We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Miranda Griffin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Miranda below.

Miranda, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

When I was in my 40’s, I began the journey of menopause. Several years earlier I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and was encountering arthritic pain along with sinus infections several times a season and monthly migraines since high school and even developed Reynard Syndrome. Like many others, I was just surviving and just pushing through everyday. I remember thinking that this was part of life and aging. I soon began losing my hair, increased pain that was almost debilitating. I hurt to even open a tube of toothpaste. My husband was having to help me change clothes because it was so painful just lifting my arms. Wearing shoes hurt most of the time, not to mention socks with seams would leave bruises on my feet. I was going to the doctor every three months for blood test. The needles were excruciating and left bruises for days. I even lost most of my muscle mass and was very lethargic. At this point I literally I was a hot mess.

Fast forward a few years I was up to eight prescription medications and then was diagnosed with lupus and RA (rheumatoid arthritis). I was too young to feel 100 years old and knew I had to take my health back. Long story short, I began my journey to live my life to the plus and to start thriving and not just surviving. I collaborating with several holistic health care professionals, added an amazing supplement to my diet, changed what I was eating, and began to make better choices in my life that would impact my future. I am now free from prescription drugs and in remission. I feel better than ever and now my mission is to share these simple steps that I took to having a better life of health. Our community is one of the top unhealthiest States in the country. I knew I could make a difference in others by educating on how to invest in themselves. After all, you are all you’ve got and you cannot get a new body. You are worth taking care of yourself and It is never too late to start a healthy lifestyle. I am very passionate when it comes to encouraging others to live their best life. This is what began my journey to inspire healthy living in the MidSouth.

Miranda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As a true southern child, I grew up with the roots of a father that was a farmer and a mother that was a small town girl both from the boot-heal of Missouri. My parents moved to Memphis, Tn when I was at that very impressionable age of three. When mom wasn’t working she prepared the traditional southern home cooking and gravy of course. Since my dad was the district manager for KFC in the Memphis and Midsouth area, we had a steady supply of fried chicken, biscuits, slaw and potatoes and yes, with gravy. Having working parents they always provided us with snacks that included many processed food items that had become readily available. I soon became a snack food junkie and love it especially entering into college. Tasty, cheap and easy. Why should I tell you all this? It is because I am like so many in our city that had a lifestyle that later impacts ones life. This is definitely one of the roots of my story that led me to where I am now.

I am grateful to have had a family that loved me, encouraged me and always told me I could be anything I wanted to be. My mom and grandmothers were all creatives. I also had that gene and loved making things to give to others. This led me down a path of taking art classes in junior high and high school. With the guided push from my high school art teacher I submitted a portfolio filled with a variety of artwork and received a scholarship for Memphis College of Art. After college and working at a few jobs that gave me the stepping stones I needed, I started my first official business. I can’t believe it’s been almost 30 years ago! It was a faux finishing and mural business and in addition I was often commissioned to do art work. I loved it and loved being creative! I worked hard, had a team and built a great reputation in the community of designers and builders. The business was booming and then the housing crash hit and I had to change how I worked my business. I worked through the growing pains of marketing differently. I encountered lots of stress that definitely had its recourse on my health. This too was another root within my story of life and how it played upon the direction of my journey. Not only the stress of working a business, managing people and customers, it was very laborious. All these aspects play upon ones mental and physical health which also leads me to where I am today.

It was about 10 years ago when I started realizing something wasn’t right. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I started going through some intense health issues and visiting the doctor every three months. I felt as if the doctors were getting me no where so I began to research foods to eat to heal from within.  I began to work with different health care professionals that were more holistic in their approach. This team of individuals were very knowledgeable in their skills and they taught me new ways of living and gave me steps for healthier habits. These changes ware a significant part of where I am today. Thriving not just surviving. It didn’t happen over night, however I started healing and feeling better from all the sickness and inflammatory diseases.  As a result of the change with my health, I was sharing the information I had learned with others. This is the third root that brings me to where I am today. We don’t know what we don’t know. Therefore my mission is to share information you may not know and give you some simple tools to live a more healthy life of prevention, healing and/or recovery. My life is a living testimony that our habits, history and current surroundings make an impactful impression within our life and health today. This is the foundation of Healthy MidSouth. A business that educates and provides simple steps to assist and direct individuals towards a course of longevity, prevention and healing.

Healthy MidSouth is a team of a variety of professionals that have the goal to inspire in all aspects of life for optimum living.
Our educations including workshops, panel discussions and seminars where we teach on focusing, enhancing and thriving in one’s life for optimal living. Our mission is to inspire healthy behaviors from the home and into the work place through a more holistic approach for optimal over all well-being. I often state that without your health you cannot enjoy your wealth, your life, your family, friends and work. Your health matters.

Our values are:
Gratitude
Wellbeing
Community
Growth
Consistency
Passion
Creativity

As a Wellness Coordinator my area of expertise includes sharing how simple it is to get started and begin taking steps in the area of nutrition, daily habits and routine for improving personal health.

As an Artist and Therapeutic Art Life Coach I really enjoy educating using art. It decreases stress and optimizes focus and improves both mental and physical health.

Benefits of Art Life Coaching:
It helps focusing on setting and achieving goals.
It will help empower you to achieve your goals.
It focuses on improving the “here and now”.
It enhances brain function and well being.
It is a stress relief.
It’s confidence boosting.
It helps with problem solving.
It improves quality of life.
It is important for remaining healthy, remaining connected to yourself and connected to the world.

In addition to the collaborated educational curriculum, the products I provide include Juice Plus+, a simple whole food nutritional supplement. It’s plant powders from non-GMO fruits and veggies that come in capsules and chews. There is also a program where children can get theirs free. I have healthy vegan shakes that are great for a quick meal on the go, along with protein bars. My product line has over 40 plus gold standard research studies completed and personally these products were the foundation of my recovery and healing. I am very passionate about what I eat and how it plays a tremendous role in ones health.
Another product I have is the Tower Garden, an aeroponic growing system that allows you to grow indoors or outdoors with out any dirt.  Very simple to use and you will have food practically from tower to table at your fingertips.

One thing I would like my audience to know is that living healthy is more than one thing.
This is why I have a team. I don’t know everything however I intentionally surround myself with those smarter than myself. I intentionally immerse myself in a diverse community that empowers me to construct a business that can literally change the MidSouth for the better, all the while creating a ripple effect that is contagious. I am excited in building something that creates raving fans of positive change.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I have built my reputation by staying true to my values, showing up, helping others, fulfilling my commitments, listening, building great friendships and partnerships, encouraging and celebrating the successes of my colleagues and friends, and for always trying to be the light for others and shining bright in my community.

One thing I have learned over the years that has helped build my market is to strategically network with positive people and businesses.
I have been part of BNI, Business Networking International, the largest networking group in the world for over 14 years. I have learned so many nuggets from this resource and it has empowered me to connect with a variety of professionals. BNI provides so much education for business owners and for individuals in sales. I have learned to be intentional, strategic and diverse in networking. In addition to BNI I am very involved with NAWBO of Memphis, National Association of Women’s Business Owners as well a PNA Midsouth, Professional Networking on Aging.
There is a book that dives deep into building networking skills that I highly recommend and it’s called “The 29% Solution” by Michelle R. Donovan and Ivan Misner, PhD. It shares how to be one of the 29% of people who successfully connect with others through the power and potential of networking.
I also encourage others to give back to the community by volunteering in a non-profit that is meaningful for you.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

First and foremost knowing that having a team with high morale is just like having a healthy life, there is no secret nor is there one key to success. There are many factors. I will share my top 3.
My first piece of advice is accepting that you don’t know everything. Therefore, surround yourself with other successful business owners in different stages and styles of managing. They can be great mentors as well as seeing things from an outside point of view.  I alway aim to circle myself with others smarter than myself.

Second, communication is everything. We all are in different spaces within our minds. We never know what situations others are going through, how they think, how they grew up, the influences they’ve had and how they respond to direction, not to mention their intellect and people skills just to name a few. Therefore, when we are onboarding or working with someone we must do our best to communicate the task and expectations.
This includes listening to their response to make sure they are understanding the information you are requesting. Understanding that communication is a skill that is from continuous learning. You never stop.

Third, know that you are the face of your business. How are you perceived?
Understanding this really sets the tone of your business and the morale.
I focus my mindset on this saying “what kind of person do you want to be when you walk into a room of people?”.
What reaction do you receive when others see you? Do they release a deep sigh of anxiousness, do they disengage, refuse to have eye contact, drop their shoulders, loose their energy, loss of smiles, turn away from you, get a cold shoulder, give an excuse to leave your presence or even avoid conversation all together?
Or, are you the person that receives the high fives, the big boistours  “hello’s”, high energy conversations, lots of hand shakes, big smiles and open eye contact, others wanting to introduce you to their colleagues, people wanting to set up appointments, etc.
You have the power to build up or tear down others. Know that others see and feel who you are. Be the person that others want to follow. Ask yourself, “would you follow you?”

Over the years I have learned that how others see you is how you see others.
Traits that I hold in high standards for being the face of my business include:
– Be intentional.
– Generate positive energy.
– See the good in people and empower them by acknowledging their strengths and encouraging them to do their best.
– Never ask someone to do something you are not willing to do yourself.
– Bringing on a team members with the same values. This keeps everyone rowing in the same direction.
– Having a positive mindset and seeing the best in others.
– Extend grace.
– Value commitment and follow through.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.healthymidsouth.net
• Instagram: @livingwithmir
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivingInColorInsideAndOut
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirandagriffin/
• Twitter: @livingwithmir
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/HealthyMidSouth/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthy-midsouth/mycompany/ www.EatYourVeggies.Net https://www.facebook.com/MirandCompany/

Image Credits
Miranda Griffin has the rights to all photos.