Today, Amanda Christian, is sharing her thoughts on perseverance with us. Amanda Christian is the hiking yogi buddy you always wanted but never had. She’s a soul-engineer, a maximizer and a modern day voyager with lots of strange ideas. Strange ideas that just might be what you’ve been waiting for. As a miracle-fueled yoga instructor + creator of weekly Soul Workout YouTube videos, she’s been featured on MindBodyGreen, Purpose Fairy, and Tiny Buddha. Think of Amanda as your chia-drinking, mountain bike-riding, bubble-blowing miracle maven illuminating the path to personal power and miracles. Read Amanda's interview below!

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Who did you receive it from?

My Dad has always been one of my biggest supporters and mentors. Ever since I was little, he taught me to be a doer. If I was afraid of something, do it anyway. If I wanted something, go out and get it. This has turned out to be important because a lot of the things worth doing are a little risky, but I have learned that there is no passion and inspiration in playing it small. You don’t serve the world by trying to dim your light and be like everyone else. You have to think big, be your authentic self, and go out and create.

How important is mentorship in terms of your success?

I think it is important to have one or two people who you can really count on in your life, just to support you through the times when you aren’t so blissed out and maybe need a little slap of truth!

What has been the best moment in your life so far?

A few years ago I joined a group of 30 others to ride bicycles across the United States and raise money for affordable housing (yup, the entire country, I know, I am a little nuts!). The experience ended up changing my life. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done physically, mentally, and emotionally, but the way I felt when I finally reached the Pacific Ocean is something I can’t put into words. I still get goosebumps just writing about it. Something happens inside you when you accomplish something that was so challenging and that you were initially scared to do. I gained a lot of confidence in myself during that trip.

What tips would you have for living a healthy life?

My number one tip is to start a spiritual practice. Meditate and pray everyday to God, the universe, your inner guide or whatever you believe in. Our minds are extremely powerful and every moment we choose to live life from a place of love or a place of fear. Meditation and/or prayer in the morning will set you up for a day of love and truth. You are more likely to choose love when stressful situations arise.My second tip is to find what it is you are passionate about and do it. Don’t go through life doing things that you hate. When you go after what truly makes your heart sing, the universe will bring you all the resources and support you need.

My third tip is to respect and love YOU first. That means fueling your body with foods that give you energy and make you feel good, moving your body everyday, and saying positive affirmations. One of my favorite affirmations is: I love myself exactly as I am and I do not have to prove myself to anyone.

How do you motivate yourself to persist despite setbacks?

I simply remember that I am always exactly where I need to be. Setbacks are merely opportunities to learn and grow. You are never alone. Look within and you will see this. We often look at the present through the eyes of the past and sometimes when something seems like a setback, all we have to do is shift our perception about it. That’s when miracles happen.

What has been your biggest setback? How did you deal with it? What did you learn from it?

I wouldn’t call this a setback, but rather something that was hard for me to overcome, which was my relationship with food. I have been both an extreme restrictor and a compulsive eater. For many years I hated myself and thought there was something wrong with me. I made it my mission to “fix” myself. It wasn’t until I understood that there was nothing to “fix” did I start to heal. After so many years of hiding it, I finally started to talk about it. This one problem in my life actually ended up being one of my greatest blessings because it led me to look within and find a connection with a higher power. I am thankful for the opportunity I now have to inspire and help other women who are going through similar issues.

How do you deal with critics?

I remember that everyone can have a bad day and/or is fighting a hard battle. I simply don’t take it personally. I just keep moving and send them a little vitamin L (love)!

How important is social support in overcoming obstacles?

For many years I felt that I had to keep all my struggles hidden and if anyone saw how “messed up” I was that they would run away in horror. But the truth is, once I finally reached out to friends and opened up about my unhealthy relationship with food, it suddenly didn’t seem so bad. From this experience I have realized that social support can play a role in the healing process as long as it does not become an excuse to hang out in “ain’t it awful land” together. Find people that will understand your obstacle, but also help lift you out of it.

What advice would you give others about goal setting?

I believe goal setting can be a powerful tool as long as it is not used as a way to try and control your life and/or do some serious future trippin’. The truth is, we have no idea what will happen in the future. Often our inner guides have bigger plans for us than we have for ourselves, so I like to let mine take the wheel and drive me towards opportunities instead of me trying to figure it all out now! That being said, I do have goals for things I want to achieve and create, but I don’t think it is necessary to determine the how and when.

What life lesson have you learned that you would like to pass along to others?

Never stop learning. Learning does not stop when you graduate high school or college. In fact, I have learned the most about love, peace, success, happiness and just life in general, outside of school. Put down the Us Weekly and pick up an inspirational book. Every person you meet, sit next to, or walk by is someone you can learn from. When you think you have a problem, stop and ask you inner guide how to solve it. The answers will be brought to you. Maybe it is in the form of a book, this interview, or the stranger at the coffee shop. The point is, be ready and willing to learn. Expect miracles.

Thanks Amanda for sharing your words of wisdom with us! Feel free to connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and on Pinterest.

Thank you for reading and your presence at this beach retreat. You Rock! I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts in the comment section below.

See you at the beach!