Hey y’all. Welcome to More Lovin, the podcast that brings more laughter, light, and love into everyday life. I’m your host LeAnn Austin, and together we’ll rediscover the beauty of connection to your body, your mind, your spirit, and the people you love.
Today’s episode #239: Health Is Your Greatest Wealth (and it’s never too late to invest)
Before we jump in, I also want to say something that’s really important. When I talk about health today, I’m not talking about having a perfect body or being able to do everything you wish you could do. Some of you are navigating chronic illness, injuries, disabilities, or challenges you never asked for.
Your worth has never depended on your health. Every body is different, and every season is different. Today isn’t about comparison. It’s about asking, “What’s one loving investment I can make in the body, mind, or spirit God has entrusted to me today?” That investment will look different for every single one of us, and that’s okay.
Have you ever heard the saying, “Health is your greatest wealth”? Well, the older I get, the more I believe that’s true. Not because I’m trying to have the perfect body, and not because I’m trying to win races or spend all my time at the gym. I believe our health is one of God’s greatest gifts because it allows us to fully live the life He’s given us.
Health lets us hug our grandbabies, go on adventures, serve others, travel, play, laugh, walk with friends, pick up heavy suitcases. Health isn’t just about adding years to our life. It’s about adding life to our years.
Sometimes we think being healthy means we have to overhaul our entire life, eat perfectly, whatever that means anyway, exercise every day, never eat dessert again. That all sounds exhausting, and health certainly isn’t an all or nothing thing.
What if health looked more like taking a walk, drinking another glass of water, going to bed a little earlier, choosing protein at lunch, doing 10 squats while you’re waiting for whatever? Tiny choices repeated consistently, those little investments grow over time.
People often ask me, “If you could only pick a few exercises, what would they be?” Well, after some research and recently becoming a fitness instructor, I’ve created my favorite five to help us thrive. These favorite five are squats, push-ups, lunges, planks, and burpees, or jumping jacks if burpees aren’t your thing.
Why these? Because they don’t require any fancy equipment. You can do them almost anywhere, at home, on vacation, in a hotel room, outside, between meetings. They’re functional movements that help us do life better.
Squats help us get off the floor. Lunges help us climb stairs. Push-ups build strength for everyday living. Planks strengthen our core and support our back. Burpees or jumping jacks remind our heart that it’s meant to keep moving. Remember, your workout doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective.
Now, you might be thinking, “LeAnn, those are definitely not my favorite five.” Maybe it’s the burpees, maybe it’s the push-ups, maybe there’s one on the list that makes you want to skip right past it.
I hear you. Some of them aren’t exactly my favorites either. But here’s what I’ve discovered. Every time I do a few of them, I’m investing in a stronger body. And something funny happens. The stronger I get, the more I appreciate them. I may never love burpees, but I sure do love what they’re helping me do, whether that’s climbing stairs easier, hiking, or simply feeling stronger every day.
So maybe we don’t have to love every exercise. Maybe we just love what those exercises make possible.
Let’s remember that strength is for living. One of my favorite moments recently happened at our family reunion. I hadn’t water-skied in five years, and honestly, I wasn’t even sure if I could still do it. But I got up, a little wobbly and not for a long time, but I did it.
And afterwards I realized this is why I work out: not to impress anybody, but so I can keep saying yes to adventures, yes to family, yes to trying new things, yes to living fully. Whatever strength looks like for you today, every bit of it helps you live the life you’ve been given.
Here’s something I’ve learned as a coach. Health isn’t only physical. You can have a strong body and still feel overwhelmed. You can eat healthy and still battle anxious thoughts. You can exercise faithfully and still feel disconnected. That’s because true health isn’t just physical. It’s also mental, emotional, and spiritual. They are beautifully connected.
When one grows stronger, the others often benefit too. I’ve found that life feels so much richer when we connect our body, mind, and spirit and care for all three. Move your body, renew your mind, and nourish your spirit. Maybe that looks like going for a walk, reading something uplifting, praying, journaling, laughing with friends, serving someone, taking five slow breaths, sitting quietly outside.
Again, the goal isn’t perfection. The goal is connection. Connection with yourself, connection with others, connection with God, or whatever higher power resonates with you. That’s where lasting change happens. So if you’ve been feeling stuck, or maybe you know what to do, you just haven’t been doing it consistently, you’re not alone.
That’s one of the reasons I love coaching. People usually don’t need more information. They need encouragement, someone to ask insightful questions, someone to notice blind spots, someone to celebrate wins, someone to help them recognize what matters most. That’s exactly what we get to do together. Whether your goal is strengthening your body, calming your nervous system, improving relationships, or simply creating a life with more peace and more joy, I’d be honored to walk alongside you. Because sometimes the greatest breakthroughs don’t happen when we try harder. They happen when we stop trying to do it all alone. Details HERE
My challenge for you this week, don’t try to change your entire life. Just choose one small investment in your health. Maybe it’s a walk after dinner, 10 squats every morning, drinking more water, going to bed 30 minutes earlier, calling a friend, spending five quiet minutes tuning into whatever resonates with you.
One small investment done consistently. Because health really is one of the greatest forms of wealth we can build. Hmmm, something to think about.
If this episode encouraged you, would you share it with a friend or family member? And if you’re ready to connect your body, mind, and spirit in a deeper way, I’d love to be your coach. Here’s to adding more lovin to your life one small step at a time. Have a good one, y’all.
Thanks for tuning in. If you’re ready to take what we talk about here and make it personal, let’s work together one-on-one. I’ll help you calm your nervous system, strengthen your relationships, and create more lovin, laughter, and calm in your life. You can find all the details at LeAnnAustin.com
Until next time, keep choosing fun, connection, and a whole lot more lovin. Have a good one y’all.