How to Turn Obstacles Into Opportunities
Digest
Gabby Bernstein, host of Dear Gabby, introduces the episode's theme: "I choose to learn through love." She emphasizes that this approach involves facing uncomfortable situations and relationships with the intention of learning and returning to love. She shares a personal anecdote about a recent setback and how she chose to see it as an opportunity for growth and trust in the universe. The episode then features several callers who share their personal struggles and receive guidance from Gabby. Annie, a caller, expresses her concern about using spiritual practices as a way to bypass her true feelings. Gabby addresses this as "spiritual bypassing" and encourages Annie to allow herself to feel her emotions fully while maintaining an open-hearted perspective of learning. Megan, another caller, shares her experience of healing from sexual trauma and how a recent encounter helped her trust herself more deeply. Gabby celebrates Megan's progress and emphasizes the importance of self-trust in recovery. Riley, a caller, discusses the challenges of supporting her husband in rehab while navigating the negativity of his family. Gabby provides a practice for speaking back to the ego and those who may not understand her perspective, encouraging Riley to choose love and see the situation as an opportunity for growth. Georgia, the final caller, expresses her frustration with being stuck in a bubble bath of negativity. Gabby encourages Georgia to practice leaning towards love for one day and to see every situation as a learning opportunity. The episode concludes with Gabby reiterating the importance of choosing love and trusting that love will guide us through life's challenges.
Outlines
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Introduction
This Chapter introduces the theme of the episode, "I choose to learn through love." Gabby shares a personal anecdote about a recent setback and how she chose to see it as an opportunity for growth and trust in the universe.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
Spiritual Bypassing
This Chapter addresses the concept of "spiritual bypassing" with caller Annie, who expresses her concern about using spiritual practices to avoid her true feelings. Gabby encourages Annie to allow herself to feel her emotions fully while maintaining an open-hearted perspective of learning.
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Radical Honesty
This Chapter is a paid advertisement for Zach.com, a free app and website that helps users find and book appointments with highly rated doctors.
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Thrive Cosmetics
This Chapter is a paid advertisement for Thrive Cosmetics, a brand of makeup that uses clean, skin-loving ingredients and donates to communities in need.
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Gabby Coaching App
This Chapter is a paid advertisement for Gabby's coaching app, which offers hundreds of meditations, workshops, and talks to support users on their personal growth journey.
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Healing from Trauma
This Chapter features caller Megan, who shares her experience of healing from sexual trauma and how a recent encounter helped her trust herself more deeply. Gabby celebrates Megan's progress and emphasizes the importance of self-trust in recovery.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
Supporting a Loved One in Rehab
This Chapter features caller Riley, who discusses the challenges of supporting her husband in rehab while navigating the negativity of his family. Gabby provides a practice for speaking back to the ego and those who may not understand her perspective, encouraging Riley to choose love and see the situation as an opportunity for growth.
![](https://s3.castbox.fm/webstatic/images/book.5d108c35.png)
Leaning Towards Love
This Chapter features caller Georgia, who expresses her frustration with being stuck in a bubble bath of negativity. Gabby encourages Georgia to practice leaning towards love for one day and to see every situation as a learning opportunity. The episode concludes with Gabby reiterating the importance of choosing love and trusting that love will guide us through life's challenges.
Keywords
Spiritual Bypassing
Spiritual bypassing is a term used to describe the tendency to use spiritual practices or beliefs to avoid dealing with difficult emotions or experiences. It can involve using spirituality as a way to numb out, deny, or suppress feelings of pain, anger, or sadness. This can be a form of avoidance that prevents individuals from fully processing and healing from past trauma or emotional wounds.
Learning Through Love
This phrase emphasizes the idea that even difficult experiences and challenges can be opportunities for growth and learning. By approaching situations with compassion, curiosity, and a willingness to understand, we can transform our experiences into valuable lessons that lead us closer to love and understanding. This approach encourages us to see the universe as a classroom and people as our assignments, constantly revealing opportunities for spiritual growth.
Ego
In psychology, the ego is a part of the personality that mediates between the id (primitive impulses) and the superego (moral conscience). It is responsible for our sense of self, our ability to make decisions, and our interactions with the world. In spiritual contexts, the ego is often seen as a source of fear, attachment, and self-centeredness. It can create negative thoughts and emotions that can block us from experiencing love, peace, and connection.
Inner Peace
Inner peace is a state of mental and emotional calmness and tranquility. It is a sense of well-being and contentment that arises from within. Inner peace is often associated with spiritual practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and prayer. It is a state of being that allows us to navigate life's challenges with greater resilience, compassion, and understanding.
Quantum Shift
A quantum shift refers to a sudden and significant change in consciousness or perception. It is a transformation that goes beyond incremental progress and involves a fundamental shift in our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Quantum shifts can be triggered by various experiences, including spiritual practices, profound insights, or transformative events.
Spiritual Proof
Spiritual proof refers to experiences or events that provide evidence of a higher power or spiritual reality. It can be a feeling of connection, a sense of guidance, or a manifestation of something that seems beyond our own capabilities. Spiritual proof can be a source of comfort, inspiration, and motivation on our spiritual journey.
IFS Therapy
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is a model of psychotherapy that views the psyche as comprised of various "parts" that have different roles and functions. These parts can include child parts (representing our younger selves), parent parts (representing our internalized beliefs and values), and self parts (representing our core essence). IFS therapy aims to help individuals understand and heal their inner parts, fostering greater self-compassion, acceptance, and integration.
Alanon
Alanon is a twelve-step program that provides support for family members and friends of people with alcohol addiction. It offers a safe and supportive environment for individuals to share their experiences, learn coping mechanisms, and find strength in their recovery journey.
Dear Gabby
Dear Gabby is a podcast hosted by Gabby Bernstein, a spiritual teacher, author, and speaker. The podcast features Gabby offering guidance and support to callers who share their personal struggles and challenges. The show explores themes of spirituality, personal growth, self-love, and finding inner peace.
Gabby Bernstein
Gabby Bernstein is a spiritual teacher, author, and speaker known for her work on self-help, spirituality, and personal growth. She is the author of several best-selling books, including "May Cause Miracles" and "The Universe Has Your Back." She is also the host of the popular podcast "Dear Gabby." Bernstein's teachings emphasize the importance of self-love, forgiveness, and trusting in the universe.
Q&A
What is spiritual bypassing and how can it be harmful?
Spiritual bypassing is using spiritual practices or beliefs to avoid dealing with difficult emotions or experiences. It can be harmful because it prevents individuals from fully processing and healing from past trauma or emotional wounds.
How can I learn to trust myself more deeply?
Trusting yourself involves recognizing and honoring your inner wisdom, your intuition, and your ability to make choices that align with your values. It also involves being kind and compassionate to yourself, forgiving yourself for past mistakes, and believing in your capacity for growth and change.
How can I navigate difficult situations with a more loving perspective?
Leaning towards love involves approaching situations with compassion, curiosity, and a willingness to understand. It means seeing the universe as a classroom and people as our assignments, constantly revealing opportunities for spiritual growth. It also involves practicing forgiveness, letting go of judgment, and choosing to see the good in every situation.
What is the power of prayer in choosing love?
Prayer can be a powerful tool for connecting with a higher power, accessing inner wisdom, and aligning ourselves with love. It can help us to shift our perspective, release negative thoughts and emotions, and find strength and guidance in challenging times.
How can I interrupt negative patterns and create a more positive experience in my life?
Interrupting negative patterns involves becoming aware of our thoughts and emotions, challenging our limiting beliefs, and choosing to act in ways that align with our values. It also involves practicing self-care, seeking support from others, and cultivating a more positive and loving mindset.
What is the relationship between our internal condition and our external experiences?
Our internal condition, including our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions, shapes our external experiences. When we cultivate a more positive and loving internal state, we are more likely to attract positive experiences and relationships into our lives.
How can I use the "choose again" method to shift my perspective?
The "choose again" method involves noticing negative thoughts and emotions, forgiving yourself for having them, and then choosing to focus on a more positive and uplifting thought or feeling. This practice can help us to interrupt negative patterns and cultivate a more positive and loving mindset.
What is the importance of allowing ourselves to feel our emotions fully?
Allowing ourselves to feel our emotions fully is essential for emotional processing and healing. Suppressing or avoiding our emotions can lead to emotional stagnation, resentment, and even physical health problems. By giving ourselves permission to feel our emotions, we can learn from them, release them, and move forward with greater clarity and peace.
How can I use the affirmation "I choose to learn through love" in my daily life?
The affirmation "I choose to learn through love" can be a powerful tool for shifting our perspective and cultivating a more loving and compassionate approach to life. By repeating this affirmation throughout the day, we can remind ourselves to see every situation as an opportunity for growth and to approach challenges with an open heart.
What is the significance of seeing every situation as a learning opportunity?
Seeing every situation as a learning opportunity allows us to shift our focus from negativity and blame to growth and understanding. It encourages us to embrace challenges as opportunities for self-discovery, personal development, and spiritual growth.
Show Notes
On today’s episode, Gabby shares the perspective shift you need: Life is a classroom. The Universe is your teacher. And the people in your life are spiritual assignments. Tune in to learn how you can master one of the Universe’s most crucial lessons: how to see obstacles as opportunities. This perspective will change your life.
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- For a deeper dive, check out my books.
- If you feel you need additional support, please consult this list of safety, recovery and mental health resources.
- Disclaimer: This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and support you on your personal journey towards inner peace. I am not a psychologist or a medical doctor and do not offer any professional health or medical advice. If you are suffering from any psychological or medical conditions, please seek help from a qualified health professional.
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Produced by Dear Media
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