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.

Align to That Which You Seek

Today I’d like to invite you to challenge the way you were taught to seek happiness, or whatever feeling it is you desire to find.

We grew up believing that we needed things, experiences, accomplishments, and even people to make us feel happy, validated, and complete. We chased titles/careers, material wealth, and relationships only to find another ladder to climb at the end of each goal completed. Have you noticed that the seeking never really ends? You can get what you really wanted and shortly after, feel like there’s something else to reach for in order to be fully satisfied.

Becoming a flight attendant was a goal I really wanted to accomplish not too long ago. I begged the universe to help me land this opportunity and worked my butt off preparing for the interviews. I thought this job would be the perfect addition to my life; that I would no longer feel “lost,” or “stuck” and be set free with the opportunity to travel.

Yet, once I got it, it was entirely too easy to focus on the problems and difficulties within the industry. That “stuck” feeling continued to haunt me despite having obtained what I thought was the answer. I felt confined by my schedule and all the time away from home, and when I was in a place I really enjoyed, it was tainted with the sadness of having to leave shortly after.

These were some of the reasons not to be happy yet. And that’s when I realized I was in a perpetual state of suffering: always wanting more or something different in order to feel free.

Freedom is one of my most important values, the motivation behind so many life decisions, and what I always seem to be chasing.

But I decided that if I were to lead a fulfilled life, I would have to put an end to the never-ending chase and tap into all the ways that I’m already free. A.k.a.“align with the vibration of freedom.” When I talk about aligning to a vibration, what I mean is getting into the state of your desired feeling, in order to attract that which we want in life (Law of Attraction).

I pulled out my journal and started a list of different ways I’m free, discovering so much I’d taken for granted. I’m free to consume the books/films/music I choose; I’m free to dress how I want, I’m free to journal and mediate, I’m free to laugh and play. On a larger scale, I have total creative freedom (like writing this newsletter and making videos) which is so so valuable to me. Plus my job does allow me to travel and see the people I love around the world, which is the closest thing to teleporting I can get right now.

I was so taken aback by the incredible amount of ways I’m already free. I sat with that appreciation and let it light me up. It felt like I could finally ease into the adventure of this very moment. I could finally perceive how everything was flowing naturally and working out for me.

Since then, my attitude towards work has totally changed and in turn, I’m having more fun on a daily basis. I am finally sitting back, enjoying the journey, and appreciating the gifts picked up along the way.

It’s human to have this insatiable thirst for more; to believe that something else has the key to our happiness and completion. But as we grow, we learn to find that which we seek is already in our hands. We have the power of emotion and of perception, which once cultivated and tweaked can shape how we experience our reality.

And in my reality, I am finally free. How about yours?

What’s New? Productivity, Podcast and Certification

Hope you are all having a beautiful start to the week. I’m feeling pretty accomplished because I managed to be very productive last week, thanks to the weekly challenge I proposed last Monday Motivation.

I finally updated my podcast! As of now, it’s a compilation of blog posts, youtube videos, and newsletters I’ve recorded. I’m excited to see where it goes.

Check it out!

“Objects in motion stay in motion,” and I believe the same thing happens to people as we pick up the momentum on projects that excite us. I am happy to be finally taking action on ideas I’ve sat on for too long.

I also wanted to share another update. You’ll now see an Ipec logo at the footer of my site, because I am officially a certified professional coach! I finally finished my certification process with iPec and feel proud to have gone through an extensive program to be a better leader and coach.

I’m still learning so much and working to hone in on what my “specialty,” or “niche” is and what area(s) I can be most of service in, but I’m excited for the journey ahead and opportunities for growth.

Thank you for following along as I learn and grow.

Love,

Gabriela

Moving Forward

So much has changed for me the last two weeks. Not having a website and message that was authentic to me was a big stumbling block I’m glad to have moved past. I felt stuck without this missing piece; without knowing and voicing to the world how I wanted to help my clients. I had to find my own voice in this.

Now, I know that my simple goal is to help others connect to their inner-guidance and live more joyously. I finally feel like I can move forward at rocket speed. It was scary but really exhilarating to announce my new website/content and introduce the fact that I’m even a life coach across all my social media platforms: to my family, friends and acquaintances.

All these worries about what people might think of me popped into my head. Maybe they were thinking: who does she think she is? I let the fear wash over me and then released it, because I’m too busy taking action and moving forward to dwell. Now, when I share about my business online, I simply post it and let it go.

I am learning to believe in my message; to believe I have something valuable to offer and to make it less about me, and more about how I can serve others. It’s such a process and I am having fun with this whole thing.

I’ve had the opportunity to coach various people the last few days and it’s been an amazing experience! I feel like I’ve genuinely connected and helped them. By the end of our sessions, there is a spike in their energy and I’ve received some awesome feedback. It reminds me of why I want to do this work, and also that I am a capable and dedicated coach.

What I’ve learned from these past two weeks is how valuable it is to investigate what is holding us back in moving forward with goals. Is it that you don’t feel like what you’re doing is authentic? Are you still looking for the right words? Is there a missing piece? Or is it the fear of what others think that’s stopping you?

It’s important to bring awareness to what we need to shift through in order to move forward, grow and expand. To be fierce in our determination of sharing our purpose with the world. We deserve it, and so does the world.

Motivational Tips for Dream Chasers

Chasing your dreams isn’t always rosy or easy. Sure, the ride is exhilarating and energizing when done right, but there are bound to be days when you may question what you’re doing and want to give up.

First of all, give yourself a pat on the back. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, artist/creator or just a badass whose paving their own way, you are choosing the road less traveled, and that’s something to be proud of.

Here’s a list of essential habits I’ve found to be helpful in order to stay focused and inspired throughout the grind:

Eat Well + Get a Good-Night’s Sleep: Ok, I know it’s obvious, but it can’t be left unsaid. Taking care of our bodies is essential whilst hustling. As creators, our livelihood and ability to give and inspire depends on our health.
Find a Morning Routine that Works for You: It’s taken some experimenting to figure out what lights me up in the morning, but I’ve found that incorporating a walk, meditation and journaling after waking relaxes me for whatever the day has in store. Sometimes, if I wake up anxious or stressed about my long to-do list, journaling helps me vent those emotions out. Meditation allows me the space to be still before working a full day, and walking is just a good, low-key exercise under some sunshine and fresh air. I encourage you to experiment with habits that make you feel great at the start of each day.
Immerse Yourself in Inspiration: Another part of my morning routine is to listen to podcasts on my walk, particularly of successful female entrepreneurs. It’s not just about the useful content. The important thing is to remind myself that there are other people who have successfully accomplished some of my own goals and dreams. It reminds me that it’s not impossible, and that there are kindred souls out there. You are not alone on this journey.
Set a Schedule: This one was a game changer for me. I used to take my business tasks day by day and just try to run through a long, mixed to-do list. Now, I set specific days of the week for specific tasks. For example, Mondays are reserved for admin and organizational tasks while Thursdays I film videos. That way, I’m immersed in a particular head space each day which keeps me in flow and increases my productivity.
Visualize and Talk About Your Goals: Frequently fantasizing about and seeing my desired future career and lifestyle gives me fuel to continue hustling. I like creating vision boards where I post photos of my dreams so I can have daily reminders of what awaits me if I keep working hard. Similarly, you can journal about your goals or listen to guided visualization meditations. Talking about those dreams with supportive loved ones will hold you accountable. You’re less likely to abandon a goal if you’ve told someone else about it.

I hope these simple steps can help propel you forward in your very own, dream-chasing journey.