What Is Abundance, Really?

Good evening, friends!

If you’re anything like me and consume media in the realm of self-development or spirituality, you’ve probably heard the word “abundance” thrown around a lot, sometimes in phrases such as “abundance mindset” or “living abundantly.” It typically refers to living a full, rich life surrounded (and in appreciation of) the things you love, rather than focusing on lack and what you don’t have.

Part of my own journey has been to create an abundant life for myself—to gift myself with all the experiences I desire, and to work towards a life that allows me the freedom to travel, eat well, and have plenty of fun.

I used to think that in order to make all those dreams come true, I would have to earn tons of money. Ironically, while trying to create “abundance,” I ended up feeling a lack of it when my desired income wasn’t reached.

My limited perception of abundance prevented me from appreciating all the blessings that had fallen into my life which hadn’t necessarily arrived in the form of money.

For example, I recently realized that one of my biggest dreams came true. I used to day dream about being able to walk into the airport and spontaneously travel to any destination I desired. I thought that in order for this to happen, I would have to be rich.

As a flight attendant, my company allows me to travel wherever they fly, either for free or at very little cost. I could literally do this whenever I have time. It blew my mind to really sit with that and appreciate it as a dream come true.

I already have so much of what I want and experience joy regularly without having met my “income goals.” What we truly want is usually a feeling rather than a thing. If I have joy, if I have love, and freedom and a passion for living (all the things I thought money would buy), then why limit myself to feeling abundant only when a certain amount of money is reached?

Abundance is all around us. In the greenness of leaves, in laughter, in the array of tastes we experience in the span of a day. You can find it in the smallest details or in the overwhelm of realizing that you are in a near perfect stage of your life.

If you ever feel down or stressed about money or whatever it is you “lack,” I encourage you to take equal amounts of time and energy into adding up all the little (and big) miracles, joys, pleasures, talents and gifts you’ve got going in your favor. Feel into the appreciation until your heart feels like it’ll burst. Do this as much as possible, as often as possible and tap into your wealth.

Love,

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

Never miss a newsletter. Subscribe here to receive them via email 🙂

I’m Back!

9 weeks later… I’m back!

First time writing in a while and I already feel like crying. The last two months of my life have been a whirlwind of emotions, late nights, stress, and beautiful moments of connection, leading up to the unmatched joy of new beginnings.

All of it begs to be expressed and released through me—writing is one of the ways I choose to do it.

In case you didn’t read my newsletter sent out roughly 9 weeks ago—I was in flight attendant training for 8 weeks, and announced I may not be writing for a while. Most moments were spent either in class, studying, or sleeping. I have never been so intently focused on, and immersed in one subject matter in my life.

Being the creative, and curious type that I am, it was extremely difficult not to have the time and freedom to explore hobbies and passions, let alone, to relax. I have a new sense of appreciation for MY LIFE, which is dynamic, and full of colorful past times and the ability to create.

Since I left training, my body has been attempting to recuperate through hours and hours of sleep, and to find its balance between the time zones. My mind busily absorbs all the endings and new beginnings. What just happened? What is happening?

What is happening is I’m now in LA, my new base and “home away from home.” I will be working trips from LA while still living in Salt Lake City and flying back home on my free time. It’s actually pretty common to “commute” from state to state in the airline industry, though the overwhelm of it is still palpable.

On top of that, most of my trips this month are red eyes and I am an early bird to a fault. Yikes! Talk about disoriented sleep schedule.

My intention here is not to complain —I prayed, and worked tirelessly to be where I am today, but still there is this very human thing in me to find fault at the result of each success. Can you relate?

So, this is where I must stop myself: Breathe, acknowledge where I am (somewhere I once desired badly to be), thank myself for getting here, and see the positive in the situation.

I am a freakin’ flight attendant! Which means I travel for a living. Wild. And I get to fly back home when I’m free. For free.

Writing those words fills me instantly with gratitude and the overwhelm slowly begins to dissipate. Because I know, everything is alright. Better than alright.

Reflection Moment:

What have you recently accomplished that you’re proud of?

What have you achieved that you once truly desired?

I’m going to change the name of this newsletter to Weekly Motivation and do my best to write one weekly, on whichever day I’m free.

It feels amazing to be here again, after all this time and I thank you for your patience and your readership. It means the world!

Love,

Gabriela

Is this right for me?

I’m learning not to be so black and white about things.

For so long, I’ve been knee-deep in the coaching world. I consumed so much inspirational and motivational content from coaches I admired and jumped on the bandwagon of their beliefs. They echoed thoughts, such as: “if you think and feel abundant, abundance will come” (invest in yourself, even when it’s freaking scary), “know your worth + value” (charge a lot) and “people are waiting to hear your message” (self-promotion is key). I really wanted all of this to work: for my business to be successful, to see results quickly and to prove all the skeptics wrong.

It’s not that I don’t think it’s still possible anymore. I’m just more aware of the effort that actually goes into growing a business and brand, and that I have a lot to learn. There is no one way of doing things. I’m preparing for this to be a long-term process with its own ups and downs, which I’m willing to push through, even if my success isn’t immediate (as advertised).

I’m becoming more aware of how I can stay true to myself, too. It’s so easy to put successful individuals on a pedestal and take their word as gospel. I don’t blame myself for it, but going forward I’d like to tune in with what feels right to me. (This is a continuos lesson).

There are some things around self-promotion for example that coaches recommend doing which I don’t feel totally comfortable with and need to find my own way of executing. Sure, there is healthy advice and ways I can push myself to succeed, but the key is to be discerning and question: Is this right for me?

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.

Staying Positive in Times of Rejection

I am back in Utah now, and it seems that Fall suddenly happened while I was away. having grown up in San Francisco, I’m not very accustomed to seasons. It blows me away how suddenly the landscape can change and how aware we can become that time is moving forward, often urging us to rethink our direction in life.

A new path I’m currently pursuing is finding a part time job here in Salt Lake City while I work on my passion projects.

I’ve found it disheartening to either not hear back from some places, or to feel like there are slim pickings in terms of the types of jobs I actually want, and those that pay decently. I’m not usually the type to be discouraged, since I often try to look at the bright-side of things, so this disappointment hasn’t been an easy feeling to digest.

With that, I am reminded to be extra gentle with myself and to trust in the universe. Rejection, though oftentimes painful, is an opportunity to have faith in your unique path. When I don’t get that one job I wanted, I think: There is another one out there I’m supposed to have (possibly an even better one!) and some great people I am bound to meet. I just have to be patient and have faith.

Today I was actually offered a decent position and became aware of another one I could pursue, too. The key is to stay open, flexible and optimistic. And if you really really want something, rejection can be a way of testing that desire + your determination to push forward and try again.

How do you handle rejection & what are some ways to deal with it that feel more positive for you?

Would love to hear your thoughts. You can email me or find me on insta @gabrielammelgar anytime.

Examining Worry

Sometimes I worry that I’ll end up unsuccessful and broke. Do I really believe that? No; but I’m programmed to think worry is a natural reaction to the uncertainties of being an entrepreneur.

I grew up with a single mother, who–naturally, worried and stressed about money, and with a grandmother who achieved financial security through hard work and controlled spending. I learned that to be a responsible, safe adult, I have to have a reliable source of income, save, and spend sparingly.

Quite frankly, I’m doing the opposite of that right now. I don’t know when or how my next earnings will show up, and I’m living off savings to invest time on pursuing my dreams. Nothing is certain, except for the faith I have in myself, which can sometimes feel…odd.

Anybody else in my shoes would be worried, I sometimes think; so I let the worry creep in in order to feel “normal.” During these moments, I worry about how my business will pan out, if I’m spending too much, and whether I’m crazy.

But, I’m beginning to realize that the worry isn’t even mine. I’ve taken on the worry that my family feels, and the worry I assume a normal person in my situation would feel.

It reminds me of when I decided to move to Vietnam for a year. I’d never been before and I didn’t speak any Vietnamese, so when I told people about my plans to move there, some reacted surprised and concerned. They expected me to be scared, but I wasn’t. I had faith in myself.

Was I crazy, then? I’d question. Maybe I should be scared, I thought, so I tried it on. I told someone I was scared about my move just to see how the words felt, and they responded, “I’d be worried if you weren’t.”

Maybe we live in a world that’s more understanding of worry and fear versus faith and belief in ourselves. From my experience, one is more normal than the other.

I’m learning to own my faith and use it as a critical tool in moving forward with my goals. I have to accept that I may be misunderstood in that, and that sometimes others will express their loving concerns; but I don’t have to take on their doubts as my own. If to them it means I’m living in the clouds, so be it. Life’s more fun up here, where anything is possible.

Battling Doubt

Thursday was my day to make Youtube videos, except I didn’t feel like it. I had a plan set out for it and everything: to do a live and continue my “Tea Time Thursdays” series I only started a couple weeks ago, as well to record a second video.

Instead, I spent most of the day strolling through Millcreek, just south of Salt Lake, enticed by a new age store I discovered walking to an appointment. Inside, I purchased a shiny blue-purple stone called Peacock Ore which was said to, “enhance inner knowing and strengthen perception.” Though I was instinctively attracted to its beauty, I realized I could use some of its healing powers, too.

I’d been feeling doubtful of some of the new directions I was going with my business, like broadening my coaching niche, focusing on new projects, and this desire to break from making Youtube videos, or at least, wanting to loosen the pressure on myself to create them. I wanted to figure out whether or not these changes were wise.

A part of me scorned my lack of consistency (in life, business, and now, Youtube). This part insisted Youtube was my ticket to building a greater audience and success in my business. Plus, I’d told my subscribers I’d be making two videos per week in attempt to motivate myself. This felt like the thing I was “supposed” to do.

Yet, just the thought of making a video felt like work in a way that new projects didn’t.

I was confused on how to move forward with this dilemma. Should I continue making Youtube videos for the sake of consistency, or move on to shiny new things?

There were two opinions in me, battling it out, so I decided to bring this inner-dialogue to life through writing.

I took out my journal and told each side they had equal time and space to say whatever they needed to, without judgement. On one corner, we had what I perceived to be “the voice of logic,” the pro-Youtube/consistency one, and on the other side we had what I called “airy intuition”– the flighty, creative, and idealistic part of me who wants to do everything on my terms and with joy.

Logic said this: You’re going to abandon Youtube? That’s where your audience lives. That is the platform with the most promise to you. What’s your mom going to say? You look like a flake, jumping from one thing to the next. How are you going to grow a business with all this flakiness? Barely anyone reads your blog anyways.

Then, there was the counterargument.

Airy intuition: I am not a “flake.” I am not giving up on my business. I am simply taking it in a new direction that feels good to me. I have been pretty consistent with my blog and super excited about the new projects coming up. I got this! This doesn’t have to mean that I’m giving up on Youtube forever. It simply means most of my content building is going in a new direction. Those that roll with me will roll with this new direction, too. There’s a reason I’m not as interested in Youtube right now, and that’s okay.

I learned that what I had deemed as the voice of “logic” was more like an inner-critic. It was doubtful and scared of my new choices. It brought up what my mom might think and what I would be perceived as by others. “Flakiness” was thrown out a couple times, and it seemed angry at me for continually changing and trying new things.

On the other hand, “airy intuition” was not totally “airy” after all. She had some solid, reasonable points for why I wasn’t a flake and stood firm by my choices. Not only that, but she was encouraging, and seemed to come from a place of belief in myself.

It was eye-opening to see this dialogue on paper. I understood that the resistance towards moving in newer, more exciting directions in my business was coming from a place of fear and self-criticism, and that although I could make space for that opinion to speak, I didn’t have to succumb to it. Instead, I could expand my attention towards the “airy intuition” voice and harness that belief in myself and the bravery to follow my highest excitement.

Applying This Technique To Your Journey

This inner-dialogue journaling tool can be used whenever your in the midst of a tricky decision, are feeling self-doubt, or just need to untangle your thought process around a certain topic. You’ll be surprised at what you discover when you make space for the parts of yourself, and listen.

Turning In

One of the things that’s appealing about writing a blog to me, is that it’s not highly recommended these days. Most business coaches would tell you it’s a better idea to focus on growing your social media, to create videos, or even start a podcast. But a blog–that’s outdated.

I guess I have a rebellious streak. I yearn for authenticity and even if writing is no longer popular, it feels great to do it. This medium allows me to express my thoughts in a way that’s uniquely me.

This blog represents going with my gut. Choosing a path that feels right to me, regardless of what some seasoned experts say. My passion lies in living a life that’s truly authentic, and helping others do the same. This blog is an ode to that.

As an entrepreneur, it’s been tricky to make decisions based solely on what feels right to me. You have all this freedom, yet that freedom can be overwhelming and sort of frightening. For over a year now, I’ve studied the words of other successful entrepreneurs, taken courses, and even hired a business coach. Some of their methods didn’t always jive with me, but I’ve tried them anyways. Other times, I’ve gotten stuck and refused to do anything–whether it was their way or mine.

This push and pull between what feels right to me and other people’s methods and opinions has been a defining part of my journey. Though I was learning from the process itself, and from these mentors, I felt, in many ways, that I wasn’t being true to my own inner guidance.

One of the stronger suggestions I received from coaching mentors was to pick a niche (an area of expertise), and focus on one problem I could help my clients solve. This idea felt confining to me–hell, even the idea of labeling myself solely as a “coach” felt confining. I wanted to expand, to create without limitations. I yearned for the freedom to express myself in whichever way felt right, and to share whatever message I was inspired to contribute, regardless if it fit my niche or not.

Then, I thought about the people I admired and how they had reached success by being rule breakers, or by creating their own unique strategies at life and business. They had owned their authenticity and ran with their intuition. I realized, there is no prescription to my ideal life and definition of success, and if I was going to trail blaze my way through this, I’d have to do it by following my gut.

Becoming Your Ideal Self, Today

I’ve been very future oriented lately. My days have been busy with dreaming, goal setting and hustling. Hustling to reach this “ideal version” of myself: the successful woman I’ll one day become.

This idea of a future-self has propelled me forward. It’s such an exciting life I’m building towards, why wouldn’t I want to work hard to get there? The problem is, I’ve placed this ideal version of myself somewhere far off in the distance. It’s a goal to be reached in the future, when a bunch of different pieces of my life fall into place.

Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s vitally important to have goals clearly outlined for yourself, and to visualize exactly the type of life you want to have. Clarity gives you a path and a better idea of the next best step, wherever you are in your journey.

The important thing to remember is not to get stuck in the idea that you can’t have any aspect of your ideal life yet, and to perpetually wait for the “right moment” to begin making necessary changes. You can create a shortcut to your dream life, today.

Here’s what I did, and what you could do to reach your goals sooner rather than later:

First, I created a list of all the things I wanted for my ideal life + self. I wrote down details for all aspects of my life, including: health, finances, travel, style, self-confidence + beliefs, relationships, career etc. To give you an example, under “health” I wrote down what I wanted my diet to be like, how often I wanted to exercise, get massages etc. Under “finances” I included how much I wanted to make per month, how much I wanted to save and give. In the “self-confidence and beliefs” section, I wrote down all the new beliefs I’d have about myself, such as “I believe, with 100% certainty, that I can accomplish anything.”
After creating this detailed picture of what I wanted for myself, I went through and highlighted all the things I could start doing now, even if that meant pushing myself a bit. I highlighted things like: “I eat tons of fruits and veggies every day,” “I have a regular yoga practice,” “I iron my clothing,” and “I am honest and caring in my communication.” The financial goals seemed the most currently out of reach for me, but I realized I could start tapping into some of those goals. Even if I couldn’t save x% of my income right now, I could push myself to save more than I had in the past.
I started incorporating the habits of my ideal self into my current life.

What I learned from this project is that I have much more control of the present than I thought. I can shortcut to that ideal life if I choose. I no longer have to wait for the “right moment” to begin. The right moment is now.

I’d like to invite you to try this exercise with me and see what happens when you start choosing to live out your goals now.

A video on the topic: