Finding Mindfulness with Alison Canavan

Alison Canavan is a UCLA-trained Mindfulness Facilitator from The Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behaviour. She runs a successful private practice as a Health and Wellness coach and delivers motivational talks on health and wellbeing, all over the world, specializing in behavior change, mental health, addiction, and improving your mindset. Alison was a successful international model for nearly two decades and in recent years has devoted her time to her greatest passion: the achievement of true health and wellbeing for herself and others. Alison is passionate about human potential and helping people to reach theirs; she attained a graduate distinction in Nutrition and Health Coaching from Irish Institute of Nutrition and Health, Advanced Diploma in Diet and Nutrition therapeutics, Raw Foods Mastery level 3 from The Life Change Health Institute. In her work, she shares tools and training that help people connect, go within, and create lasting change through intuition and everyday small behavioral changes. 

→IN THIS EPISODE… Joe and Alison talk about her journey to sobriety. As Ireland’s first Super Model Alison found herself being engulfed in a toxic lifestyle. Her turning point was motherhood, and her son James brought her the motivation to start seeking help and health. Alison shares great tips and exercises to become a more mindful person to live a life of gratitude.

🔍 Breakdown with Alison Canavan:

Chapter 1 (0:00​) Introducing Alison Canavan

Joe introduces Alison, and sets up the episode.

Chapter 2 (3:15​) Defining Moment

Alison credits the birth of her son as the catalyst for her getting sober and focusing on her health.

Chapter 3 (13:26) From model to mindfulness expert

 Alison shares her journey as Ireland’s first supermodel, and how she started down a road of self-destructive behavior with alcohol. She explains how the birth of her son helped shift her focus to mindfulness and living a holistic lifestyle.

Chapter 4 (17:08) More alcohol equals less productivity

Alcohol or any harmful substance can typically cause negative side effects that last 3 times longer than the moment you do them.

Chapter 5 (​24:36) Power of Streaks

Starting a new goal can be difficult, especially when it is breaking a bad habit, so a great tip is to focus on creating a streak. You will notice a shift after you are successful 5 or more days in a row.

Chapter 6 (25​:28) How to find a good mentor

Throughout Alison’s journey, she credits a lot of her good habits and the ability to overcome her addiction to alcohol through teachers she has met along the way. 

Chapter 7 (33:35) Creating consistency and routine

A great analogy for an absence of consistency; weeds (bad habits) invading your garden(your life/goals). Joe shares this and some great tips in establishing a routine.

Chapter 8 (39:30) Mediation in schools

Why aren’t we teaching our kids mental exercises as well as physical exercise? This is a topic Joe discussed with Nelson Delis in a previous episode as well.

Chapter 9 (44:55) Power tip about consistency

Joe shares a power tip he learned from a book, Tiny Habits. It is never too late to make changes in your life.

Chapter 10 (52:08) Enjoy the process and trust the journey

Joe and Alison discuss how to get yourself to a place of happiness and enjoy the moment of time you are currently in.

Chapter 11 (1:05:54) Where hearts unite

Right now, Alison is working with her brother to develop holistic supplements. She is also a life coach and can help with mindfulness and meditation. 

Chapter 12 (1:11:15) Speed round questions

Learn about Alison’s favorite books to reread, and her non-important thing to do.

Chapter 13 (1:16:09) In Closing

Joe wraps up the episode and encourages you to remember: you, me, we are not almost there.

Material Referenced in this interview:

→Minding Mum by Alison Canavan

→Liver Medic Products

→Virgin River (Netflix Series)

→Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg, PhD

📞 Connect with Alison

→https://www.whereheartsunite.com/
→https://twitter.com/alicanavan

→https://linktr.ee/alisoncanavanwellness

👊 To learn more about Not Almost There by visiting this link 

→ Not Almost There http://notalmostthere.com/​

Connect with Joe on social here:

→Instagram https://www.instagram.com/joe_chura/​

→Facebook https://www.facebook.com/notalmostthere/​

→Twitter http://twitter.com/joechura