You Are Always Being Guided Even When It Doesn’t Feel Like It

As I shared in an earlier post, my words for 2017 is commitment and focus. This is something that decided to apply even to the books I choose to read. I feel like I have worn myself out from gobbling down books and information non stop. I would describe the feeling as a feast of information that just sits in your stomach not digesting and you end up feeling so full you cannot move. And I’m tired of feeling like that so for now I have chosen to limit the information that I take in. Right now it feels good to master a book and breathe in all its magic instead of just stuff it down real quick.

That’s what I am doing with the book The Universe has your Back. I think because I am doing this. It is by far my favorite book written by Gabby B. MM Soul food.

Before I talk about the book, I want to share a strategy I use to decide what to read and where to focus my time. I used to feel very overwhelmed by all the info out there.  I WANTED TO KNOW IT ALL.  I see a lot of pressure to stay in the know and know everything we possibly can. We want to be smart or maybe just have an intense passion to know things.  Information feels good. Admit it. That is why companies spend lots of money on creating new content for us to read.  But that means more for us to absorb.  I used to feel pressure to read literary books and a whole bunch of popular books, etc just to be in know.

Do you ever feel that?

Information is so abundant that we all have this intense pressure to know it all. Right now. Instantly.

It’s a big weight to carry.

So how do I deal with it?

First things first – I made decision to ditch the pressure of reading anything and everything. I don’t want to read extensive literary novels like War and Peace or Jane Austen. (maybe someday!) And the pressure felt heavy in my body just thinking about it.  I am going to read whatever the hell I want – no matter if it appears frivolous or not! I don’t allow myself to feel pressure to do anything for any reason other then that it excites me.  

This was the best weight lifted off my shoulders. Just like my decision to not stay up to date on TV and movie and other pop culture things.  I just don’t freaking care. Heck, I did start watching the Bachelorette this season because well Juli from Paleomg does updates on her blog and I just had to know what is going on. But after just a few episodes, I got the idea and now I just want to read her blog updates..I am over watching the show. ha!

So what do I read then? I read what lights me up. What excites me. What feels good. Reading is a time to relax and rejuvenate my soul. And I have more then enough to read that I still get overwhelmed. I’m the girl who typically reads 10 books at a time on random things. I always have library fines because I have issues parting with books. It’s like I can’t just say I’m done with you book. (because I am not done!!! lol) BUT like I mentioned this year, I am trying to slow down and just soak in a few books at a time. Soak in the beauty, the message, the love put into the work of art.

But my favorite way to decide what I read is when I feel guided to read it. It’s like God just puts the book in front of me like “hey Chelsea it’s time to read this to help you get to the next level” It feels really good. It feels warming and safe. It makes me feel protected. Its one of my favorite feelings because you feel like everything is in perfect timing. Its like there is a little note from God saying “here is exactly what you need right now beautiful.”

And this leads me back to the book that made me want to share this story, The Universe has your Back by Gabby Bernstein.

I first learned about Gabby when she sold her first book way back in 2010.  2010, I was in the midst of a rough time period and this book literally jumped off the shelf into my arms. I have no idea why I bought a book titled “Add more ING to your Life.”  It was one of those random book buys at Barnes and Noble.  Honestly, I barely read it. (from my memory) I glanced over it here and there.  Fast forward a few years later and Gabby BLEW up the spiritual scene and was always hanging out with Marie Forleo who piqued my interest on learning how to build an online business.  By this time, she had published a few more books and was taking over.  Again, I was interested in her books but the words weren’t quite sinking in. Leading into 2016, I went through a lot of spiritual growth.  It was the perfect time for me. All of Gabby’s work finally sunk into my brain. I understood how her words could help my life.

During summer of 2016, Gabby started promoting her new book like non-stop and I knew I would buy it. It just wasn’t up for debate. I was taking my sweet time clicking the “buy” button” though.  Finally I ordered it, but then I barely opened it. It sat around and life got hectic. Now its December 2016, almost 4 months since I bought the book.  And for Christmas this year, our family decided to only gift books. Well lo’ behold, as I was about the open my sisters present. I KNEW it was her book from just feeling outside of the wrapping.  I felt bad because I already had it, but I took it as a sign that I needed to crack open the book now. God was trying to tell me READ THIS BOOK NOW STOP WAITING. This thought instantly came to my head so I didn’t question that this was a message, it was a sign for me to study it.

And that is what I have done. Its a beautiful book and I am still studying it.

I share this story with you to encourage you to think about the idea of being guided towards the books that you read.  I think this will be crucial especially in this information age where we have SO much grabbing our attention.  I honestly believe that using our intuition is one of the best ways to survive and sift through the heaviness.

What should I read next….? Heck this doesn’t have to be self-help type books! It works with novels too. We learn through reading other people’s stories and these can be just as eye-opening if not more.

Just start listening and ask questions.  And if books keep popping up around you definitely take that as a sign.

Or maybe this is all a bit too woo-woo for you, and just read whatever makes you feel good. ? haha

Since, I talked up Gabby’s book so much I thought I would share a few of my favorite topics, quotes.

What I love about this book is that everything is relevant. She talks about how this book is much needed for this time on earth. And I believe that because it sure fits right in my life like a missing puzzle piece.

One of the title chapters is You are always being guided, even when it doesn’t feel like it.  There are so many good ones, but I feel like this one fits with this post. …Let that sink in.

Recently on Instagram, I shared this post where I wrote about how you cannot “mess up” your life. How often do you fear that you messed up your life making a certain decision. The school you went to? The major you chose? The relationships you stayed in too long? Marriage too soon or too late? Babies too soon or too late? The fear you stayed stuck in? We look back and see the word MISTAKE in big red letters. But what if we stopped allowing ourselves to view our past in a such a way? What if we only saw it as the path we were meant to take. The path that will lead us to become our BEST self.  That even in the midst of our “bad” choices that the entire time we were being guided down our BEST path even when we didn’t know it? And so we can decide to stop feeling shame about the choices we made and instead appreciate where life has taken us. In order to see the light, we must first see the darkness.
I can say this in my own life that the darkest times brought me to become so much more grateful for the peace, stillness, and beauty in every day life. I don’t believe I would have appreciate the stillness as much if I hadn’t gone through the storms.

As this chapter of the book mentions…think of your struggles as an assignment.  I loved this idea because it gave me a challenge. Instead of feeling defeated about the same problems that show up for me again and again, I can choose to see it as a task to level myself up. That this struggle was just my chosen assignment.  mmm, doesn’t that feel so much better?

If you want to read more about this topic, definitely check out Gabby’s book. You can grab it here on Amazon.

 This post is a bit long so let’s recap:

1. Use your intuition to decide what book to read next. (It’s more fun this way!)
2. Know that you are being supported in every moment.

3. Trust the signs.  (If this is too woo-woo, try it anyway…Life is more fun when you trust in them.)
4. You cannot “mess” up your life. Every choice you make is only leading you down the best path for you.
5. Struggles are your assignments to up-level your life.

WHOO! This was a long post with tons of inspiring information. I hope it inspired you and filled your soul with happiness today. It is easy to forget all this goodness so put the notes that you need the most in your phone so you don’t forget them. <3

Sending love and happiness,

xxx

Chelsea J

Ps:   Since I have 2 copies of the Universe has your Back, I plan to do a giveaway on Instagram…once I figure out how! lol so follow me over there @chelseajolene and keep an eye out for it!