EPISODE · May 22, 2025 · 46 MIN
You Don’t Have To Choose One Dream — Here’s Proof: Lesley Paterson
from Hack Your Happiness · host Small Bits of Happiness
She's a champion in both Hollywood and athletics. Mercedes and Anastasia sit with Lesley Paterson, the triathlon world champion who also co-wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay for All Quiet on the Western Front. Lesley unpacks the uncommon discipline that lets her juggle athletic training with script writing, reveals how she turns raw emotion into fuel instead of roadblocks, and shares the tiny daily rituals that keep her body bulletproof and her creativity on tap. She takes us back to her rugby-obsessed Scottish teens, through chronic-illness detours and career-defining failures, all the way to the moment she realized you never have to choose between athlete and artist. Listen in for empowerment in pursuing your passions, tangible ways to exit the victim mentality, and tips for being more patient. Shop our Happiness Products: https://smallbitsofhappiness.com/gifts-for-teenagers-shop-all/Support Us:https://smallbitsofhappiness.com/welcome-to-hack-your-happiness/Check out Lesley's website: https://www.lesleypaterson.com/Ready to Hack Your Happiness some more? Listen to our interview with Oscar-winning producer and costume designer, Catherine Martin. In this episode, Catherine shares powerful advice for boosting your confidence, mastering the art of collaboration, and hacks for living a balanced lifestyle: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0U5IjZZnu6KzYSVbkWP9Vw?si=6JkrsVCwTLOwYpygzU675Q(00:00) Intro(02:40) How Lesley Got Started(04:51) Keeping Your Interests Broad(05:40) Lesley's Greatest Challenge(10:32) How Do I Find Purpose and Meaning?(11:23) Did Lesley Ever Feel Pressured To Choose An Interest?(13:26) Lesley's Top Three Tips(16:54) Find Your North Star(20:31) How Can I Be Patient(23:29) How Lesley Stays Disciplined(28:46) The Ultimate Mindset Hack(30:22) The Intersection of Arts vs Athletics(34:33) How Can I Navigate My Emotions(37:38) Lesley's View On Downtime(40:27) Top Tip For Keeping Yourself Accountable(41:32) What Lesley's Chronic Illness Taught Her(43:39) Lesley To Her Teen Self(43:53) What Brings Lesley A Small Bit of Happiness?(44:26) Key Takeaways
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You Don’t Have To Choose One Dream — Here’s Proof: Lesley Paterson
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