I thought I came across this book by accident… but now after reading it I’ve realised that it wasn’t an accident at all. I may not have been looking for it, but it found me anyway! I had been listening to a podcast and heard someone mention Gabrielle and her book and I thought it sounded interesting but didn’t give it much more thought. Then the next day I got an email saying I had credit available on Audible with some recommendations, and there it was, that book I’d heard about. So, I used my credit, downloaded it, and forgot about it again.
Then a few weeks ago I was having a look through my Audible account and there it was, sitting patiently waiting for me. I had nothing else to read so I thought I’d give it a go, listening through my headphones while I tackled our overgrown garden. I spent a full day digging soil, weeding, yanking out dead plants and getting dirty; anorak and hat on against the winter chill. The day passed in a blur of fresh air and listening, listening, listening. I have since pottered around the house, gone for my first run in seven months, commuted… all with my headphones in listening to this book – sometimes stopping it to take notes.
If you are open-minded and ready for some different ideas about how we can make our biggest and scariest (in a good way) dreams come true, then you will love this book. The part I love the most is the idea that pushing, pushing, pushing isn’t the way to get what you want. Working hard and consistently towards making your dreams come true is one thing, but when it happens to the detriment of your health, your happiness, your joy – then what’s the point? This book has come to me at exactly the moment in my life where I needed it; last year I collapsed with burnout, stress and exhaustion, overwhelmed with anxiety and dread because I was pushing too hard, and towards things that weren’t sitting right with me. I needed to just STOP, and in the end my body made that decision for me as my mind clearly wasn’t listening!
So, what do you do when you have dreams and ambitions, but the way society has taught us to achieve them doesn’t work for you? It would seem that the only way to get anywhere is to get up at 5am every day and smash the hell out of every day, pushing at all times. That’s not me, and as I found out, certainly didn’t work for me. This book is about taking that step back and listening to yourself, your inner voice, and if you’re ready to hear it, the voice of the spirit guide that we all have alongside us but don’t pay any attention to because we are too busy smashing the hell out of life. It’s quite woo-woo if you aren’t into that sort of thing, but if you are open to considering another way of thinking and being, you will love it. I did, and I took a lot from it. I’m trying to carry on the things she recommends; finding joy, love and gratitude in everyday things. Even when nothing feels like it’s going right – actually, no, especially then, because when it’s hardest is when we need it the most. I’m using it to manifest transforming This Girl Is On Fire into a global phenomenon that helps millions of women around the world feel stronger in themselves – so watch this space!