Does it feel like sometimes you’re just chasing life instead of actually living it? Like your fears are blocking you from what you long for most? It’s something all of us are familiar with and it doesn’t have to be that way.
In Gabby’s new book, The Universe Has Your Back, she guides readers through stories and lessons to release the blocks to what they long for most: happiness, security and clear direction. She teaches you how to transform your fear into faith in order to live a divinely guided life.
To celebrate and share her remarkable new book, my friend Kate Muker (founder of Conscious Divas) is hosting Gabby Bernstein for a truly spectacular night of connection, clarity, and guidance. Gabby will be giving her new talk How to Transform Fear into Faith and Know the Universe Has Your Back.
If you want to unleash the presence of your power and learn how to cultivate happiness, security and clear direction you need to attend #TheUniverseHasYourBack event this October.
I’m proud to be an ambassador for this event, as I was when Gabby was in town last year, because it completely aligns with the journey I have been on over the past few years. I’m still travelling this road, and I invite you to read my responses to Kate’s questions so that you can understand my path a little better.
Describe a time in your life when you felt totally safe, serene and clear. What happened to get you to that place?
For me to feel totally safe, serene and clear I have to be in touch with my authentic Self. I have to be making decisions based on what is important for me and my family, and I have to shut out the ‘noise.’ I get to that place through journalling. When I write to myself from my Self, I am speaking my truth, and nothing makes me feel more ‘on purpose’ than when I am sitting with that wise part of me. I’m checking in, I’m listening, I’m writing down what’s going on in my head so I can make space to hear what’s happening in my heart.
How did it feel once you got there?
Those moments don’t last forever, those feelings of being totally ‘on purpose’ and clear. So it’s hard to say that I’m ‘there’…unless we can be ‘there’ then slip a little and then go back. I know that it’s easier now to find my footing when I do slip because I have my tools. But those moments of clarity are exciting! I feel alive and totally jazzed about what I’m doing. Whether it’s professionally or personally, when I’m clear on what I’m doing, I feel completely blessed.
How important is having clarity to you?
I’m the kind of person who thinks life should have a point. There’s gotta be a reason why we’re here, an individual purpose, a reason why we meet the people we do. There’s gotta be something we thought was so important we had to contribute to this world that we traded in a blissful existence for one that is totally up and down. Being clear on what that purpose is is important to me because I don’t want to waste this opportunity to do what my soul wants.
Has fear ever held you back from going after something you really wanted?
Absolutely. It still does. Sometimes it’s fear of failure, but often it’s fear of taking time for myself and my dreams. It’s the fear that doing that will create chaos in my family or weaken the bond I have with my kids and husband. Fear comes in many forms and whispers many things in my head, and I’m pretty sure they’re a bunch of non-truths. But fear can feel just as real as anything standing right in front of me.
Did you ever overcome this fear? How did you do it?
I haven’t completely overcome this fear. I don’t know if I ever will. But what I am getting better at doing is moving forward anyway. In the past year, especially, I have met or become better acquainted with other women who will not let me shrink in the face of fear. This community of women who are also pushing through their own fears to do what lights up their souls has energized me into committing to the things that are outside of my comfort zone, but so very important to my work. On a personal level, I have also ‘fallen in love’ with myself in a way. I really, really like who I am. What I stand for. How I live my life. And that has helped me shut out the noise of what others are doing or saying or even who they’re hanging out with. I guess ‘how I did it’ is simply by connecting more with who I really am, and connecting with like-minded women.
When in your life do you feel you’re in flowstate?
I feel like I’m in flowstate when I’m writing about something that really matters to me or when I’m speaking on stage about the same kinds of things. When I’m doing, when I’m creating…that’s when I’m in flowstate.
Describe the feeling of being in this flowstate?
The best way I can describe it is to say that I feel like I’m ‘on purpose.’ It’s the contentment of knowing that I did something worth doing, even if it took a little guts, even if it puts me out there. It’s a kind of bucket-listy feeling – when I look to the future and picture myself 90-something years old in my bed, I can say, yes, I spoke up about that. I did my best.
What does it take for you to get there?
I guess just that image of myself, old and ready to move on. That always motivates me to choose to go for it, to speak up, to start something, to be part of the revolution. To do something my kids can be proud of and perhaps even carry on.
Tell us what it means to you to surrender?
So, my name actually means ‘to surrender’ or ‘to submit’ to the will of God. I used to think that was kind of weak. I mean, don’t fallen armies surrender to their enemy? But then, as I’ve grown up and grown into who I am, I realized that it takes a lot of courage and faith to surrender. And that when I do, I feel some relief. Surrendering means I have no idea what my life is going to look like next year. I can set goals and plan things. But I have to take my blinders off and grab opportunities that I didn’t know would come to me. And I have to also let go of the things I thought I should be doing, and be ok with that, knowing there is a reason for it. I’ve had to learn a lot about surrendering in motherhood. Talk about losing control! But on the flipside, it’s also about giving up some of that burden of needing to have it all together and know everything.
Describe a time in your life where you felt like the Universe had your back.
Oh my gosh, so many times. I’m lucky to have grown up in a home where we always talked about ‘everything happens for a reason’ and ‘let God do what’s best.’ Because of that I have always been aware of synchronicity and things working out perfectly even through moments of crises and pain. Somehow, I have always been able to look back and think, I’m so glad that happened when it did. I have a tight relationship with the Universe through my journaling and I will ask for things. I think that makes me hyper-aware of noticing when my requests are accommodated.
Share your experience of Gabby and/or her work and how it’s personally touched you.
I saw Gabby last year in Vancouver and just loved her speaking style. So down-to-earth and real. She didn’t sugar-coat anything about what she’d been through, and she made us laugh through it all. What I most remember is her talking about forgiveness. I feel like forgiving people is like my side business 🙂 There was a particular time in my life when I had to forgive a whole slew of people and it was during a time that was already difficult. And still, situations crop up when the feelings ignite themselves again, but recalling what Gabby said about forgiveness I am able to keep moving forward with this. I was touched by how willing she was to talk about the things people may judge her for. She is a true inspiration and a wonderful speaker.
