Small Changes Big Shifts

It is becoming more and more common to hear about thyroid issues whether it be through Hashimoto's, Hypothyroidism or even Celiac's - the thyroid plays a huge role in our body. Jill Grunewald and Lisa Markley have dedicated their careers to helping those suffering from thyroid issues find peace and ease of mind.

Having both suffered from Hashimoto's themselves, they have a unique perspective when it comes to treating and helping their clients as they are able to first hand understand what comes along with having a thyroid issue.

They have taken their knowledge, experience and talents and created a cookbook filled an educational component and over 100 "food as medicine" recipes for everyone - no matter where you are on your health journey.

We really only have one job in this life - to love yourself. It is simple yet so complicated and overlooked as we so often are taught that self love comes from our outside appearance and not what's on the inside. Katie Kozlowski has been dealt a wild card hand in life especially after getting hit by a taxi and walking away injury-free but used this as a catalyst for change in her life.

Before her run in with the taxi, Katie wondered "would anyone care if I weren't here anymore" and then she was hit and realized that she would care and that her belief, opinion and faith in herself is all that truly matters.

Katie is sharing her story and helping others find that strength in themselves and embrace who they truly are because at the end of the day we have to stop and accept ourselves as we are divine creations.

Imagine you are an athlete at the top of your game, living life to the fullest and your health is the last thing on your mind and then you have a fall and land in the hospital. You end up being cleared from your fall but walk out of the hospital with a cancer diagnosis. Now imagine this all happening and only being 21 years old.

This is what happened to Josh Perry, competitive BMX rider and athlete. He was told he had a brain tumor after being treated from a fall on his bike. Josh took his diagnosis and decided to fight back and give his tumor a run for its money.

During this journey, Josh had to change his ways and turned to health and wellness by adjusting his diet, practicing mindfulness and sharing his story. Josh is currently living with four brain tumors but is still actively riding, acting as a source of inspiration for others and changing the way people approach cancer.

Are you currently struggling in a relationship, struggling to find a relationship or maybe just coming out of a struggling relationship? Have you ever thought about how your home, office or living space may be playing a role in these relationships? This is what Feng Shui is all about and Robyn Stevens is a master at finding balance and creating a harmonious living environment. What we surround ourselves with has a direct effect on all aspects of our lives so Feng Shui is the art and science of of balancing and harmonizing your space. Robyn visits with people and finds out about their relationships with themselves, others and their things in order to help them create a space that welcomes new opportunities and good energy. Robyn not only helps to Feng Shui your room but your life as well to help make sure you are living a well balanced and harmonious life and are welcome to new opportunities and relationships.

Are you stressed about the upcoming holiday season? Navigating the holiday season is tricky for us and then you add in trying to be healthy and well and it can really be overwhelming. Jen Arnold has three simple things we can do to help make sure we not only survive the holiday but thrive during it as well.

By being mindful, purposeful and practicing self-care, you can put yourself in the position to take on anything the holidays may throw at you and come out on top.

Jen's education and experience in the health and wellness field has taught her that the key to well-being is listening and caring for others. She says that by helping others live their best lives it helps us to live ours as well.

On this special edition of Small Changes Big Shifts, I am taking a second to thank those who have been on this journey and show gratitude for where I have been, where I am at and where I will be.

November is my favorite month because it is the time of the year when we start to feel grateful, see how truly fortunate we are and bless others. I have a couple pieces of wisdom for you to help make this holiday season the best one yet.

Life really is about making small changes that lead to big changes in our lives and often times that starts with taking the next best step.

Imagine you just graduated college and are wondering what your next step is. Andrew Forsthoefel was in this exact situation when he decided to take on the adventure of a lifetime and spent eleven months walking across the United States with a sign that read "Walking to Listen".

Andrew recorded interviews with people all over the country, learning about their lives, loves, highs and lows and is now sharing these experiences with others. He came across those that were hesitant to share as it would make them vulnerable but Andrew used "listening as a bridge" and simply just received what they would offer him.

The stories and experiences Andrew shares are teaching people how to love one another, unite because of our diversity, be vulnerable and truly live a life filled with truth and connection.

Dr. John Day has a story that many of us can relate to. Life was going well or so he thought and then he hit his forties and realized that he really wasn't feeling that great, struggled to get through the day and was taking upwards of five medications a day. Sound familiar?

He took this realization and ran with it as he went to China with his family and visited a village where the residents are living to be in their late nineties and even a hundred years old. These people aren't taking any medications or doing anything crazy to live this long but are doing the simple things: eating healthy whole food, getting good sleep, exercising and practicing mindfulness.

This experience led Dr. Day to start researching this way of life and is now sharing these findings in his new book The Longevity Plan: Seven Transforming Lessons from Ancient China.

Dr. Day's message on "health, happiness and longevity" is simple yet life-changing and is positively affecting lives each and every day.

How does one go from sending daily emails with recipes to her closest friends and family to over one million email subscribers? By making small changes that lead to big shifts!

Lisa Lillien aka Hungry Girl is taking the world of food by storm by taking our favorite guilty pleasure meals and remaking them so they are healthy and guilt-free. She is a self-proclaimed "foodologist" who has found a way to enjoy all of life's pleasures in a healthy and smart way and is sharing her knowledge with people all over the world.

Lisa knows that "knowledge is power" so she helps people understand that the more you know about the food you are cooking, baking and eating is key to a healthier you. She lives by the idea of "the more you open your eyes, the smarter choices you will make" and this is what she has done with her recipes and cookbooks as she just released her twelfth book. With a mantra of taking it day by day and never making yourself feel guilty, Lisa is revolutionizing the world of healthy and comfort food.

"Changing your words, changes your thoughts, and changes your feelings." A simple yet powerful concept. Zaheen Nanji, author, motivator and thought leader, says this often as she believes it is the key to resilience.

Zaheen has faced difficult times in her life from dealing with a stutter into her 20's, moving from Kenya to Canada at the age of 15 without her parents to battling breast cancer. It is through her up's and down's in life that have led her to where she is today, a sought-after transformational speaker on the topic of Resilience Reflex. She teaches her clients how to navigate life's up's and down's by thriving.

Her two biggest tips for making the most out of the unexpected? Have a routine and a support network. These two things can help set you up for success when change comes your way.