How To Start Making A Difference Today with Michelle Beckner

[Intro] Hello and welcome to my podcast, Empowered to Thrive. I'm your host, Corinne Powell. I'm an intuitive guide and I absolutely love helping people to heal from within so that they can create a life that they love, a life that they enjoy.

We weren't meant to just tolerate and get through life. We were meant to thrive and enjoy the life we're living. Of course, we will have seasons and moments that are difficult and challenging.

And the beauty of it is that we can be supported in those moments. I am here to be an aid and a guide to support you. And I hope that you will enjoy not only today's episode, but some of the past episodes if you haven't heard them yet.

On this podcast, I talk about all things inner wellness. We also sprinkle in some spirituality and parenting because as a mom to three kids, parenting is a big part of my life. I hope that you enjoy the episode and that there's at least one thing you'll pull from it and start to implement into your own life.

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Corinne Powell: Hi friends. So glad to have you here with me. And my friend, Michelle Beckner is also here.

She is a certified nutritional coach and an ex-chemical engineer. And she came on the show today to talk to all of us about planet friendly living and how we can help not only the current generation, but the future generations. She's going to share with you simple ways that you can make changes in your everyday life that will better you and your family and the planet.

If you recognize Michelle's name, it's maybe because she was on the show back in May and June of 2021. And I'm happy to have her here again. She talked with us about mindful eating in the past and she continues to speak on the subject of mindful living.

Michelle lives in the Rocky Mountains with her three kids, her two dogs, and she enjoys endless cups of tea. And if you're curious to follow her on social media, she can be found at MLB Family Wellness. So enjoy today's episode and take it to heart.

Michelle Beckner: Well, hi, Corinne. It's so exciting to be here and talk to you again on your podcast. Now about new stuff.

Corinne Powell: Yeah, I’m glad to have you back.

Michelle Beckner: Thank you. So I was thinking maybe I can start a little bit with how I got to where I am and what we're going to talk about today.

So today I want to talk to you about like just helping people feel more connected to the earth and understanding how their decisions every day, especially what they eat every day, not only impacts them and their family and their health, but also the planet. And so kind of how I got to the point that like a hippie tree hugger lady that I am today. I used to be a total like free child, always in the woods, going camping every summer and everything.

And then things kind of started to change when I went to college. I went to school for engineering, mostly just because like I always loved like art and poetry and writing and like all that hippie dippie stuff. But I had I was always good at math and science, right? I feel like there's two types of engineers.

One is like I was always good at math and science, so I went into engineering and the other one is like I always loved learning, like figuring out how things work and building things like that wasn't me. But I just had teachers that were like, oh, Michelle, you should be an engineer. And I was like, OK.

So I went to school to be a chemical engineer, got a job right out of school at one of the biggest chemical companies. And at first I thought it was like super cool. My very first project, we were making one of the layers that went into solar panels.

I was like, this is awesome. Like the company I'm working for is so great. Like we're making solar panels.

And then part of their company was they make like genetically engineered seeds. It's basically like Monsanto makes like the Roundup and the seeds that go in that. Like my company was like the other half and somehow we avoided like all the bad press that Monsanto gets.

But we did the same thing, like the agriculture stuff and like pesticides and herbicides. And I was like, that's just the one thing I don't really like about what my company does. But like I know I'm doing good stuff here.

So like I'm just going to kind of stick to it. And then slowly after like almost a decade working as an engineer, I found myself making single use plastics, like just from the way the business has evolved and my job evolved. And so at first when I was in the plastics business, we were making specialty plastics.

So I kind of made myself feel OK about it because I was like, you know, this goes into spaceships, these go into cars, these go into safety gear. Like, you know, at least the plastics that we're making are things that like keep people safe. And then we merged with another big company who is the second biggest single use plastic maker in the world.

And that's what they pushed all of our business to. So making grocery bags and water bottles and things like that. And I just had a really hard time with that.

I loved my boss and we butt heads like kind of in a friendly way, but where I was still like, this is not right. Like they would love to buy water bottles for the whole crew all the time and like make as much like to them it was like a joke, like how like don't bring your reusable plastic or your reusable bags to the grocery store and buy as many plastic water bottles as you can. It was like a joke to them because they were making a lot of money out of it.

And I could not I could not handle it anymore. And I would drive home from work every day like crying because I was just so out of alignment with like  my values and my beliefs. And I would I would go home and like try to do all these things to reduce our plastics and to eat healthy and everything.

And then I'd go to work and it'd be like a completely different. I'd have to be like a completely different person, which I was. I was trying to be as outspoken as I could be without losing my job.

And they would they would blame it on like, you know, they would the company. And I'm not blaming like individual people. You know, it's like it's a whole it's a whole group of people.

And they don't you know, you don't it's your job. Right. So everyone's doing it for different reasons. I was doing it. But but as a whole, I feel like. They they didn't see it as a problem because they just wanted to make money.

I mean, that's what companies are there for, right there, they're there to make money for their shareholders and for them and everything. But I remember specifically we were in our company was in the headlines about like all the plastic waste in the oceans. And then the company told us like it came down from like the higher ups.

They're like, well, this isn't our problem. It's the consumer's problem because they don't know how to recycle it. So we're just going to keep pumping it out and they need to figure out how to recycle it.

And I was like, this is not right. This is not right. And that's sort of like, you know, so and that was so I left my job officially in the end of twenty eighteen.

But at the time I was working as a health coach as well for a few years. So what was I? Oh, so anyway, so that's kind of like fast forward, like, you know, a lot of stuff has happened since then with with me and my business and everything. But that's kind of where I've got today is like, you know, people are so blinded to what's really going on with a lot of these big companies like the big companies, chemical companies and petrochemical companies and everything.

They have all this money. They can do all this marketing and make us think that we're doing the right thing or doing the wrong thing. But, you know, I've seen it on the inside and I see that like they just want to make money.

They don't really care that much. So it's up to us. It's up to us as the consumers to figure out what our priorities are, to care about our health and the planet's health, right? 

And for the future generations health, it's on us to make those decisions every day because we can't trust the marketing. We can't trust, you know, what they're what they what they is like what they're telling us. It's on us. We all have the responsibility to make those choices. 

And it doesn't mean you need to be perfect and like do all the best things and everything. Right. But it's just being like I keep I always say, like, imagine if everyone was just a little bit more thoughtful in the decisions that they made every day, whether it's the food that they eat or picking up a piece of trash they see on the street or anything like that. 

Like if we could just be a little bit more thoughtful, we don't have to be perfect. And everybody has a different capacity as far as like time and money and resources. But we can all find something little that we can be just a little bit more careful about. So that's kind of why I'm here today and why I'm super passionate about talking about this stuff.

So I'll let you if you have any questions or anything you specifically want to ask about. 

Corinne Powell: No, but I think it's fascinating that you shifted from what you did to what you're doing. Like, I also think it was so important for you because you were in that job knowing that this isn't the best fit for me.

So you tried, but it just it didn't get any easier. And you felt that tension and then just had to step out of it. You were plugged in there and you could have stayed there forever. Like producing the plastics, you know what I mean? But you chose out, so I like that about you. 

Michelle Beckner: Yeah, thank you. And isn't it so funny? I feel like when those things happen, we as humans, like it needs to get really bad before we decide to change. Like, I don't know if it's like a quote or whatever, but, you know, it's like you don't change until the discomfort of saying the same isn't as bad as the discomfort of changing. Right?

So it got to the point where I was really sick. I actually got like physically ill from stress, from continuing to be in my job. So I had to get to that point for me to leave and of course, we had to worry about like, you know, with me leaving my job and childcare. Like it's you know, it's a lot of a lot of stuff. So I get it.

Like there's a lot of people, I'm sure, that are in jobs where they're feeling the same way, but it's more complicated than that. Like a lot of times you can't just leave, you know. But yeah, I got I got really, really sick. I had mold illness and like the stress on top of it. So I just I couldn't do it anymore. 

So my husband and I, we talked about we're like, we got to find a way to make this work.

And we did. I'm so glad. I'm so glad where I am today.

Corinne Powell: So so tell us how we can take better care of the environment, like you said, because we don't need to be perfect, but we can do our part. So what are some simple ways that we can do our part? 

Michelle Beckner: Yeah, so I think the first thing to start with, so I have I've got three steps for you. OK, so the first step is your priorities, because I have a hard time talking about this sort of stuff because I feel like there's a lot of privilege attached to it because, you know, buying like healthy food, whatever that means, or, you know, buying the things that are more eco-conscious, it's more expensive.

So I get that there's a lot of privilege attached to that. And I've always been privileged. So I want to put it out there that like just because you can't afford like all the best organic food or like the eco-friendly toothpaste or whatever it is, or maybe it's not that you can't afford it, but you just don't have access to it where you live, like whatever it is.

So I always want I always it's important to start with what are your priorities, right? So it could be like even that you don't have access or you don't have the money or you just don't have the time. You're like, hey, I don't have the time to like cook this beautiful, well-sourced dinner for my family every night.

So the first thing is, what are your priorities? If right now you're not in a situation where you can make this your priority, that's OK. But like as long as you're recognizing that.

So is your priority to put healthy food on the table? Is your priority to reduce the waste your family makes? Like what are your priorities? And then look at how those are actually fitting in with the way you're living your life right now. And then that can kind of give you a really good place to start.

So, for example, for me, like my one of my top priorities always because priorities change, right. Life changes, priorities change. But always one of my top priorities is getting healthy, nourishing. I like to use the word nourishing more than healthy because it's like what is healthy. Right. But we want to nourish our bodies and nourish the planet at the same time.

One of my top priorities, always getting nourishing home cooked meals on the table for my family pretty much every day. Right. So a lot of my life revolves around that with time and money and things like that.

And that's just me. Right. So that's my priority. So I adjust my life to fit my priorities. So the first step is to kind of think about what are your priorities. And if your life isn't fitting that right now, how can you adjust things so it can fit? And that'll probably give you kind of a good place to start.

Like maybe it's just bringing a bag with you when you go on your walk around the neighborhood so you can pick up trash. Right. Easy.

Yeah. Or maybe it's something more than that. Yeah.

So then the next step, once you kind of figure out like what your priorities are and how you can fit that into your life to make it so it's actually a priority, so you're working on it. The next step is to kind of learn and ask questions. And so like maybe next time you're at the grocery store and you want to make it a priority to source food better for the environment.

Right. So next time you go, I've been talking about chicken a lot, sourcing chicken a lot lately. So I'll use that as an example.

So you go like you want to buy a whole chicken to roast up for your family and then just question like, huh, like look at the labels on this one versus that one. Like what exactly does this mean? Like what does it mean that it's organic? What does it mean that it's page-free? Start like asking those questions. Right.

You don't need to all of a sudden be like, all right, we got to get the best of the best. Like just start learning and wondering about like how to make these sort of decisions when you're at the grocery store or something like that. 

So that's step two. So step one, priorities, step two, just start asking questions and do what you can to learn. And I'm here for anybody who really wants to learn more. 

And then step three is do what you can today. Like don't don't make it like have to be like this big thing. And you're like, I would love to be able to do that when I have the money or when I have the time. Like what is something new today and start with that? And it doesn't need to be bad.

Corinne Powell: That is so good, so practical. I love that because there's always something we can do today, and that's where we have to remember what you said about it's not about the perfection. Doing good enough and one other thing that you mentioned jumped out at me.

Oh, adjusting your life to fit your priorities because priorities will change. And so. By the time this podcast is, this episode is airing, I have just talked about living intentionally.

And that's what living intentionally is, it's your life gets shaped around what your priorities are, what's valuable to you, and not only does that shift and change, but it makes it easier to know what to say yes to what to say no to. So for you with the meals being like the nourishing meals being the priority.

It helps you to know like. Really, what you're going to do with your days, what you're going to do with your time, it eliminates some of the questions and it also reminded me because I know one of your recent posts or something you shared on Instagram is about like Ziplocs bags and being able to wash them and reuse them instead of just tossing them every time. 

And I was familiar with that concept because I think it was for economical reasons, but I grew up where we washed and reused the Ziplocs and I remember doing that and then I came to a point in my life where I was so consumed by motherhood that I said I can't keep doing this, just like that extra stack of Ziplocs and the time it takes to wash them is creating enough pressure and stress that I just need to let that go. And I feel like there are times and seasons where.

We love the environment, we're doing our part, but we have to shift what that looks like because. There's always going to be something we can do, but that doesn't mean we have to feel like we have to do all the things at once. So just recapping what you said and kind of like thinking through it in my own experience.

Michelle Beckner: Yes, exactly. Yeah, I'm so glad you said that because, you know, and that's why I was talking about how we all if we were all just a little bit more thoughtful and, you know, I was talking about this actually just the other day with my husband because we're getting solar panels, which I'm super excited about. And, you know, plastics go into solar panels and you need fossil fuels to make things, at least now, right? We need fossil fuels to make the things in solar panels.

So it's like so my husband was like, so are they really better? Like, you know, we're not using like gas or coal or whatever for our energy, but there's like non-renewable resources that go into it. And I was like, here's the deal. And this goes back to the Ziploc bag thing too, I promise.

But like if we were all if everyone was just like I said, just a little bit more thoughtful about where we can reduce our waste or where we can do a little bit better, then, you know, it's great. Engineering is great. Like we've been able to invent these things.

We've been able to extract oil from the earth and use it to make things that are super useful and make life much more convenient and easier for us. But what if we instead of thinking of it as something that we just like, you don't even think about where it comes from. You just toss it or whatever, whatever.

Use it where it's like really, really helpful. So when you're in that time of life, when you're feeling kind of underneath it all in motherhood and you need and you don't you don't have the time or the capacity to wash and reuse all your Ziploc bags, that's OK. That's OK, because everyone's being a little bit more careful so that we can use it when we really when we really need it and it really helps and it makes life easier.

Corinne Powell: Yeah. Right. Yeah. I think that's good. Yeah. Thank you so much, Michelle, for sharing with us and helping us to really.

I feel like what you shared today is just a simple way for all of us to consider just to consider what are we doing right now? What's the one thing that we can take a little more care about and maybe change in or just just become a little bit more conscientious about? And I love that analogy of the ripple effect, because if we each become a little more conscientious and we show a little bit more care for the environment and the next person does that and the person afterwards, like we become the change that we want to see. 

Michelle Beckner: So exactly, yeah.

Corinne Powell: It's so possible to better the planet and because you always have helpful tips and good information and ways that people can become even more conscious of the planet, how can they connect with you? 

Michelle Beckner: Yeah, so right now, the best place to find me is on Instagram. It's at MLB Family Wellness, where you can head to my website, which is under construction now.

Who knows if it still will be when this airs because I'm kind of shifting it over. But it's mlbfamilywellness.com. So everything at MLB Family Wellness.

Corinne Powell: All right. Great. Thanks again.

Michelle Beckner: Yeah, thank you so much. It was such a great conversation. 

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[Ending] We've come to the end. What did you think about what you heard? I hope that there's something you pull from today's episode and start implementing it into your life. 

Create the change that you want to see, the change that you hear about. You have the opportunity to transform your life. And I'm ready to link arms with you and to help and guide you to the life that you want to live. 

If you resonated with what you heard today and it touched you, would you share it with your friends? Would you also go ahead and rate my podcast and write a written review? It would mean so much to me. I hope that we'll connect, whether it's for a session or just to connect, because I enjoy meeting new people.

You can find me on Instagram, @corinne_changeradically⁠, or on ⁠Change Radically. You can also always email me, corinne@changeradically.com. If you have thoughts, questions or anything that you just want to talk about, send me an email.

I hope that you have a wonderful week, but no matter what your week is like, in the moments that are quiet, maybe it's when you pillow your head at night or when you're driving in the car or taking a walk, or maybe it's going to be in the midst of the chaos with your children or the craziness of work. I hope that you'll remember how significant you are, that there is meaning and value to your life, and that I, for one, am so glad that you're alive. 

Catch you again next week