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Episode 47| October 12, 2024

Why Connection Matters w/ Michelle Abraham

The Paddle Board Moment That Woke Her Up

Michelle Abraham built a life around fun. Off-grid on a lake, retreats in Costa Rica, a business she loves.

Then one day she looked at a paddle board and thought, I might sink this. I am over the weight limit.

For twelve years as a mom, she had put herself at the bottom of the barrel.

The moment her health started saying no to fun with her kids, everything changed.

In this episode of the Happy Healthy Hustle Podcast, connection expert Michelle Abraham shares the challenge she almost never talks about, why she stopped calling it weight loss, and the joy diet she started to put herself back on the list.

Her superpower is connecting people. Her lesson is that you have to connect with yourself first.

If you have quietly put yourself last, this honest conversation is for you.

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“When I start saying no to things because of my health, that is a big problem.”

– Michelle Abraham

Fast Skim & Timestamps

0:00 Meet Michelle: Off-Grid and All-In on Fun
2:40 Her Superpower: Connecting People
4:17 The Challenge She Rarely Talks About
5:30 The Paddle Board That Woke Her Up
7:04 Why Parents Put Themselves Last
8:30 The Joy Diet
10:23 Accountability Changes Everything
11:23 Where to Find Michelle

Key Takeaways

You can build a business from anywhere, even off the grid. Connection travels over the internet.
Connecting people is a gift. Sometimes you make the introduction and watch the magic happen.
High achievers often put their own health at the bottom of the list, especially parents.
When your health starts saying no to the fun you want, it is time to act.
Reframe the goal. Michelle traded weight loss for a joy diet, and it stuck.
Accountability makes it real. A weekly check-in with a friend keeps you going.

Three Petite Practice® Questions

1. Where have I quietly put myself at the bottom of the list?

2. What am I saying no to because I did not care for myself first?

3. Who could be my weekly accountability partner starting this week?

Transcript Chapters

0:00 Meet Michelle: Off-Grid and All-In on Fun

[00:00:00] Dr. Christiane Schroeter: Welcome back to the Happy Healthy Hustle podcast. I am excited to be here with Michelle Abraham. [00:00:14] Michelle Abraham: Thank you for having me. I had so much fun having you on my podcast. [00:00:30] Michelle Abraham: My tagline has always been, I want to get paid to play, and I have managed to do that a lot. My family and I live off the grid on six acres on a lake near Vancouver. For eleven years I worked in podcasting, helping people launch, manage, and get booked on shows. Last year I felt out of alignment and wanted to spread my wings, so I started Aligned Adventures, retreats and masterminds, with my High Vibe Leaders program, in Costa Rica, Mexico, and on cruise ships. Before that I was a personal trainer with ten boot camp locations, and I have traveled to over fifty-four countries. [00:02:14] Dr. Christiane Schroeter: I love that you connect off-grid living with podcasting. We think we need all this technology, and you are proof that is not necessary.

2:40 Her Superpower: Connecting People

[00:02:40] Michelle Abraham: My superpower is connecting people, which is funny because I live in the middle of nowhere, so thank goodness for the internet. Ever since I was a little girl, I would bring my soccer friends together with my school friends. I once introduced two friends who ended up getting married. I love connecting people and then sitting back to watch the magic happen. [00:03:31] Dr. Christiane Schroeter: It is like Tinkerbell with her magic wand. We are often more connected than we believe, and I love that you overcome isolation by connecting people.

4:17 The Challenge She Rarely Talks About

[00:04:17] Dr. Christiane Schroeter: What has been your biggest challenge, a darker period in your life? [00:04:30] Michelle Abraham: On the surface, it is focus. I have so many ideas that I get bored of things quickly, which a lot of entrepreneurs struggle with. But I want to go deeper. I was in the fitness industry, and then I became a mom. I did the thing you swear you will not do. I gave everything to my kids and put myself at the bottom of the barrel. For twelve years I neglected myself and gained a lot of weight.

5:30 The Paddle Board That Woke Her Up

[00:05:30] Michelle Abraham: My kids are nine and twelve, and my weight started to affect my ability to do fun things with them. The other day I looked at a paddle board and thought, I am going to sink this, I am over the weight limit. When those things start stopping me from having fun with my kids, that is a big problem. I always knew I needed to address it, but now it is glaringly obvious. Our health is so important, and I know it is the missing link to everything else.

7:04 Why Parents Put Themselves Last

[00:07:04] Dr. Christiane Schroeter: Many listeners will connect with this. When you have children, you focus on them and forget yourself. I appreciate your honesty. I always say that when you start saying no to others, that is when people enjoy you less. Say no to the things that drain you so you get the me-time and wellness, and keep saying yes to the things that add fun.

8:30 The Joy Diet

[00:08:30] Dr. Christiane Schroeter: What or who will help you overcome this? [00:08:41] Michelle Abraham: I have the knowledge, but doing it for yourself is different, so reaching out to others helps me stay on track and not feel guilty. My children watching me be active makes me a better mom. A friend and I are in the same boat, so we started recording ourselves once a week, talking about what we are doing to improve our health. We call it the joy diet, because it is about bringing more joy into our lives. When you call it weight loss, it finds its way back, so we made it something more fun.

10:23 Accountability Changes Everything

[00:10:23] Dr. Christiane Schroeter: Accountability is so important, and I love the name. [00:10:29] Michelle Abraham: We might publish it as a podcast one day. For now they are private recordings, but at the end of our journey people might need to hear the honest perspective. [00:10:43] Dr. Christiane Schroeter: Michelle and I are also plotting a little surprise about creating memories and leaving legacies, so stay tuned.

11:23 Where to Find Michelle

[00:11:23] Michelle Abraham: You can learn about the retreats at Aligned Adventures, our High Vibe Leaders podcast is about to launch, and I am on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram as Michelle Abraham. [00:11:45] Dr. Christiane Schroeter: Thank you so much for being here today, Michelle. Stay healthy and happy, and keep hustling.

Meet My Guest

Michelle Abraham

Podcast Strategist & Founder of Aligned Adventures

Michelle Abraham is a podcast strategist with over a decade in the space, helping people launch, manage, and get booked on shows. She now leads Aligned Adventures retreats and the High Vibe Leaders program from her off-grid home on the Sunshine Coast.

A former personal trainer who has traveled to more than fifty countries, Michelle is all about adventure, connection, and helping people get their voices into the world. Find her on Instagram and LinkedIn as Michelle Abraham.

Meet Your Host

Dr. Christiane Schroeter

TEDx Speaker & Leadership Strategist

I’m Dr. Christiane Schroeter, TEDx speaker, leadership strategist, and host of the Top 1% ranked Happy Healthy Hustle Podcast. I help leaders think clearly, speak with conviction, and take the next step during change.

About Dr. Christiane

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