"Feeling Good is a Girl's Best Accessory"—and 10 More Chris-isms to Live By!

BRANDCRAFTYOU BLOG | JUNE 2026

Christine Arnholt, NBC-HWC, FMCHC

Enjoying a gorgeous walk in the State Park (Key Biscayne) last month!

THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS BLOG POST.

The day before my 63rd birthday which was on May 30th, I reflected on the "Chris-isms" I've consistently shared from the philosophy that has guided my life and my coaching practice for years, and was inspired to write the eleven that came to mind.

The response was overwhelming. Because these aren't just motivational phrases—they are the principles I actually live by. They've evolved and developed as I've evolved and developed, and they've carried me through ~30 years of corporate leadership, a complete personal reinvention, and a vibrant, "Why"-inspired, intentional second chapter built around health, vitality, and what I call Aging Powerfully℠.

All the consistency. All the dedication. All the intentional daily choices—they exist so I can show up fully for all the beautiful things this life has to offer. This is my guiding light. And that is the spirit behind every single one of these, what I call—and what have come to be known as—Chris-isms.

I want to share some faves with you here.

FIRST THINGS FIRST. WHAT IS A CHRIS-ISM?

A Chris-ism is a short, powerful truth that cuts through the noise and gets straight to what matters. Some of them I coined myself. Some evolved from years of coaching conversations. All of them are ones I return to—again and again—when life gets complicated, when motivation dips, or when I simply need a reminder of what this healthy lifestyle journey is really about.

MY FAVORITE CHRIS-ISMS. IN MY WORDS.

1. "Feeling Good is a Girl's Best Accessory!" I've always loved the expression 'a smile is a girl's best accessory.' This Chris-ism takes a page from that powerful knowing. When you feel good, you exude positive energy. You are more open, more vital, more present — for yourself and for everyone who matters to you. When you feel your best, you look your best. And as we launch into bathing suit season and the land of revealing summer clothes — who doesn't want to feel AND look their best? The real secret? It starts from the inside out. Always.

2. "Feel Good = Look Good." Summer is the season when this Chris-ism lands most viscerally — and I mean that in the best possible way. Our culture has long told us the equation runs the other direction — that if you look good, you'll feel good. I want to flip that entirely. When you genuinely feel your best — sleeping well, moving joyfully, nourishing yourself with real food, hydrating at the cellular level — you glow. Not from a filter. Not from a product. From the inside out. That is not vanity. That is vitality. And vitality is available to every single one of us at every age, in every season.

3. "More 'Good Guys' Than 'Bad Guys.'" Food is powerful. And it doesn't have to be complicated. Consistency of enjoying real, mostly whole, unprocessed, organic food is the key. It's not about depriving yourself — it's about crowding out the 'Bad Guys' with more 'Good Guys.' My 10 Healthy Eating-Happy YOU! Power Principles offer realistic, lifelong guidelines for exactly how to do this. No deprivation required. Ever.

4. "Romance Your Sleep and Create Your Cocoon!" I don't care who you're sleeping with. Create a bedtime routine that serves YOU and supports a beautiful night's sleep — one that allows you to wake up feeling genuinely refreshed. Sleep is not a luxury. It is the foundation of every other healthy choice you make. Honor it.

5. "Your Body is the Most Amazing Technological Marvel Ever!" I have so much awe for the human body. It works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year — on our behalf, with zero days off. And yet we often kick its butt daily: not sleeping enough, eating sub-optimally, stress-dosing it with the 'Stress Monster.' Here's the beautiful truth: our bodies need just a little support from us to ignite a powerful cascade of feeling better. Give it that support. It will pay you back a thousandfold.

6. "Progress vs. Perfection." This is one of the most liberating truths in my entire coaching practice. It's not about being perfect. It's about consistency of positive lifestyle practices — over time, without drama, without shame. Progress is the goal. Progress is the win. Every single day.

7. "You Are the CEO of YOU." No one knows you better than you. Not your doctor. Not your coach. Not your best friend. Trust your knowing. Trust the real-time, constant feedback from your body — it is talking to you all the time. Tune in. You are the most qualified expert on your own life.

8. "The Power Pivot." Our minds are extraordinarily powerful — and they don't always work in our favor. Here's to using that power intentionally. The Power Pivot is the conscious, deliberate shift into a space of empowerment and gratitude — a cognitive reframe that pulls us out of negativity and into possibility. Practice it. It gets easier every time.

9. "Take Your Power Back!" We so often look outside of ourselves for answers — for permission, for validation, for the 'right' plan. It starts with us. We have so much power within to lead our best lives. Connect to yours. Take it back. It was always yours.

10. "Think Big. Start Small. Feel Better.℠" Everything starts with a vision. What do you want in your life? How do you wish to feel? Get crystal clear on that. Then take one small, manageable, sustainable step in that direction. And then another. This is how lasting change is built — not in dramatic overhauls, but in small, consistent, powerful choices that compound over time.

11. "Here's to Aging Powerfully.℠" Getting older does not have to mean getting smaller, slower, or more fragile. I don't embrace that narrative—and if you'd also like to focus on the opportunity for aging powerfully with vibrant health span, please consider refusing that narrative, too. Aging Powerfully℠ means building strength, vitality, energy, and joy with every season of life. It means showing up more fully, not less. The longest day of the year deserves your longest, most vibrant lifestyle. Here's to living it—at every age, in every season.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE "WHY".

All the consistency. All the dedication. All the intentional daily choices—they exist so we can show up fully for all the beautiful things this life has to offer. Which Chris-ism resonates most with you right now? I'd love to hear from you. Write me at chris@BrandCraftYOU.com and tell me which one(s) you connected with most—and why. Because your story matters. And so does how you feel. Here's to these Chris-isms supporting you in connecting with your power to feel your best.

Here's to Your Healthiest Happiest YOU! ☀️

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Ready to build your own healthy lifestyle system—one that actually lasts? Explore BrandCraftYOU coaching at brandcraftyou.com or write me, Chris, directly at chris@BrandCraftYOU.com.