#134: Tiny Shifts, Big Change—Colleen’s Tips on Living with Purpose
Feeling overwhelmed trying to “do the right thing” in a complicated world? You're not alone—and you're not doing it wrong. In this episode, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau helps us move beyond guilt, perfectionism, and burnout by reconnecting with what matters most: compassion. Whether you’re struggling to stay consistent with your values, feeling discouraged by your impact, or unsure where to start—this conversation offers practical, heart-centered guidance for creating real change, one small step at a time.
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What if making a difference felt light, empowering, and joyful? In this inspiring episode, Colleen shares the moment her compassion was truly awakened—how it lifted a weight from her shoulders and helped her embrace sustainable living with confidence and ease.
Through weekly inspirations and challenges, Colleen offers a supportive space to explore new habits with confidence. She believes that making an impact doesn’t have to feel overwhelming and that small, intentional actions can lead to meaningful change. In this conversation, she shares the steps she has taken to remove mental blocks and step into compassionate action, from living more zero-waste (and the most effective actions to do so!), to practical questions that can guide your choices in a way that feels manageable and fulfilling.
You'll discover simple yet impactful ways to integrate zero-waste habits, mindful food choices, and kindness into your everyday life—without stress or overwhelm. Learn the truth behind grocery store "sell-by" dates, explore creative ways to reduce food waste while boosting your budget, consider the growing affordability of renewable energy (it's more accessible than you think!), and find some surprisingly simple ways to support animals, even if you can’t foster or adopt. This episode offers real-life solutions that feel doable and satisfying.
Sustainability isn’t about being perfect—it’s about doing what you can, where you are, with what you have. And trust us, you can do more than you think by making choices that align with your values! Tune in and get inspired to take small steps that work in your life to make big changes.
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
- How Colleen’s compassion was awakened and, simultaneously, a weight was lifted
- How Colleen recognized and removed the blocks to compassion in her own life
- Why Colleen offers weekly inspirations and challenges to give space and time to start integrating in a confident way
- What makes an action impactful, and how Colleen seeks out the most impactful actions to recommend
- Services and actions Colleen has discovered to help her live even more zero-waste
- Questions to help guide individual decisions in a manageable way
- How renewable energy sources are becoming more and more affordable
- Mindset shifts that can greatly reduce food waste
- The truth behind grocery store “sell-by” dates
- Michelle shares how satisfying it can be to evolve habits one small step at a time, even if it initially seems intimidating
- What “eating by color” means and how it can simply but powerfully transform your health
- How to eat healthy while budget conscience
- How simply challenging yourself to not go to the store can open your eyes to many creative options
- Colleen’s favorite go-to meals and the secret ingredient of polenta
- Options for helping animals, even if you don’t have the availability to foster or adopt
- How to be humane even with critter control in your homes
- How to focus on the power and opportunities that are close to you, at your level, instead of the overwhelming things that are far away from us
MORE OF COLLEEN
- JoyfulVegan.com
- Colleen's Substack & Food for Thought podcast
- Colleen's books
- Episodes with Colleen
- VegAnswers with Michelle & Colleen
RESOURCES
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
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