Finding your why with Kristina Karlsson

0:02 A listener production. Hey guys, you're listening to Crappy to Happy. I'm cas Dan. I'm a clinical and coaching psychologist, mindfulness meditation teacher, and author of the Crappy to Happy books. In this series, we look at all the factors that might be making you feel crappy and the tools and the techniques that will help you overcome them. In each episode, I. Introduce you to interesting, inspiring, intelligent people who are experts in their field, and my hope is that they will help you go from crappy to happy. In today's episode, I am talking to Christina Carlson, who is the founder and creative director of kicki Ka, the global Swedish design and.

0:44 Stationary business that we all know and love. Christina has always been a believer in following your dreams, and she recently released her book Your Dream Life Starts Here to inspire others to dream big and go after their dream life. We had a really interesting conversation about finding your why and the importance of dreaming. You can't help but be inspired by this woman. I walked away from the conversation inspired and motivated to dream bigger and live a bigger life. I know that you were going to love this episode. So you were twenty two when you first had the idea or the vision to create a Swedish inspired stationary store and to have these stores all around the world. I would love to hear, like, what led you to that? Where did that come from?

1:33 Yeah? So I was actually twenty two and I arrived to Australia. And when I arrived to Australia, I met my partner Paul in Austrian Skiva sorta, and I came here, you know, thinking I'll stay for a year, you know, see how it was. It's you know, it's the other side of the world from Sweden, so I wasn't really sure. Then I loved I loved being in Melbourne, I loved being in Australia, and I loved Paul. So I thought I am going to stay here. And if I was going to stay here, I had to do something I really loved. And that took me. A few years to work out what that was. Okay, So that was like the crappy part of even when I'm saying that, it's I had a lot of great time during that time, but it was a searching time and I think I was around twenty five, and I had to go home a couple of times. My little brother was sick in cancer, so I had to go home urgently a couple of times. So it was a bit of a challenging time in a lot of different ways, and also to making that decision.

2:26 And this is before internet. It's hard to believe, especially if my kids don't understand that there was a life before internet. But it was really a really quite. Difficult time to kind of work out what I was going to do, you know, was I going to stay here or and if I was, what was going to do? And then from there I did a lot of searching and I first came actually started working in the travel industry because one of my passions was trouble. I realized that traveling was great for myself, but not booking other people's trouble. So I moved on from that. And that's when I. Work up one morning at three am, and I work out my partner, I think for the fifth time that night, ask him what am I going to do with my life? And he was a little bit over me, you know, complaining and winching quite a bit, so he said, why don't we write down? It was important to you, and a three am he turned on the light and gave me a piece of paper. And this is what I call my first dream, you know, putting my dreams on paper.

3:21 And on that paper I had that I wanted to drive to work every single day and absolutely loving what I was doing. And I have to say that I was excited to drive here today because I love loving part of this, so thank you. I wanted to have my business. I wanted to have a business on my own. I wanted to have a connection with Sweden. I wanted to work with Swedish design because that was one of my passions. And then I wanted to make five hundred dollars a week and that's what that was my little first dream list. And then I looked at that list and I thought, if I'm going to have my own business, I have to have a beautiful home office. And you know, I love being organized, I love all that kind of stuff. Love good to do list, but back then it wasn't anything available, so I was kind of, you know, I was like, oh, this is so boring. And then I got super excited and I thought, I know exactly what I'm going to do.

4:10 And I went home to Portland. I said, I'm going to open beautiful Swedish design sturs around the world in my favorite cities being London, Paris, New York, et cetera. So that's how it started. So it started being, you know, not feeling great and you know, really really working on what I was going to do with my life. And here I am, here you are. Did you manage to make the five hundred dollars a week? I did, but that was the hardest one. Actually. Yeah, you know it's to start as business. This sounds great on paper, but it doesn't always turn out the way it is. No, and we will get to that. But what I love about that story is that you obviously what it came down to was getting very clearly connected to what was most important to you personally. Yeah, like not what would be a good business or what not, what would be profitable or smart or sensible, but what really you value and what mattered?

4:59 Yeah, yeah, and I think that's it. You know, I've just written a book Your dream life starts here, and I actually encourage everyone to really start with a dream. In terms of. I always ask five questions, what would you do if you couldn't fail? If you had all the money, the resources, the knowledge and the energy to do whatever you wanted, and no one told you couldn't do it because I think we are so influenced by our peers, you know, social media, parents, schools, whatever it is, and actually started to dream, like if you could do anything in life, what would you actually do? And when you think that versus goals, I think you just get to more what is important in your heart, just your head. Yeah, I think that still people find that a really challenging question. I think people still even unconsciously, there's that block that comes up straight away, well, what would you do if you couldn't fail?

5:50 Well, what do you mean? Like, of course I might fail, you know, there's always that logical So how do you break? How did you for a start, like break through that and just back yourself. Yeah, but I think it's a practice. You know. Dreaming is like you know, like meditation. You know, the more you do it, the more, the better, the better you get. And also the more you're dreaming, the more dreams you have. Like I feel like, you know, wherever I am, I always have you know, I'm sitting here with my notebook as a dream coming up or a thought that I want to capture. But it's it's very similar to any practice that you're doing, and and the more you do it, the better you become. And and I really do believe that if you. Are taking some time and you know, I was listening to one of your podcasts on the way here about not being busy. We're so so connected all the time, and actually starting to take some time. So take some of your tips on on that podcast with you know, I don't know what it was called, but not being busy, Escape the culture busy.

6:45 So it's a very first episode. Yeah, it was just really you know, it's just so it's just so common everywhere and people don't actually have time to be bored. So actually starting with that and actually remove yourself a little bit and actually take some time to dream, even if it's just ten to really think about you know, if I could think about my whole life, if I was sitting here at the end of my life, what would I like to have achieved in terms of not just achieved in terms of business and career, but also what kind of person do I wanted to you know, would I be proud to say that I was and what do I want to fit in because I think so many people realize that too late. And now I'm referencing Bronnie Ware who wrote the book to five Regrets of the Dying. I think that's the right title. And I loved that book because it was so it just feels so real, and so many people realize too late that they regrets or they wished I.

7:40 Did something different. And I think number one regret in. Her book is that people wish they lived a live truth to themselves. So I think if you read that and if you think about you know that life is not going to be forever, you know, what would you actually do? And I think those kind of questions really gets too heart versus But you need to kind of be bit more present and you need to kind of disconnect a little bit to actually get to that space. But once you do, I think, I think, you know, it's a really it's a really worthwhile time to spend. And one of my one of my mentors or one of my coaches in the past is Robin Sharma, really and he he told me once I don't know if he got from someone else or he just said, never waste a good crisis. You know, when you actually are feeling not so great. It's a really good opportunity to actually take some time to think, you know, if I want to feel good, what do I need to do?

8:33 And put some some things in your life that will make you happy. That's fantastic advice. Never waste a good crisis, and so for anybody who doesn't know. Robin Sharma is obviously famous for The Monk who Sold his Ferrari was one of his best selling books, and he's got another. He just came up with a book like a few days ago, which I'm reading now, which is great. It's called a five am Club. Yes, I need to get there, and I love it because I'm very much an early morning person. And I love that because I think if you start getting up early, you have that time to actually really connect and most people don't. I'm not interrupted in the morning like you know at night or so many other you know, other people's agender, so especially if you have children and family, et cetera.

9:15 I loved what you said about disconnecting and taking some time to be quiet and to be still. I think that, I mean, that's critical, isn't it. We I live in this world, as you know, as we've talked about on the show before. We're hyper busy, always doing, always ticking off, but never actually stopping to think about is this at the end of the day, what is really important to me? Or is this my own agenda or somebody else's. I also love what you said about the stationary was kind of it wasn't the main game plan, it was it came to you as a side note, almost like if I'm going to run a business, I need stationary. Oh well, I'll make stationary, yeah the business. So sometimes you know it. And I think so many people say, you know, they don't know what to do, but sometimes that search is part of it, and and it does take time. If everyone knew exactly what they were going to do, everyone will be doing it. So so you kind of really have to understand that the that the it's part. It's a process and not just something that just comes up and then it's done. And I still feel like, you know, I'm constantly constantly, you know, asking myself, is this what I want to do? You know, in terms of all the stuff that I'm doing, you know, is this what I you know, next year, what I want to do versus this year? And I always reflect on my year, and you know it's in the book as well, where I encourage people to really think about, you know, if they could leave this this year again, what would have done differently, because that often gives you some indication what maybe should be focused on next year.

10:43 And I try to always live a different year each year in terms of I always try to add something or remove something, and they could be adding a great new habit or remove one that you don't like as much. Or it could be that you know, I'm doing a course, or it could be that I'm you know, using a new coach or whatever it is. So I always try to do something different each year. So one of the other reasons that I wrote the book was one of my dreams is to inspire one hundred and one million people to write down three dreams and then go and chase them. And I want to do that because I feel that I meet way too many people who are not living their dream life or their best life. And I do think that if we all do something that we love, and something that you know is your dreams, that your authentic, real dreams, then that would make the world a better place because we will all love what we're doing. And then that will inspire other people to love what they're doing, and that will have a beautiful ripple effect. And as part of the book, I we are as part of the book, we're also giving away a US dollar a book sold to doctor Terry Right Trent, who was Oprah Winfrey's all time favorite guest and she's an extraordinary inspiration. She grew up in a very challenging culture, and we brought her Australia because I feel that if you hear her story, anything is possible. And because you know, sometimes we think that our life is not perfect to live our dream life. If you look around and look

12:15 at all these people who have transformed and with doctor Terror Trent, that Dr Terror Trent, that started with the dream. Someone asked her, what are your dreams? So one of my other dreams is to sell a million copies because I'm giving a US dollar per book sold to her foundation because she got one point five million dollars from Oprah to start schools. She's now started eleven schools, but she needs to sustain them. So if we can all contribute to that, that is one of my dreams. So I'm working hard on that. I don't know how to do that yet no idea. Good good for you. I love that And in fact, I listened to your podcast interview with doctor Terror Trent and it is a fascinating story. She's a remarkable, remarkable woman. I'd encourage people to listen to that. Thank you and yeah, And I love that this idea of having a purpose in life.

13:04 I think it's so often it. Is always about using our gifts and our resources and our experiences or perspective for the greater good to give something back. That's when we're really kind of on purpose in life. So I love that you have that vision not just to inspire people with the book, but then to use the funds from the book to contribute. To something even bigger. Yeah. Yeah, And out of that comes so many other great things, you know. I get to meet so many amazing people and get to inspire so many people. So there's really it's really nice synergy. So, Christina, when we talk about finding your why, you know, your reason for doing whatever it is that you do. What was your why or what is it? And has it changed?

13:45 Well, in the beginning, it was my why was all my tram list. But as I you know, developed the business and kick k was born, and you know, we we you know, I was focusing on all the things that it was important to me. I realized that after a while that we needed to have a wife for the whole business, not just for me. So we are worked. We worked on our purpose, and our purpose. A Kikik is to inspire and empower people to live their best life. And we do that under four words. And these are very much the words that comes from my heart. So this is what I live and breathe in our private life as much as kikik. And that's why I love what I do, because if I read a book or if I do something about private life, it kind of translates straight to kikik. So it's like I live and breathe the Kikik culture, which is which is what you really want to want to do if you can. So for me, it all starts with dreaming.

14:38 So we have four words under our purpose and number one is dreaming because I really think if we all started there versus setting goals, you know how how we if we look at goals for next year, you often look at where you are today and then you stretch yourself a little bit or might focus on something that is a little bit out of your comfort zone or a little bit out of the ordinary. But if you act, stop and start dreaming and thinking, if I couldn't fail, if I had all the money, in the resources and knowledge and the energy, well what I actually do, And I think. That is such a powerful start. So the word number one is dream and then we go to do because the dreams are only as good as the action you take, of course, so we need to take action when it's set goals around all your dreams to make sure that they happen, and I can I always add one more thing. I love dreaming because you actually don't have to make all your dreams come true if you don't want to, so you can actually be really abundant with your with your dreaming.

15:33 You can dream. But anything you know, where do you want to live, and where do you want to you know, how much do you want to make or whatever it is? Dreaming is really powerful and then you're doing is obviously all about making those dreams happen that you choose to. And then the third word is enjoy. I really do believe that every day needs to be lived. So I love big dreams and big you know, really big. Stretch your goals. But it's about every day as well, so enjoying every days and it's also about recharging. So enjoy for me has two things. It's about recharging so I could do all the big fall things, but it's also about enjoying the little things in life. And I think they are the one the little things in life when you look back, it's the ones that you're going to remember. Like for me, that could be to have a cup of tea and journaling, write cards. I used to be when I travel, I often go to like a beautiful wine bar.

16:24 I don't do it as much. At the moment because I did a year with no alcoholis yeah, which is an interesting. I'm doing that? Oh yeah, nice? So but I used to used to love a glass of red wine and sit and write a card and really enjoy that process. Or get up early, go for walk and take some cards and sit in a cafe. So really about recharging, but also doing things that you love. And for me that's also reading lots of books. And you know, have Sunday so as a non booking day, I have no plans on Sunday, So that's about enjoying And the last one is share. And I really believe that we all have something to share, regardless where we are in life. So even if you're starting, you know, starting.

17:05 Into your career and you're quite young, I think there is always someone someone behind you that could could get some support. And that's always the people less fortunate than us. And what can we share? You know, we all have a unique story, all very unique, So what can we do to share and make the world a better place? And I've always felt like I've been a sharer. So these are all the words that is really important to me. And I always as soon as I read something, I'm like, oh, I need to get that for that person. Always like to share, and. That's really much part of the kikik for philosophy because we are whatever we come across, we always want to share that. So content, you know, products and books or you know, all the tools that we are using ourselves, we are sharing with our community.

17:47 I love that I'm writing a book myself. It's just just finished. I've written two books this year, and one of them is about Crappy to Happy, how to love your work yep. And one of the things that I have said in there is that the more that you you are outside of work aligns with who you are at work, then the happier and more fulfilled and the more successful that you will be. And that's exactly what you just said. You know, who you are just shines through the whole company philosophy and culture, and therefore you just it's not work life and home life, it's just life. And I think it's a really it's a really good one to really, you know, to really to really find your values. And I have that an exercise in my book as well, to really to really There's a few different ways of finding values. But I sometimes find when people are thinking about values, they think all their values that maybe should have, not what they really have. And I love doctor Dean Martine. I don't know if you're come across him, but he has a values test, which is a free tool online. It's also in the book, and that when I'm referencing his tool, and I think, what we really want to spend time on, and what we really like doing, and what we think about and do most of the time, even when we're busy, they are often our values.

18:55 So for me, that's like reading. I always have. Time to read wherever I am and whatever I'm doing I always, so learning is one of my highest values. Yeah. I remember doing that doctor John De Martini's values exercise a long time ago when I first started with life coaching, and it can be quite eye opening when you actually really think about you ask somebody what their values are and they'll say, oh, well, of course my health and my family and how do you spend your time, and how do you spend your money, and how do you spend your and then we see what really. Matters absolutely and sometimes sometimes some you know, I because I often get people asking, you know, how about you know, I don't really want to spend a lot of time on Facebook, but I'm doing it. But they're kind of removing yourself a little bit about taking away that instant gratification things, you know, because that's more of an addiction.

19:41 Versus the true real Yeah. So I think that's because a lot of say, well, my values is not Facebook, and I'm like, no, it's not probably unless there is an interest in there that you are looking at versus just following people's comments or whatever whatever they do. So again, it seems that the taking that time out, the digit detox, disconnecting, taking your break gives you the space to actually reconnect with what does really matter, because otherwise there's all of these just constant intrusions. Absolutely, ever, yeah, and I do. I also think it takes a few days to actually get rid of that. Like it's not like you're putting your phone away and it will come to you, because I think we are so used to pick the phone up, So I think it takes a little while to actually really remove ourselves.

20:23 And I always find going for walks and spending time in nature and alone time because not that's one of my favorite things to do. I love my family, I love being around people, but you have to spend some time alone to really get to know yourself. I deactivated my Facebook account once for thirty days, and probably unsurprisingly. I missed nothing. Yeah, you soon realize that you miss nothing, and yet we so compulsively feel, you know, check it just to feel. The empty ways. It's a good exercise, I think. Yeah, absolutely, Christina. So I think we all would love to live a life, you know that we feel passionately about, to have a sense that our life has meaning and purpose. But a lot of people don't ever achieve that, or they don't feel that way.

21:11 In your experience. You know, you've met a lot of people touring around with this book too, I'm sure, and heard lots of stories. Do you think that everybody has the potential to live a life of their dreams? Yes, absolutely, but you actually have to take some time to work out what that is because what my dream life is is not the same as yours. So we really have to really tune in and see what it is for us. And the reason why I actually wrote the book was because I do a lot of talking around the world, and I talk about my story and I talk a lot about you know, you know, taking time to dream, and then after you always have those people coming up. So where do I start and you know, what do I need to do to kind.

21:52 Of get there? And we never had one. Product at g UK they could actually do everything that I do in terms of the dreaming path. So that's why I wrote the book. But I do really believe that everyone can do it, but it's not the same for everyone. So for someone often I feel that people are thinking that they have to start a business, or have to climb the letter or whatever it is in terms of career, but sometimes it's the dreams might be taking a year off or work four days a week, or you know, take time off when you have young children, or even when you don't you know, because we're so focused on this career and business or whatever it is, and of course we need all to make money, but you could do things a little bit differently. And that's why I think we all have to tune into ourselves versus just thinking about what other people are doing.

22:42 And that's why I think. A lot of people use a lot of people don't have the self belief that they could actually live their dream life. But it takes a bit. Of work to actually work out what that is. And that's why I think so many people don't do it because I actually don't really know what their dreams are. So I think that's number one is actually take the time to ask yourself. You know, if you could remove every you know, every person in your life in terms of not telling you what you can do or not can do, and you and you're knew, for example, that that if you were to do something's a little bit out of your comfort zone and you actually could do that, you know, you could have the knowledge and you could have the you know, the resources and all that stuff that needed to be around to make it happen. Then I think you actually can do it, but you just have to take the time to do it, to work out what it.

23:31 Is, and to believe to develop that self belief. And I think, you know, for me, when I think about this as a clinical psychologist, I'm obviously very aware that people who have had really you know, a lot of adversity in their childhood or you know, you know, difficult upbringing or trauma or whatever, that often really affects their level of self belief. And so in the past I've been a little bit like, well, you know, you have to be compassionate towards yourself and you have to you know, just somebody telling you that you can just do whatever you want. Often that just makes them feel even more despondent or more like a failure if they find it they can't, you know, if they don't have the impetus. But I also I think I've turned around a little bit because I think sometimes that that way of thinking can almost enable people's excuses, and so I think it's really important as a psychologist. I feel like it's really important that we've got to find that balance between understanding where you've come from and that maybe there are blocks and subconscious you know, there's that pattern of self sabotage. But everybody also has the capacity to like the past doesn't have to dictate the future. We all have the capacity to turn that around. And we see that with people who have had the most extraordinarily difficult childhoods, and one will use that as an excuse to never achieve their dreams, and one will use that as the fuel.

24:48 Absolutely, I mean we see that all the time. And you know, in the most you know, I guess disadvantage in schools of sometimes you look at someone like, you know, Richard Brands so for ex some time A referencing him in the book because I you know, he was just dyslectic. Yeah yeah, and you know he looked what he has achieved. So so I think a lot of that our excuses. But of course, you know the things that everyone goes through, and everyone goes through things, some very very difficult things and some less so. But it's all, we all have our issues, and we all have our things that we actually have to work on. And I always try to remind people when they say these that they don't you know that you know, you know, I didn't have this and that, and and I love sharing my story because I didn't have any education. I'll finished at well, that's it, and I started a business in my in a new country, no network. English is the second language. And I'm only sharing that because you don't actually have to know everything.

25:49 And I was, you know, because I also have a podcast, and I was talking to gret Reuben and she was saying that to her kids, that you don't have to be too you don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be greater. So there's a quote in the book like that. I'm not sure exactly who says it, but we were talking about that. And I think so many people think that they need to be perfect before they start, but actually just doing one little action just gets that ball rolling and then you can add to it. And I think you actually have to do the work. And I think that is the difference between someone who is succeeding and not succeeding in whatever that success means. It doesn't mean that you have to start a business. Could mean that, you know, you become the fittest or you know, the most present person, whatever whatever it is.

26:37 But there's another thing that. I always tell people that, regardless of their background, regardless how difficult it was, at the end of the day, we're only here for a short time on earth. And if we realize that and we are think because one of my dreams is to liave TOI one hundred and twenty, so I'm trying to work out. How to do that. But even if I get to. Live a long life, life is pretty short in view. So at the end of your life, you and only you could make the difference. Yeah, those you know you could, you could. You can blame and you can you can say, well I didn't have that and didn't have that. But in the end of the day, we are only in control of ourselves. It doesn't matter what your you know, your partner or parent or peers are saying, because they are not going to be at there. They might be, but they're not going to be the ones who could have made a difference. So I think it's such a good reminder to do a bit of work on thinking, you know, you know, really even adding up to you know, in my book, I have work out how many months you have to.

27:36 Live, and that is a real thing. Yeah, it's very confronting and I actually have a chapter in the book called life is Short and and I encourage people and this is not this is difficult for some people, but I encourage people to think, if they were to die in three years time and living, continue living the way you're living now in terms of your health, and so you can do everything that you want to do, what would you actually change? Because sometimes three years is enough to do some things that you actually want to do in your life. And it often connects you with your heart versus your head. And I did these exercise ones and I love sharing this because my son Axel comes with me a lot when I travel and take him out of school a lot. It's only ten and he learned so much and I love it. But I was going to Philippines for a trip and it was only like a short time. And he's he's a kikik product.

28:31 He dreams and he has a vision board and he loves her. So he said, oh, I just can't wait to go to Philippines. I said, no, you're not going this time because you need to be at school at some stage, you see, so you're not coming. And then I did this exercise on the plane up to Sydney, just for an hour. I did exercise in the book you know, what would you do if you knew you were dying three years time? And I kept thinking, I will actually take Axel on these trip. So when I landed, I called him and said, wow, oh take you, and he. Said, dreams do really come true. But I love sharing that story because sometimes when you are asking yourself, you you know, because my head was thinking, you know, he needs to go to school. But if I was to die in through this. Time, I rather him remember me having a trip like a chip with him, and I know that he you know, I know that he'll he'll make that education up anyway.

29:17 And education is such a short part of your life anyway, so you don't have to focus on that only if there are other things that are also interesting. So great story. So, Christina, this stationary store that started off with beautiful products for people working from home, like now it really has transitioned to like it is a dreaming store, isn't it? This vision boards and journals and so has that changed that's changed along the way, I assume in keeping up with your kind of personal evolution, would. You say absolutely, yeah. So in the beginning it was all really about you know, being productive and being the home office and being organized, and we did products all around that. But as I evolved as a person, you'd actually really started them, uh, you know, kind of the financial crisis.

30:03 I always been really into reading. A lot of self self help books to kind of help me being. Motivated to do what I'm doing. But then when the financial crisis started to happen, and I was just so frustrated by the negativity around me. So I read The Happiness Project by Chretien Rubend and I loved it, and I was thinking, more people real need to read this, and and I called her and said, hey, I love your book, but I love to redesign it and have put a Kiki Cake cover on it. So it actually suits our aesthetics. And so she said yes. So we did a whole you know, we did her book, and then we did a whole range around happiness and and that just really became because I felt like there was a need for it. And and then you know, I became very interested in habits, and you know, I love mindfulness, and you know, I'm always at goals and all those things has evolved in terms of the themes and whatever I'm into at the time is what kind of transports into to business.

31:05 So I love that. I'm so grateful that I found something that I love as much personally as I do workwise. Yeah, I love that too. I can imagine that you will never get bored. No, and we have always had more ideas that we possibly ever can do, which is a very nice problem to have. The other thing that I really love that you said, Christina, is you mentioned before having Robin Shama as a mentor, and you mention you know the people in your life who might hold you back or bring you down, and the saying that I love and in fact, my daughter's school principle just reinforces at their annual end of year awards night, and I made sure I got in the car and said, did you hear what she said? Did you? It is that is that you become the average of the five people you spend the most time with. So look around you and have a look at who you're surrounding yourself with, because you'll only go as far in terms of your goals, your aspirations, whatever you can imagine for yourself from chief, for yourself.

32:00 Will be a direct reflection of the five people around you. What do you have to say about that? Oh? I couldn't agree more. I'm sorry. I woul bringing this up because it's something I feel really passionate about. And I often get that question, but how do I do that? Because some people are surrounded by negative people? And I always go back to, you know, what are your interests, and what are your dreams, and what are you into? What are your values, and then try to find like minded people. So for me, for example, my learning is, you know, I never really read fiction. I sometimes I do, but very rarely. I love reading five books at the time. I get so excited talking about books and learning and what I want to implement in my life. So I started a book group, and I kind of.

32:43 There were so many people I could think about, but I really wanted the people who are really as much interested in in their self development and biographies and learning from others. As I was. So I kind of, you know, I have doctor Libby, who I know it's on your podcast, and everyone around me. So it's so so so important to surround yourself with people who inspire you. And it's the same what I have what I call my fit friends. So one of my dreams is to become the fittest every year, so every birthday become better and better, because often we are thinking that that should be the opposite. But I'm thinking, you know, why not be.

33:23 The fittest every year. Yeah, but I'm not always succeeding. I'm far away from perfect for something. But I do have a friend who i I offer take advice and suggests an inspiration from. Her name is Rebecca, and she is a person who always exercises wherever she travels as much as I do. And often that's, you know, a good excuse to not to do it because you jet lag and you are in different hotels and whatever. But she is also a really big inspiration. So whatever whatever people are interested in in who they want to become or what they are into, doesn't mean that they have to strive for bigger. But it could be that you.

34:03 Know they're into I don't know, interior or or you know, nature or whatever it is, and really surround yourself with those people and be inspired by that. I think it's so important in terms of mentors because some people say, well, it's easy for you don't know so many people, but I didn't actually know anyone. And I started to read a lot, so today I think it's amazing, even more compared to you know, when I started. You can listen to podcasts, so people who who are really difficult to get to in terms of they might be well known or super have a really super full life. It's so much access, like doing online courses. I mean, it's just I could do that full time. I just love it. So I messaged you on Instagram and so would you come on back? Exactly when you came straight back and said sure.

34:46 At five point thirty in the morning, I came out of my meditation and thought, I think I might ask Christina question. Yeah, well, thank you for asking that. You know, it's it's the more followers who have the harder. That is because I kind of just open my or what started and opening stuff this year, so that is becoming harder. But yes, good not mean a good time because I'm not always as. You all can't just message Christina. No you can, but it's hard to hard to respond to everybody. Christina, thank you so much for your time this morning. It's been an absolute pleasure. I think you've shared so much wisdom and I think we will all go away feeling more inspired for this conversation, thank you so much.

35:29 Thank you so much for having me, and thankful or that you do to inspire all us to be living a better life. I don't know about you, but after that conversation, I'm already inspired to dream bigger and better. Christina's book, Your Dream Life Starts Here is available at all good bookstores as well as obviously in the kicki Ka stores. If you want to be inspired to dream bigger, I would encourage you to buy the book and the accompanying journal, knowing that your purchase is also helping Christina to achieve her dream of donating a one. Hundred and one million dollars to the Terror Trent Foundation. I've also just released my first Crappy to Happy book. I'm excited to say that you can order that now.

36:09 That link is in the show notes, or you can visit my website castdone dot com. We love hearing. From you, so if you love this show, please give it a rating and a review on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts, or get in touch with me personally hello at castdone dot com. In the next episode, I'm talking to Tom Harkin, who is a specialist in helping men redefine masculinity and open up and talk about their feelings. I know it's a topic that's going to be of interest to a lot of you. Happy to Happy is presented by Cast done produced by Davis Lensky. Audio production by Darcy Thompson. Listener