I pushed against the universe and its gifts for many years. I didn’t trust it (or myself), and felt the need to control every aspect of my life. Of course that led to nothing fulfilling, so I felt like I was mainly on the “naughty list.” Why didn’t good things happen to me? Now I know it’s because I didn’t allow those gifts to present themselves. I was too busy resisting what came naturally and forcing what I thought I wanted.

I really started cultivating my relationship with the universe a few years ago. Bit by bit I stopped forcing things… my will, my agenda, the idealized pictures in my head. It’s a huge shift to accept the unknown, and an even bigger one to embrace it, because it requires letting go of everything that is safe and familiar. It doesn’t happen all at once; for me it was a process to recognize I didn’t always know what was best for me. I had to open myself up to the idea that there could be a bigger, more amazing life in store if I would just allow it.

Gifts don’t always come in the package you expect, or arrive when you want them to, which is why it’s so important to surrender. If you view possibilities through a pinhole, those gifts are never seen. Having a trusting relationship with the universe requires authenticity—getting to the root of your true desires and acting in accordance with them. It requires you to discard everything that screams at you to do things a particular way. It requires surrender and allowing the unknown to surprise you. Do this, and the gifts you’ve been holding yourself back from receiving will start to show up. Listen in to learn more about the magic of the universe and how to trust it. You’ll be amazed at how much will come to you, in ways you never could’ve imagined.