Hi, friends! This is a video I made, narrating my latest Weekly Motivation. This is a weekly newsletter I send which you can check out and subscribe to here: https://shoutout.wix.com/so/bbN4ijkMg. It documents what I’ve been experiencing during these times. I used all the nature shots I had in my phone and hope this soothes and comforts you.
A Journey Calls | Poem
There are
a million questions
spread across the sky,
yet down here
we look
to the glimmering
The pale moon sits still
while hands on the clock
no longer feel
Can we be taken
to the warmth
of the very beginning?
Inside, a hollow tide,
Reverberates a deepening
“Why?”
A journey calls
promising home,
an end to the
palpable alone
So
I walk to where the stars
mark the broken miles,
Each mountain passed
is God’s promise
in a pile
Take me to where the itch stops,
to where
Winter can’t reach me
at the bones
Searching in the dark,
we crawl or we march
For the glimmer
within our soul
Social Distancing. Wisdom & Creativity
Despite the social distancing happening right now, there have been moments I’ve felt a greater connection to all, as we collectively experience history in the making. There have also been moments where the isolation feels gloomy, and the desire to physically gather is palpable.
As we feel the world halt and change, we are all in some way, being pushed up against or totally outside of our comfort zones, forcing us to adapt, and thereby, to grow. This moment has taken us on a self-development journey whether we like it or not, as we face ourselves and face society in new ways. It’s powerful.
I pray that the lessons learned from this chapter will better our world in some way as we better ourselves. And as an eternal optimist, that is what I choose to believe. My personal coping mechanism to life, grief, and uncertainty is to mold the fuck out of it. To see a challenge as a way to practice what I’ve learned. Each experience can be alchemized into medicine if we let it.
My medicine lately has been learning to accept where I’m at each and every day; whether I want to be a sad (or happy) couch potato, or finally finish projects long overdue. I’ve been practicing listening to the desires of my body and intuition, the way I often listen to my mind without question.
There is a new gentleness in that, a new adventure. My body has been loving early bedtimes and daily exercise. I’ve never been a runner but I started jogging around the park regularly, and have fallen in love with it.
I relish the fresh air as it infiltrates my lungs, an accelerated heartbeat, and the sensation of my feet bouncing on the wood chips along the track as it brings me closer to the finish line.
And sometimes, it just wants unadulterated rest — sweatpants, snacks, and movies.
As for my intuition, I’ve been tuning into its guidance to decide what activities to partake in throughout the day. Lately it’s been a lot of cooking. I’m enjoying expressing my creativity within the boundaries of resourcefulness, using only what I have available to make beautiful meals.
And I suppose that’s a metaphor for this experience, and generally, for life. We use what we’re given. It’s through creativity, and the intention to make something beautiful, that we find the nurturing we need.
What are you cooking up?
The Pause
Hi, friends:
The world has forced many of us to pause. And in that pause I found the observer in me. I couldn’t grasp the right words to process all of this, nor the energy. I’ve felt like a quiet, doe-eyed kid, watching the TV cross legged in the living room, feeling powerless over all the happenings. Yet, I can’t deny the strength in the desire to surrender.
Yesterday morning we woke up to a 5.7 earthquake in Salt Lake City—the largest since 1992. There was no way of predicting this, no real preparation on our part, but luckily, we were fine. It was beautiful seeing how the neighbors came together outside, checking in with one another, helping turn the gas off in various homes.
By noon that day, I was officially laid off from work.
The day mirrored much of what the world has been like lately; utterly unpredictable, shocking, messy, yet so intensely beautiful, too. I see our society being more considerate of one another and nature rebuilding. Scrolling through the internet I have witnessed so many find and share the humor in all of this, which to me is something that makes the human spirit so innately beautiful. Could you imagine if our species could not laugh?
Though life has never felt so uncertain, I can also say that between the sadness and the overwhelm, I have also experienced a profound sense of aliveness and peace. I am loving everything and everyone harder and remembering what matters. Simplifying. Letting go of the noise that tells us our value is rooted in our productivity, in our success, in what we have, and the amount of money we make.
I am at peace here in the mountains; next to my love, closer to nature, closer to God. Remembering to listen more.
I’m wishing you all comfort and solace during these times. You are not alone.
Love,
Gabriela
I’m here for you if you want to talk. Also, I’m doing a 21 day abundance meditation challenge – let me know if you want to join and I’ll share the deets.
Life-Design
Hello again, friends!
I missed you last week but it was essential for me to pause and simply be. My grandmother recently passed away and I needed time to sit with the news, to reconnect with family, and finally — to rest.
With the news of my grandmother’s passing, everything was put on hold for a little, as feelings demanded to be felt and surrendered to. The grieving process is a strange one, with unpredictable waves of peace, then disbelief, mixed in with pangs of sorrow that hit you out of nowhere. I’m not sure that I can (or ever) will fully comprehend the totality of losing someone you love, or of the sureness of death. We fall for forever every time, despite knowing that death is natural and will happen to us all — and generally, to our grandparents sooner rather than later. Still, it catches you off guard.
I wasn’t planning on fully delving into grief today. I wanted more so to connect on the issue of time. But the process of losing someone reawakened something in me. This need to be the observer in my life again — to take a step back, to reassess, and rebuild.
I’m recognizing more and more how the feeling of being constantly rushed, along with my own expectations of productivity had a hold of me, even though there was no need for the acute intensity of it all. Sure, the energy of modern life is quick and easy to become submerged in — but I have more control of my experience with time and productivity than I initially thought.
Life-Design:
Something I’m deeply passionate about is what I like to call “life design.” To me, it means being boldly intentional about our goals and desires and creating our own individual blueprint for how we want our lives to look like. Each person’s values and personality are unique, and the way the different facets of our lives come together (our careers, relationships, and schedules to name a few) should reflect that as best as possible.
If we’re not consciously aware of our own desires and value systems, it’s easy to fall into societal conditioning and give into that gnawing pressure to do this or that on some sort of timeline — whether it be marrying by a certain age, or striving for a version of “success” you may not even agree upon.
The point of life design is to determine your own definition of success and of a good life. Not society’s. Not your family’s, nor your friends. It poses you to determine what is of most value to you, and to consider what you’re willing to do in order to reshape the way you structure your time and energy according to those values.
Part of my own journey has involved shedding what others expected of me — particularly the pressures I felt most strongly from my grandmother to succumb to a type of life I didn’t want to live.
In grandma’s ideal reality, I would’ve been a doctor, an accountant, or worked in any sort of office, honestly. Something conventional and easy to define. (She never understood what “life coaching” was, and I stopped trying to explain). I also would’ve been married to a handsome prince (literally, a prince) and stayed close to home, forever.
But my wild soul was stubborn and loud, and I answered its call, which took me around the globe, searching searching searching for my own version of a good life. Most of the time, that just meant freedom. Freedom to travel, to explore, and to be on a creative path. It then evolved to finding my purpose and turning my passions into a living, which is what I’m currently working on.
But the striving became too tiring. I demanded a lot of myself on a daily basis, struggled with comparison, and became worn out. Luckily, I didn’t fully burn-out, but I suspect I was headed there. This pace became my norm, my auto-pilot — until recently.
Every so often, life calls for a re-design.
These days, I am working on appreciating time. Not being so quick to spend it on accomplishing task after task, but really sulking in the moments. It looks like:
Giving myself the space to enjoy the process. Focusing on one thing at a time, and delving into one fraction of a project at once. Meditating for longer, allowing myself to do things for fun, or simply relishing in a cup of coffee or the way the sunshine feels on my skin after a long winter. It was a decision to redefine success as the enjoyment of the little moments that make up a day; a lifetime.
The days feel longer, with more profound focus, and there’s been a birthing of new ideas. Overall, it’s a better relationship with myself and with time. I can breathe, and remember that it was never a race to begin with, it was more like a road trip headed home.
xxGabriela
Radical Optimism
It’s a gorgeous day in New York today. The sun has broken through winter and the air is refreshing rather than bitter cold. My body is singing.
I’ve been working on a new website and thinking more about “my story” and what has given me the courage to make moves in life. Why have I lived in various places, traveled (oftentimes alone), given my all to love, and “put myself out there” in ways that were sometimes scary and uncomfortable? Why do I dream big and why do I believe in myself? It feels a little scary to admit, but I do, and I wish that for you, too.
Oftentimes it’s good ‘ole optimism! Whenever I take a leap of faith, I believe things will work out for the best, and that if I do come across any challenges, that I can find the silver lining in them and grow.
I’m the type of person who is more afraid of regretting what I didn’t do in this life rather than what I did do. Meaning, I’d rather lunge forward and try a lot of things/see a lot of places, then to play it safe and stick to what I know. I consider myself to be a risk-taker and make decisions based on my heart’s desires.
It’s not always easy to live this way. I have struggled with feeling misunderstood by others, as though my choices were a little crazy sometimes. My family has worried for me plenty of times, and though they truly love me, I’ve felt pressured to make “safe” choices, mostly when it comes to my career. A steady 9–5 was always more rewarded than trying to create my own business or taking time off to travel and live abroad.
I’m highly stubborn though, and know what I am capable of: creating a life by design. I believe that we can (and should) thoughtfully make choices that move us closer to our ideal lifestyle, regardless of how those choices may look like to others. This is about creating our own definition of a good life. Not society’s. Not our family’s, nor our friends’. For me, it means having the time and the luxury to be creative everyday, sharing my message with the world, inspiring and helping others on their journey to an authentic life.
I’m radically optimistic that we can have it all.
Instagram Inspo:
Optimism is a guiding light; a perspective that opens doors, and lends you the courage to take massive action and leaps of faith. Optimism has ignited me to move, to travel the world, to fall in love and to take creative risks among many other things.
There’s been plenty of times I’ve felt the pressure to be more “realistic,” whether it was coming from individuals or society as a whole. There’s a push to settle for what’s safe and known rather than to venture out and choose your own creative path, building a life that’s authentic to You. Doing You, Being You, and living a life by design is a form of rebellion. Knowing you were made for greatness is a form of rebellion. Shoot your shot. Be the light. The world needs your optimism.
Looking Back at Now
I’m honored to share that this is the 50th Weekly Motivation! Wild! Thank you for joining me on this ride—for reading, sharing, and supporting!
I’ve mentioned the theme of slowing down in a couple newsletters, and I’m especially feeling that lately. Truth is, I’m tired. Maybe it’s the transitioning or the long winter. Maybe this is a new type of tired — “A New York Tired,” one gets from keeping up, from all the people and all the energy, from the hustle-culture. Being here is inspiring, but there are moments when I’ve had to step back and wonder what exactly I’m trying to keep up with.
I’m blessed to report that I’m finally at a job I love showing up to. A true win. Yet, sometimes I continue to push myself into the “next step,” — full blown, entrepreneurship, as if there’s some type of looming deadline.
I’m happy where I currently am — and maybe that’s something we all need to get better at; the actual enjoyment of our lives, presently.
There’s no real rush to reach the next milestone, or the big goals I’ve set out for myself, which will continue to grow bigger and bigger, I think. I’m at a point where I can do what I love for the pure love of it. Doesn’t have to make me a living right now; I don’t need a different “title” or party pitch, that’s all really in my head.
While ambition and drive are qualities I truly admire in both myself and others, sometimes it gets thrown off balance. We may find ourselves constantly running towards goals without taking time to unfold into our current reality — to realize that one day we may look back at this time with a type of nostalgia.
Some day you’ll admire the perseverance you had today, and how you gracefully balanced the imperfect pieces of your life. You will give thanks to the unwavering love you had for yourself, which gave you permission to dream with fervor. You will honor the valor in putting one foot forward each day.
There are days when I feel so humbled and grateful for all that I have and all that I am in this moment. And there are days where I curse my life in a shared, tiny apartment. Sometimes it’s dreadful to lug groceries on a crowded train, or carry half my weight in laundry down the street. Sometimes it feels like this is not enough yet, and that I’m climbing up a never-ending hill.
And then, in a moment of grace, I remember. I remember where I am. You’re in New York, bitch!,my inner-voice hollers. Where you always wanted to be! And you’re doing it on your own!
A huge smile comes across my face in the middle of the street, or in the stillness of my cozy room. I appreciate the unfolding of a miracle, one of my greatest manifestations yet.
And I know, how I’m going to look back at this time. I’ll remember the days of graceful and humble perseverance. Of newness and brave aloneness. One of gratitude, for all things perfect and imperfect. When I decided I made it, even though there was so much more to come.
Natural State
I hope that today you can find at least a couple minutes to do a little self care, whether it’s taking deep breaths throughout the day, a full on work out class or staying mindfully hydrated. I’m all about the little things we can do throughout the day to take care of ourselves and check in.
I’m taking the time to slow down today, and have come to know that writing this newsletter is a form of self-care for me, which is so lovely!
This week I experienced some stress and noticed how my energy and sense of security was shaken. Throughout the years of learning how to take care of my mind, body, and spirit I have come to create a type of vibration I am truly comfortable being in. My natural state is optimistic and focused on the realm of possibility. I see life as one big opportunity to expand and reach our potential and I am so blessed to inhabit a healthy body which I try to nourish as best as possible. This is not to say that I am anywhere near perfect! Throughout the day my emotional state alters, sometimes I entertain negative thoughts and worry, and turn to less than healthy foods as a form of comfort. But I now have a strong sense of awareness for when I’m altering out of my grateful state — and when I’m at my best, I can hold space for discomfort as it emerges & have patience and love for myself regardless of where I’m at.
My offering to you today is a suggestion to bring awareness to your natural state. What are you feeling (in mind/body/and spirit) most of the time? What thoughts are you entertaining? What do you prefer to feel and what things can you do to get closer to that state? How can you make those things a habit?
The habits which have created my natural state have included: alone time, journaling, creativity, gratitude, exercise, meditation and of course eating as well as possible. It took some shifting and a strong intention to love and nurture myself to turn those things into habits, but it was so so worth it!
And of course, sometimes things may come up that shake that sense of comfort you begin to find in your natural state. Sometimes we may have to make space for grief, or observe as stress and worry work their ways through us. But when we create a foundation of habits that bring us back to feeling nurtured and taken care of, we have a stronger sense of who we actually are and no longer have to fully identify with negative thoughts and feelings. At my core, I am a passionate lover of life, some might even say a reckless optimist. Sometimes the world bumps up against that hopeful joy (or vice versa) and I have to find my footing again. But as hard as some experiences can be, I know how to find my way back home to that soft core, where hope and joy never cease to exist.
Adapting and Transitioning
Now that I’m a full blown New Yorker and here 100% of the time, I’ve noticed how much faster I’m moving on a day-to-day basis. Each minute feels like an opportunity to be productive, and sometimes it’s too much to try and keep up. Perhaps this is not just a New York thing, and no matter where you’re at, you may be facing similar feelings, too. Let’s pause and breathe for a minute.
I mentioned in my last newsletter that I’d left my job as a flight attendant and started working at a healing center in NY. I’ve been processing so many emotions about the transition — both happy and uncomfortable ones. Moving quickly and filling my days with tasks was a great way to distract myself from the self-doubting feelings that arose. I now realized how much I was imposing on myself to accomplish and that I have much more control in slowing down and setting the pace of my own life.
It’s rare for me to not be in some sort of transition, and in a sense, all of us are constantly needing to adapt. Whether it’s adapting to the season, to a new environment, or perhaps to a more subtle change, like a new perspective or revelation. It’s so important to be gentle with ourselves and allow the proper space to process it all, and there are many ways to do this.
I recently did two live streams on Youtube in regards to these topics. One is: How to Support Yourself Through a Transition, and the other is Slow Down and Reduce Stress and Overwhelm.
In both videos I offer some tips on how you can make small changes to create more space for mindfulness, self-care, and support.
What’s one thing you can do today to help you through whatever it is you’re processing?
For me, it’s participating in a positive and uplifting inner-dialogue. Nourishing myself with thoughts of gratitude, and of hope and excitement for the future. It really is the little things that can brighten our experience, help us feel taken care of, and make it easier to take it day by day.
You got this 🙂
Self-Love as Routine
It’s so nice to connect again! It’s my 29th birthday today but it’s also the first day I’ve had to myself since the beginning of the month. All I want to do is that which brings me stability and joy: my routines as well as creating content.
I recently started a new job at a beautiful healing center in New York and have been transitioning out of working as a flight attendant, which has been a huge change! The deciding process took a big leap of faith & the courage to move towards joy even when I had a lot going for me already. The truth is, I wasn’t as happy as I knew I could be, and my heart was begging me to listen and to trust that no matter what, I’ll always be okay. Better than okay.
I’m still processing the change and realizing the ways I can be gentle with myself through the readjustment. This is where routine comes in. It’s becoming more and more apparent how important it is to set some time aside each day to connect with all aspects of myself (my body, mind, and spirit). I prefer having a morning routine that includes stretching & exercise, journaling and meditation.
I highly recommend experimenting with a routine that works for you and allows you to tune in; to listen to your body and obtain the wisdom of your inner knowing. It can be a strong practice of self-love, because you are dedicating time for yourself each day and creating a grounded foundation for the rest of the day to unfold.
When my routine is down and my needs are met, I can have more energy for the rest of the world. Connecting with myself inspires a drive to share my experience with you, and that’s what I intend to do more of this year and beyond ❤
Freedom-Based Living 