about me If I givethis up.
I got the house, I got the car.
(29:47):
I might not get this again, butwhat you are getting is you're
getting joy, you're getting asense of self and a sense of
peace within yourself.
But you know what?
You and I could probably go onfor hours and hours about that,
but it does boil down to hoursand hours about that.
But it does boil down to are wetreating ourselves our whole
selves?
And our whole selves is ourspirit, our emotions, our mind
(30:14):
and our physical body.
Do we treat ourselves withrespect that our selves deserve?
And the answer is profoundly no.
The majority of people do nottreat their whole self with the
respect that our whole selvesdeserve Right.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
I was living example for five years.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
I totally abused myself.
I gave no respect to my wholeself.
It was about what do I want inthe moment?
I want to drink, I want somedrugs, I want this, I want that.
I totally disregarded what mywhole self needed and it was
only about what Adrian wanted inthe moment.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
That's the purpose and the will of what we're
talking about is, if youreintegrate our values to create
our own purpose for self, youhave better and you will have
better alignment yes, Not onlywith just yourself and what you
need for yourself, but what yourpurpose is and how you can
(31:09):
navigate moving forward.
Because here's where we get introuble as well.
Everything you were saying andI'm coming from the audience
perspective everything you guysare saying makes sense, but you
don't get it.
I just can't take a pay cutright now.
I'm not doing that.
I can't walk away from my jobto do something that I feel I'm
(31:32):
in alignment with that is goingto pay me less money.
We're not saying to do that.
I wouldn't tell anybody to dothat but you have to build
toward where your alignment istaking you.
We're not asking you to makeirresponsible decisions when you
(31:54):
know you got certain bills thatneeds to be met.
Absolutely, you keep your job.
But when you can identify thesevalues and it's not in
alignment with the organizationthat you're working for, that's
paying your bills.
What's your pivot to start totransition?
Bingo, Bingo.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
That's where we're coming from, absolutely.
You know what I like to say.
Just to piggyback on whatyou're saying, we have to decide
as human beings what do wevalue, what, at the end of the
day, what's really important tous?
And I believe that our healthand wellness must be at the
(32:38):
foundation of everything else inour life.
We've got to take care ofourselves first.
From there, we can now takecare of our family and friends.
From there, we can now takecare of ourselves and our jobs,
or whether it's business orwhether we're going to school.
But too many of us, the order ofpreference is different it's
about my job, because I'm makingall that money.
(32:59):
Too many of us do not give anyconsideration whatsoever to our
health and wellness every day.
Our health and wellness nevermake it to our A-list.
It's always, you know what, noteven thought about it.
And for me, I want to create amovement of individuals that
realize for me to be successfulin any other area of my life, I
(33:22):
got to be successful with myhealth and wellness first.
Because if I don't have myhealth or wellness, how am I
going to be able to createwellness and fitness in my job,
with my family, at school, if Iam mentally tired, if I am
physically tired, if I amemotionally drained, because you
(33:43):
know what?
It wasn't a priority today, Ididn't even put it on my list.
Today I got to do this, I gotto do this, work is doing this,
work is pulling here.
My kids want me to go to thinghere.
Most people don't even puthealth and wellness on their
list and then they wonder why.
You know what?
Wow Tired, I'm just tired, I'mnot feeling well, I'm just I'm
(34:05):
not looking well, I've gainedweight, my hair is listless.
And then we got don't even,we're not even going to start on
this here, which we know is aphone and how that is affecting
our physical body.
People don't even, but that'sanother story for another day.
Those EMFs, the electricmagnetic fields that are coming
(34:26):
from all of these electricgadgets, and they keep on piling
more and more on us.
People are wondering what?
But that's okay.
I always say 10% in life wecan't do anything about.
But the 90% left over, that isin our power to make a choice on
how we react, leftover, that isin our power to make a choice
(34:48):
on how we react.
Our health and wellness must beat the root of every decision
that we make every single day,and then we build on top of that
.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
There it is.
There it is as we wrap up, ed,I'm going to bring you back on
the show because I want to getinto the energy edge and talk
about a little bit more aroundthat, and I don't think we had
the time, we didn't get intothat today, but so I want to
bring you back onto the show sothat we can get into that aspect
(35:14):
of what you do.
Lastly, final thoughts fortoday.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
My final thoughts are I would love for everyone in
your audience to remember thisphrase you scratch my back, I'll
scratch yours.
Your body is saying okay, whatdo you need from me?
You want energy, you wanthealth, you want abundance, you
want creativity, you wantinnovation, you want pep in your
(35:41):
step.
I got you, but you know what Ineed from you.
I need whole foods, I needwater.
I need a whole lot of sleep, Ineed sunshine.
I need you to manage yourstress.
If you can take care of thosesix things for me, mo, I got
your back.
You scratch my back, I'llscratch yours.
Simple, that's it, mic drop.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
I appreciate you, my sister.
Thank you, Adrienne.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
Namaste.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
Thank you for joining me in this episode of let's
Think About it.
Your time and attention aregreatly appreciated.
If you found value in today'sdiscussion, I encourage you to
subscribe on your favoritepodcast platform.
Remember, the journey ofself-improvement is ongoing and
I'm here to support you everystep of the way.
(36:28):
Connect with me on social mediafor updates and insights.
You can find me on Instagramand Facebook, at Coach Mo,
coaching or LinkedIn, at MauriceMabry, or visit my website at
mauricemabrycom for exclusivecontent.
Until next time, keepreflecting, keep growing and,
(36:51):
most importantly, keep believingin yourself.
Remember, the most effectiveway to do it is to do it
Together.
We're making incredible stridestoward a better and more
empowered you, so thank you, andI'll see you in our next
episode.
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