Let Your Purpose Be Your Guide

Hi, friends:

Thinking of you, as I know the world is heavy right now. In a matter of months we’ve gone through tragedy after tragedy it seems — most of us balancing the weight of the collective amidst our personal challenges. It’s all connected; We’re all connected. How can we deny that as we feel the pain of another within us?

It is clear that the systems in power have not served us — particularly our black brothers and sisters who have carried burdens I will never know. “No one is free when others are oppressed.” We cannot fully actualize in a system of inequality.

Please don’t forget about your personal power at this time. I’ve searched far for purpose, and have come to find that purpose always lies in service. It’s not a mistake that giving makes us feel alive.

Use your voice, your soul, your character to build something that will breathe love into the world, whatever that is. Listen with an open mind.

Remember to recharge and refuel your soul when needed. Our energy is a powerful tool and entirely instrumental for the long battle ahead. We are paving the way to a new world; I choose to believe that in my heart and act in accordance.

I’m here if you need an ear, support, or tools for dealing with the heavy emotions that are arising. (I can share what I’ve learned through coaching and tools I’ve personally applied). Feel free to reach out anytime.

Love,

Gabriela

Creating Mini Goals

Happy Friday!

I’ve missed writing and connecting with you all! The more time I take away from doing it, the harder it becomes. I start second guessing myself and thinking of reasons why this isn’t the best time to write.

As a creative, I often struggle with the middle ground between creating on my terms and maintaining discipline. I have all these amazing ideas about work I’d like to complete and put out to the world, yet taking consistent action is tough. I like to take things day by day, enjoy the spontaneity of the present moment and simply create when I feel like it or have the energy.

The problem is, I don’t end up taking that much action or bringing my ideas to life. Even though I’m learning on a soul level that productivity does not define my value (I wrote about this previously), I can’t deny that my desire to express and share with the world is a part of my fiber, and brings meaning and purpose to my life. So when life speeds by me and I find I haven’t worked towards my most important goals, I end up feeling frustrated.

Can you relate?

The most effective game plan will push me to get sh*t done while not feeling bogged down by “work.”

I’ve been able to do this effectively with exercise. I always wanted to have a work out routine but never seemed to make time for it. I thought I had to go to a gym or a class and spend at least an hour there, plus the time traveling there and back. This idea didn’t suit my schedule nor was it something I actually wanted to do.

I simplified it so much for myself. For about a month now I’ve been exercising at home (or in my hotel rooms) for just 10-15 minutes a day. I simply lay out my yoga mat, put on an exercise YouTube video to follow along, and knock it out. My body thanks me for it and I end up feeling accomplished every time because I’ve set myself up for success.

When I have an exceptionally early start to the day or feel exhausted, I skip out on it and pick it back up the next day, without attaching any guilt to it. I try to listen to my body and respect when it just needs sleep or rest.

I can happily say I’ve made working out part of my routine, even if this is simply a baby step, though I actually don’t feel the need or desire to push myself to do more right now.

What I’d like to work on now is making my creative projects a part of my weekly routine. I’m challenging myself to work 10 hours a week on my “side hustle.” 10 hours seems like a doable goal, yet it will also push me to potentially create a lot more than I have before. Having a weekly goal instead of a daily one also allows the wiggle room to simply relax some days.

Tracking the time I work on my projects and watching each hour chip away at my weekly goal is both motivating and encouraging.

If you’re in a similar boat and know that there are some areas in your life where you want to start seeing progress, try this out with me.

How can you create mini goals towards your desired outcome?

It’s important to also treat this as an experiment and have fun, while not feeling bad about yourself if for some reason the mini goals are too much and you need to scale back a little.

It’s all about collecting data and figuring out what works for you.

Let’s support one another on this journey. I’d love to hear about what you’re working on and whether this resonated with you.

Love always,

Gabriela

Bringing Presence to Purpose

Happy Sunday y’all!

It’s a gloomy day in LA but I’m happy to have some quiet, alone time before work to say hello!

Writing this newsletter means so much to me and I just want to say thank you for being a part of it 🙂

This newsletter has been a tether that’s kept me connected to long-term goals. I hope to one day have a larger platform, and if the universe will have it, to write a book (or maybe even two). Sending out these weekly emails is a small step I can consistently take, when life seems busy and fast and all the other creative work gets buried under the motions of the every day.

I’m discovering though, that the true importance of this “small step” is to bring me into the joy of the present. I am learning to form ideas from my experiences and give them a place outside of myself. I’m learning to share insights that could also give comfort or guidance to others, the way I’ve found comfort in others’ words and work; teachers I’ve never even met.

I’m realizing how fulfilling it is to accomplish this one task, and that I’d still be happy and complete, if nothing else came of it but an outlet to express. And I believe that’s an indication of finding something good.

In that sense, writing this newsletter is no longer a means to an end, but a purpose on its own. And that perspective gives me the freedom to fully appreciate it in the now, rather than waiting to feel fulfilled or accomplished in an illusory future.

So tell me, is there a passion of yours you could bring more presence and appreciation into today and in this week to come?

xxGabriela

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Born to Express

Lately I’ve been thinking about the things I enjoy most about my coaching endeavor. You think i’d be coaching itself, but it’s actually been writing this blog and my weekly newsletters lately.

I never know what I’m going to write about until I’m in front of my laptop (just like today). I enjoy seeing the magic of my thoughts and experiences unfolding onto the page.

It’s funny how I’m coming back around to this passion I’ve had since I was seven and started writing short stories in class. I identified so much with being a “writer” for years until I realized later in life that I wanted to be so many other things, too.

It’s always been difficult for me to hone in on one thing I want to pursue head-on. When I found coaching I thought: This is it. I am a life coach. And then, wearing that label became heavy, too. I wanted to be so much more than that. I wanted my other passions to have an outlet, too. But everyone seemed to echo that you need to focus on one thing at a time in order to be successful. Each time I try to do that, I end up rebelling, tearing off whatever label has been holding me back from expressing different parts of myself.

Maybe that’s why I’m savoring my time writing now. Because it goes beyond being a “coach.” Because it sat on the back-burner for so long, aching for a voice and some time to be expressed.

I’d like to honor all those different parts of me that are waiting for permission to experience and create. Maybe I don’t need to be anything, maybe I was just born to express.

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.