Mallory Ervin is a natural-born achiever. Not just as the oldest child in her big Kentucky family, but by the time Mallory reached her mid-20s, her accolades spanned from success as a childhood singer, being crowned Miss Kentucky and runner-up Miss America, as well as competing as a 3-time contestant on the show, The Amazing Race. Talk about a resumé!

She opens her new book, Living Fully: Dare to Step Into Your Most Vibrant Life, by sharing the life-changing season of addiction and recovery she faced eight years ago when her obsession with achievement and approval spiraled into addiction to prescription pills. Even when doctors warned her she was going to die if she continued the pace and lifestyle she’d been living, she remembers thinking, “I’d rather go out like this than anyone know what’s going on behind the scenes; I nearly lost my life to make sure I looked a certain way on the outside.”

And though her courageous journey to re-discover a fulfilling and healthy life began with at rock bottom of her addiction, Mallory’s story is about far more than substance recovery. In the book, she records her years of work to resist a life of excess and to pursue balance, simplicity, and ordinary joys – just a few of the ingredients she’s discovered that finally led her to a life that’s truly full.

This conversation and her book are full (pun intended) of daily practices and lifelong truths that can help you shift your perspective toward one that leads to authentic, rich living. Here are just a few we touch on:

“How to avoid life in default mode and quit living on cruise control.”

“Absence of bad is not a qualifier for a good life.”

“Living fully isn’t the same thing as your days being full.”

“Take chances. Pain avoidance is a powerful motivator for mediocrity.”

“The simple life brings ordinary joy. It is always the in between moments, the real-life moments, that bring me the most happiness.”

“We must continue to re-choose our faith, again and again.”

Mallory shares more about how she discovered and how we can pursue these effective mindsets, practices, and much more. But the common denominator for all is that we have a choice.

Let’s start now!

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