Photos: Robert Trathen
Lisa O’Neill spends her life helping people become the best versions of themselves. The vibrant motivational speaker, podcaster, mentor, former Weekly fashion editor and mum of four is doing a whistlestop tour around the country for the release of her seventh book, aptly entitled Energy.
When she pops in to chat with the Weekly, it’s clear Lisa doesn’t just talk the talk – she practises what she preaches.
“I’m a people junkie!” explains Lisa, 53, who lives in Levin, and is mum to Oscar, 24, Ruby, 22, Tilly, 20, and Felix, 16. “I love meeting interesting humans, visiting new places and discovering new experiences. Helping people find their best selves really lights me up.
“These days, most of us understand that to feel good physically, we need to sleep, eat well and drink more water. But we aren’t nearly as good at looking after our emotional energy… Who we spend time with, where we live, the place we work, what we watch on screens – it all impacts significantly on our mental state.
“So many people are living a version of themselves they think the world wants them to be, instead of who they want to be,” she explains. “That makes them feel drained and lacking in energy. I explain to them they feel that way because they don’t have control over their lives. If you have restrictions and limits on yourself, of course you aren’t going to be bursting with energy.”
Lisa understands the challenges of everyday life. She’s hearing impaired, she and all four kids have coeliac disease, and three of her children have type 1 diabetes.
When she was 26, Lisa experienced a dramatic adrenal collapse.
She recalls, “I was doing everything – working 12-to-13-hour days, not sleeping, travelling and generally thinking I was invincible. I treated my body like a hotel and it just stopped working.”
Lisa spent two weeks in bed, unable to move.
“My brain was going, ‘Come on, get up!’ And my husband was saying, ‘Don’t be silly, get up and go to work.’ But my body wouldn’t cooperate.
“Mum would come round, get me out of bed and put me in the shower while she changed my sheets because I was sweating profusely. She’d put me back into bed and I’d sleep all day.
“I saw my doctor, who said I probably had chronic fatigue and would have to take a year off work. I wasn’t having that, so I went to a naturopath, who explained that I’d had a physical breakdown, rather than a mental one.
“He asked me if I wanted to have a big life and I said yes. I had no capacity for anything at that point – I’d do whatever he told me to.”
For months, Lisa worked on her recovery, which included a controlled diet, where she cut out various food groups, all painkillers and coffee. “I cried for four days because I love coffee so much!”
Slowly but surely Lisa improved. Five years later, she was diagnosed with coeliac disease.
“The naturopath told me to avoid gluten and I haven’t eaten gluten or dairy since. It made me realise just what an impact what we eat has on us. Our bodies are like a rental car we pick up at birth and drop off at death. Look after it and it’ll look after you.
“I get asked all the time where I get my energy from and I explain that I have it because it’s something I want to have,” she says. “I believe we all have a choice, because we can all take control of our own lives.
“Life is hard. Most of us can’t just leave a job or move house – but if you come at a situation from a position of what you can do, rather than what you can’t, you’ll put yourself back in charge. Whatever situation you’re in – if you believe you can do it, you can.”
Lisa’s top energy tips
- Move your body every day – stretch, walk, bend.
- Take your sleep seriously.
- Do something you love every day – walk on the beach at sunset, read a book, go somewhere new. It doesn’t have to be big or expensive.
- Look for people or things that inspire you.
- Take time each day to sit still and do nothing.
- Notice your vibes around people and places.
- Take responsibility for your mood and attitude.
- Be good to your body and your body will be good for you.
- Eat consciously – be aware of the fuel you feed yourself.
- Nourish yourself with positive thoughts and experiences.
Visit lisaoneill.co.nz/energy for tour details.
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