Turia Pitt could be the most incredible, inspirations, amazing, talented, outstanding person on this planet. Lucky for us she has now released a brand new book teaching us how to be the same kind of person she is… HAPPY. How to be a HAPPY person! If we even needed a manual like this it was right her, right now #2020isntoverandimscared 

In 2011, at the age of 24, while competing in a 100km ultra marathon in the Australian outback, Turia was trapped in an out of control grass fire. The tragedy changed her life completely though instead of letting it define her she has used it to empower her for the better. Since then she has written multiple books, been honoured with an array of awards and at the same time mentored thousands of people to achieve their greatest goals. She is a powerhouse. 

While promoting her new book Happy (and Other Ridiculous Aspirations),  Turia opened up to the girls on the How To… Life podcast about how her experiences in life have changed her mindset for the better:  

“Rebuilding my life after the fire, starting from a base of zero… I couldn’t walk, couldn’t talk, couldn’t feed myself, couldn’t wipe my ass…. I really had to relearn how to do everything. I guess that’s where I started, I want to say ‘tapping into the power of my mindset’ but I don’t because that sounds really wanky… but I guess I started reading books and learning how important out language is and how we feel.” 

View this post on Instagram

It’s 2016, and I’m in Kona, Hawaii. I’m clutching my bike, the one with the custom handles, designed to make braking and changing gears a little easier for my hands.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Around me are hundreds of the fittest people on the planet. Lean and tall, with rippling muscles – all zipped up in high performance compression lycra and wraparound sunglasses with holographic lenses. Hot, I know. ⁣ ⁣⁣ If the sartorial choices didn’t immediately spell it out, I’m at the Ironman World Championships, and I’m wondering just what the hell I’m doing there.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I don’t look anything like these people. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ But I’m one of them. I’m competing. I am an Ironman even though I could easily tell myself I’m not.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Because there’s lots of things I’m not. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I’m not a researcher or psychologist or anthropologist …. but I’m writing a book on happiness.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I’m not confident in meetings …. but I’m a successful speaker, sharing my story with tens of thousands of people every year. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Here’s the thing:⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ There are always going to be goals you feel like you’re not capable of, or clubs you’re not fit, or smart, or creative, or tall, or short, or stylish, or strong, or funny enough to join.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ There’s always going to be something you’re NOT. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ But do it anyway.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Do it even though you don’t fit in.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Be it, even though “you can’t’.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ “And how” you may be thinking, “do I just do it, Turia?”⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Well, it’s this simple:⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ If you go for a run, whether it’s around the block or around twenty blocks, you’re a runner.⁣⁣ Your appearance, fitness, gear or technique have nothing to do with it.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ If you sit down and write something, whether your kids are screaming at each other under your makeshift desk at the kitchen table, or you’re wrapped in a woollen jumper, in an isolated hut way up in the Scottish highlands, a mug of tea and a typewriter at hand…. you’re a writer. ⁣⁣ It’s all in the “doing” my friend.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ So, sign up for that trek, book in the date for your floral workshop, register your business name …. whatever it is you want to do, start doing it.⁣⁣ And keep doing it.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Because there’s something you can be, even if you think it’s something you’re not. T x

A post shared by Turia (@turiapitt) on

She continued with how important different aspects of our life become to keeping a stable mindset: 

“How important the role that exercise has on our mental wellbeing. The role relationships have on our mental wellbeing. The people that we spend time with and their influence on us. I always knew these things, but I guess now I am more conscious of them.”  

During the podcast Turia even went on to say that she feels more grateful now than she was when she was younger:  

“The Turia that’s 33 is more grateful is more appreciative of her relationships and her life. Enjoys the work that she does.”  

Encouraging us to feel the same way, she revealed the one thing she does that helps her start her day on that happy note: 

“So the first thing I do in the morning, is I don’t look at my phone cause I find then I just get sucked into this world of like emails and messages shit I forgot to do the day before. It makes me start my day off in a really anxious state of mind. And I like to think of three things that I’m really grateful for. Whether that’s like a cup of coffee, or my partner who made that cup of coffee, the kookaburra sitting on my balcony… and I just like to notice those things in my life that I appreciate and that I’m grateful for.”  

View this post on Instagram

⁣Oh look! A silky and radiant little selfie (with subtle cult leader undertones), posted RIGHT as the doors open to my online goal-getting course, School of Champions?! What timing!⠀ ⠀ Oh, and what do we have here? A glowing testimonial from one of our members? Quelle surprise!⠀ ⠀ “✨This is AMAZING …. I did this course 2 years ago & it was an absolute game changer. I am SOOO glad I did it I HIGHLY recommend this 🌟👌” – Katherine (@lifes_soulful_journey_ )⠀ ⠀ Oh, and there’s a link to more info in my bio? How fantastic! ⠀ ⠀ It’s almost like I planned this!⠀ ⠀ But for real the doors to School of Champions are open, and I am really, really excited about it.⠀ ⠀ Link in bio for all the deets!⠀ T x⠀ ⠀ PS – Not sure what SOC is? ⠀ Put very simply, it’s an online course that unpacks the steps I took, and the specific strategies I used, to rebuild my life after the fire, and to tackle every single one of my goals since.⠀ ⠀ It’s helped thousands of people chase down the stuff that really matters to them – from latin dancing, to horse-riding, to running half marathons and starting new businesses.⠀ ⠀ And I know it can help you start working towards the future you want for yourself too – if that’s something you’re interested in! School of Champions. Proudly not a cult. Just a bloody good group of people working on making their goals happen. Link in bio!

A post shared by Turia (@turiapitt) on

So yes… unfortunately it seems like we HAVE TO be morning people in order to be happy… Might be time to turn off the snooze button.  

Listen to Turia’s full interview on How To… Life on your favourite streaming platform – Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher – or have a listen to the latest episode below.

Image: Instagram / @turiapitt

WATCH: Joel Creasey spits fire in a rap battle