I sat down with Pat Cross from Trainers at Holistic HealthPlayground on the beautiful sunshine coast for another fun pod cast we spend time talking about transition moments and how we reflect back on some of the biggest tipping points in our lives. As Steve Jobs said in this 2005 Harvardcommencement speech “ we can only connect the dots looking backwards” the road ahead can change at any moment and we make adjustments on the way.

Why New Years Resolutions Don’t Work:  People try to reinvent themselves (reach too big) without building good habits. What is needed stick to our New Year’s resolutions is willpower. Your brain cells that operate willpower are located in the prefrontal cortex, which is the area right behind your forehead.

That particular area of the brain is also responsible for staying focused, handling short-term memory and solving abstract tasks. Therefore your pre-frontal cortex that handles willpower is like a muscle that needs to be trained by building the habits. 

According to Forbes only 8% of the people who set New Year’s resolutions actually achieve them.  Most of us treat new years resolutions as a mental reset of the pass year’s disappointment. The first 2 weeks are amazing of the Year everyone is going strong and posting to social media on Facebook, IG, Snaps then when reality hits and they didn’t build the habits or created a plan for long lasting change they fade and eventually quit.  Always next year mentality (the best ways business market their products to people) don't become a victim in 2016. 

Resolution vs. Habits 

Resolution: Quit smoking vs. Habit: Stop smoking that 1 cigarette you have every morning after breakfast (read the power of habit by Charles Duhigg) 

1 Write down your goals sand create a plan of action 

Smart Goals

S – Specific 

M – measureable 

A – Attainable

R – Realistic 

T – Time Bound 

Goals need to be EPIC

E – Enjoyable process  

P – Partner (accountability)  

I  - Invest in yourself (time, resources, energy)

C – Change your routine   

Lessons Learnt in 2015

1.     Enjoy everything you do (change how you view it)

2.     Put yourself out there, more opportunity comes your way (no one will meet you when you stay home) 

3.     Smile more people can feel your energy

4.     Ask more get more!

5.     Don’t take things personally 

6 Rules for 2016

1.     Don’t Panic (think positive & objective no negativity) 

2.     Walk Fast (be busy no time for bullshit)

3.     Do the Right Things, Always (life has no bias, the truth always comes out)

4.     Never Give Up (take it one day at a time)

5.     Be Grateful (life is amazing, realize it)

6.     Know How to Penetrate  (finish what you start)

LATHL Episode 6 - Cross Trainer Pat Cross

Pat Cross emphasize making lifestyle changes that are realistic and permanent while simultaneously uncovering and changing your known and hidden self-limiting beliefs. Communication and education play key roles in understanding the importance of balance, well-being, lifestyle, self-awareness and physical activities required to achieve your goals.

Making a permanent lifestyle change, regular physical activity, feeling great and achieving more effortlessly should be fun and we'll show you how by making a permanent paradigm shift in how you approach your wellness and conditioning goals. Inviting joy, well-being and accomplishment into your life can be exciting and incredibly rewarding. Let us coach you to finding the inner wisdom that will take you there while providing the foundational framework for ensuring you do. Successful Personal Training is part art, part science and relies on a great partnership where client and trainer both learn from each other.

Holistic Health, Wellness and Conditioning invites not just a change and improvement in the foundation principles of physical well-being, appearance, strength, athleticism and vitality but also includes wellness in the areas of empowered emotional and mental wellness. We have programs and services available to meet you where you are, address where you want to go and help you design a program that fits with your particular needs, values and goals.

Follow Living at the Highest Level on social media for news & updates

Twitter: LATHLL Instagram: LATHL Facebook: LATHL

LATHL Episode 5 - Katrina Dorn Tax Professional & Real Estate InvestorKatrina Dorn is a Tax Professional, Real Estate Investor, and Entrepreneur. Katrina specializes in tax strategies to help self-employed individuals utilize the best methods to lower taxable income through expenses, credits and other tax saving vehicles. She is very active in real estate and will have 3 properties by her 26’s birthday.  She has been able to run a business, invest in real estate, all while being a mother.Follow Living at the Highest Level on social media for news & updatesTwitter: LATHLL Instagram: LATHL Facebook: LATHL

LATHL Episode 4 - Muscle Minds with Matt Elieff Matt has been involved in the health and wellness

industry for over 7 years and has spent time at various companies in the

sports nutrition and supplement sector. 

He’s also worked alongside holistic nutritionists

and naturopathic doctors in Ontario and where he started Muscle Minds with his

brother Corrie. He is a certified personal trainer and has worked with some the

industry's best health and transformation coaches

Matt also has a martial arts background and has

studied both Krav Maga and Muay Thai. A strong natural health advocate Matt is

also the author of various nutritional information booklets and health articles

and has delivered health and nutrition seminars across Canada

He is extremely passionate about helping others to

bring health and vitality back into their lives. The MissionEnlightenEnlighten people by providing information regarding health,

nutrition, exercise, mental well being and accelerated learning.EmpowerEmpower people through providing the skills, motivation and mindset

they need to make the changes to their life in order to achieve the physical,

mental and emotional health they’ve always wanted.EvolveEvolve people through having them achieve their health, fitness and

wellness goals and then encourage them to then help others with their goals.Their VisionTo build a

team of highly skilled,

enlightened and knowledgeable individuals

whose main purpose and

intention is to enlighten,

empower, and evolve others to

take their own physical/mental health

into their own hands

and master it.Develop

a curriculum that will allow

the individual to develop an

understanding and connection with

their own life force

and personal potential for

greatness.  This curriculum

will develop the individual

in the areas of

motivational psychology, emotional intelligence, habit recognition, time

management, nutrition and physical development of

the body,

Create

an education system that will

grow exponentially as time progresses

turns into a collective

of people helping people.

Using a pay it

forward system to perpetuate

the knowledge, wisdom, mindset and

vision of the foundation. 

 Follow Living at the Highest Level on social media for news & updatesTwitter: LATHLL Instagram: LATHL Facebook: LATHL

LATHL Episode 3 – Stronghold Fitness (Andrew Ao

& Farshad Kivi)

Stronghold Fitness “Mentally

Fortified”

I got a chance to sit down and

chat with Andrew Ao & Farshad Kivi about the journey through the first 8

months of their startup venture Stronghold Fitness.

Their vision is to

revolutionize the fitness industry and create their own facility where people can

develop themselves in an environment that produces permanent change in the physical and mental aspect of fitness, which will

empower the masses to achieve excellence in all aspects of their lives. 

The idea was based on the #1

rule of success, who do you listen to.  To instill belief and inspire

those are facing the same adversity. 

Business Operations

1.    Apparel & Event

2.    Media & Marketing

5 year Vision to built the first Stronghold

Lifestyle Facility       

Recent Events Covered by

Stronghold’s Media Team

1. Leigh Brandt Muscle Classic

2015

‪2. BCABBA Provincial Championship

2015

3. Vancouver PRO/AM EXPO 2015 (apparel debut)

 Up Coming Events

 Popeye’s Fall classic 2015

Become a Strong Hold

Ambassador Today 

Social Media: Stronghold

Fitness

Instagram: @iamstronghold

Company website: www.iamstronghold.com

Coupon Code: LATHL get 15% off  your online orders.

Follow Living at the Highest Level on

social media for news & updates

Twitter: LATHLL Instagram: LATHL Facebook: LATHL

LATHL Episode 2 - Julian Asuncion aka JULS is Vancouver's own rising hip-hop artist

releasing his first EP “Vancouver’s Own Unknown” produced by EveKey. This

is a follow up album to this first two mix tapes Green Light GO and Free Music.  

JULS describes himself as a 80s baby made in

Vancouver, a 90s kid who loved cartoons, a poet sharing his story through the

art of rap and the love of hip-hop. Green Light Go (GLG) is the motto, and the

motto is simple - "If you have a dream, chase it"

Vancouver’s Own Unknown Soundtrack Lineup:

1.    What

Up

2.    We

Could Fly

3.    Cross

Word

4.    Spaceship

5.    Oasis

6.    What

I Be

7.    Raw

& Uncut

8.    Throw’

em up (Bonus Track)

The album is available on iTunes & on his website julsglg.com

Follow JULSGLG on Social Media: Facebook, Instagram,

Soundcloud

Youtube Video’s

1.    Green Light Go

2.    Wake Up

3.   Spread the Love

"Live to be remembered, don't live to be a

memory"

-JuLS Truly

Follow Living at the Highest Level on social media for

news & updates

Twitter: LATHLL Instagram: LATHL Facebook: LATHL

LATHL Episode 1 - Myke Macapinlac is the Founder and Program Director of "Social Man Project". 

For over five years, he has helped hundreds of students, engineers, accountants and programmers raise their self-esteem, get more dates and build an incredible social life. His work has been featured in Breakfast Television, Calgary Herald, Notable and Shaw TV.Helping men become more comfortable and confident around the opposite sex. Understanding social dynamics (social IQ, dating norms, cultural exceptions, overcoming limiting beliefs) Improving their language and communication ability. Check out this website at www.socialmanproject.comFollow us on Social Media for news & updates Twitter: LATHLL Instagram: LATHL Facebook: LATHL