Ep. 3 Playing With the Universe (And It Played Back!)

I promise you, life becomes more interesting, easy, and FUN when you decide to play with the Universe! If you've ever had to make big (and even small) life decisions, it can be overwhelming.  Most often, we try to think our way through it. But have you ever released all of your thinking and instead, followed signs, feelings, and synchronicities? 

In this episode, I share how I decided to trust the Universe during a potentially life-changing opportunity. I was blown away when the Universe completely played back in a major way!  Treating decisions like a game may sound negligent at first, but after hearing this experience, you may want to play this game with every decision!

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Instagram: @dreamlifeconnection
Website: Dream Life Connection
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With love,
Andrea

Transcript

Hello and welcome to Dream Life Connection, your hub from Magical Personal Development. I'm Andrea Morrison. This podcast is a blend of whimsical and grounding topics that will help you live the life of your dreams. We'll talk about synchronicity, lucid dreaming, manifesting modern spirituality, journaling, mindfulness paradigm shifts, subconscious programming, and even traveling. If you are a believer in magic and want to elevate your life, you were meant to be here. During each episode, we'll take a mini journey through a dreamy topic, learn some modern magic tricks, and I'll even share my stories as a traveling dreamer following her intuition. I would love to connect with you at @dreamlifeconnection on Instagram and Dreamlifeconnection.com. I'm so glad we found each other.

Hi, everyone. Welcome back. Welcome back to Dream Life Connection. Yay episode three. I'm so excited. I have to tell you a little update. So last episode I talked about how my boyfriend and I were going to go down to the south end of Portugal. So we were up in Porto, and then we decided to well, we didn't really decide. We kind of had to leave because our Airbnb was up and we found the spot in the south that was within our budget and it actually looked really nice. So we traveled down to a city called Portimao and it's really close to Lagos. So we have been here now for several days and I freaking love it. It's kind of off season right now, so it's starting to warm up and tourists are starting to come, but it's really slow. In the summer, I guess the beaches get completely filled with umbrellas and chairs and all that. But right now it's just like there's barely anybody out. And it's really cool to kind of experience the city in the warmth but during the off season. And I just have to say I'm obsessed with being in the sunshine and being somewhere that there's a beach and it's so open and it's got this beachy vibe. Cute little cafes and restaurants and bars. But there's this really cool boardwalk on the beach that you can walk along and there's little restaurants and oh, my gosh, I'm so happy down here.

But anyway, I just wanted to give, like, a little life update. We're going to be here for a couple more weeks and then we're going to be leaving because as a traveler and as an American in Europe, unfortunately, I cannot stay in certain countries in the Schengen Area for too long unless you have the correct visa. And since I came over to Portugal kind of the last minute - I don't know if you've listened to the first episode, but I talked about how everything kind of got flipped upside down because of covid and restrictions and all of that. So we ended up in Portugal. So I wasn't able to get like a long term visa or anything. So I'm essentially a tourist right now, but working on that and ohhhh, the joys of being a traveler.

But I am super excited for this episode because I wanted to record this, like right after it happened because of this whole experience - I'm calling this podcast "Playing With the Universe." This whole experience of me playing with the Universe just happened. And it was such, I don't know, maybe you'll listen to it and you won't think it's that cool of an experience. But I thought it was actually kind of fun in a weird way.  And so I wanted to share this story. And this goes out to my...well, I don't even like saying over-thinkers anymore...because I started thinking about my first episode and how -- I look here I am overthinking -- but we have to be really careful about the words that we use and what we say about ourselves. And so the fact that I am always identifying as an over-thinker just solidifies that thought, and that's telling my subconscious mind I'm an over-thinker. So of course my subconscious mind is going to make me over think. That's how the universe works. So I am not an over-thinker. And even if I am, it's not a bad thing.

But yes, this podcast goes out to anyone who faces decisions, which is basically everyone, right? But I'm talking like, well, you can do this for little decisions too. But I'm mainly referring to big life changing decisions where you're like, "Oh my gosh, I'm so torn. I don't know what to do." I get into that position every now and then, especially when you're traveling. Especially when you're traveling. Even when I was trying to decide what I should do after I couldn't go to Bulgaria, it was like, what do I do? Do I stay in America? Do I go to Portugal? Do we come up with a different country to reunite in? Anyway, sorry, that refers back to my story in the first episode where my boyfriend and I were separated because of COVID and we were looking for places to reunite and Americans were not allowed in Bulgaria. So I was faced with this decision, what should I do? And I know we all experience this probably pretty often in our lives.

So as you know, my podcast is based on magic, every day magic, dreamwork, subconscious programming, intuition, all of that sparkly stuff that I love, love, love so much. And I like to view my podcast as sort of a virtual spellbook. And each episode is its own little magic trick that can just make your life better and brighter and more magical. So I'm going to go ahead and open my amazing little spellbook and I am going to tell you about how to play with the universe.

So I want to share this story about a job opportunity that came up. So as you might know, if you're listening to this podcast, if you know about Dream Life Connection, I'm a dream and life coach. So I'm essentially an entrepreneur. I have my own small business; I have clients that I coach. I'm involved in every single element of my business. And I'm sure you're probably aware that doing this is not easy. It's a lot of work. There are so many steps, and there's always kind of been this little part of me that's like, man, I just want to go back to that easy life where things are just kind of easier. Not that it's a bad thing. I don't want to discredit, like being an employee and having a job. Trust me, there's a part of me that wants to get back into that because, especially as a Taurus, I like security. I like knowing how much money I'm going to make each month. I like knowing what time I'm going to work, all that stuff. There's a way to kind of recreate this in your own business, but essentially, as a business owner, it's up to you. And it's not that simple, at least in the beginning.

And so there is a company that I used to work with. So I used to work at a TV station in Seattle, and there was a company, a nonprofit organization that we would work with every year. And it was my favorite, favorite event, an organization. I loved the people, I loved the cause, everything about it. I thought about going to that nonprofit and working for them, but it just didn't work out. So a while back, I saw an Instagram post from this organization, and they said that they had a job opening. And I was like, wow, there is my dream job. There it is. I've always kind of had my eye on that role. So I was like, it's open. Man, if I was still in Seattle or lived in Spokane, that would be perfect for me. But I was like, no, I'm traveling. I'm with my boyfriend. I've got Dream Life Connection. It's all good. I'm good.

But it was still in the back of my mind. I couldn't really ignore it. Especially when you're in tax season, you're like, God damn it. This is like so much work. And I remember when I was at a job, it was just so easy to do my taxes. So I think these feelings kind of come up when you're dealing with, like,  admin-type stuff that's not just like, a few clicks and a conversation with your HR manager.  As a business owner, it's a lot more involved. So I think that's part of the reason I was getting into this thought-process.

So the other day, I had the little thought come up again about this position, and I was like, I'll just take a look at it. It's okay. It doesn't hurt. I'll just see. So I look at the position online, and it says that the deadline to submit your resume and cover letter was that day, the day that I was looking at it. And I'm a firm believer in signs and divine timing and synchronicity and all of that. So I looked at that, and I was like, whoa. The fact that I randomly thought about this and came back to this post on the day that everything was due, I think that's a sign. So then my head kind of starts spinning a little bit, and I was like, okay, well, should I apply? Is this my sign to apply?

And then I stopped, and I said, you know what? I'm going to play with the universe on this one. I am going to literally go with the flow on this and follow the direction that the universe takes me. And you guys, I get like, giddy thinking about it because the universe completely played with me. You'll understand, at the end of the story. Okay - so then I reached out to my contacts at this company, at this nonprofit, because I still have relationships with them because I love them so much. I was like, should I apply? Do you guys think I would be a good fit? Like, what do you guys think? And they were like, absolutely send in here's where you send in your info, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. So I spent a couple of hours kind of fine-tuning my resume, and I wrote a cover letter and all of that.

Meanwhile, I was like, kind of in a little bit of turmoil because I was like, "Whoa, am I really going to do this?" I had to make, like, a Pro/Con list because I'm thinking going back to Washington state, and I wrote this in my journal. I was like, going back almost feels like I'm stepping back. I'm taking steps back from all the progress I've made because there were a lot of pros, which is like being back home, having that kind of secure lifestyle that I do value, and most importantly, being close to family again, that would be amazing. I kept thinking about all of that. I wrote out lists, I did my Pro/Con list, and it was really hard to be honest because I was thinking, like, am I really going to give up this life that I've created? And I don't know how it would work out with my boyfriend. It's like, ideally, I was thinking, well, maybe if I'm, like, the perfect candidate, they'll let me work remotely, or maybe my boyfriend will come to America with me.

I was trying to think of literally every single scenario, but at the same time, this position was paying the same exact amount that I had when I was at the TV station. So I left the TV station five years ago, and I would be coming into a new role, making the same amount that I made five years ago. And it's not the most livable wage anymore these days. Five years ago, it was doable. Now, not so much. It's a little bit more difficult. So there were lots of pros and cons, but I was like, let's just keep playing with the universe. Let's go with it. And the old me would have been scrambling, emailing, messaging my contacts, emailing the hiring manager, and talking with everybody I knew about it and be super confused.

But this newer version of me, I just kept saying, trust the process. Trust. If I send my info in and I get a response, keep going, go with it. I literally was being that intentional with it and trusting the universe. I was putting all of my faith in the universe. It's crazy what ended up happening. 

So I sent it in, and there's a part of me that was like waiting for the signs. But like I've mentioned before, the most ultimate sign that you can have is the feeling that you have, like, your gut reaction, like the moment you take this leap or this step. And I'm not kidding. As soon as I hit send, my first thought was, "I hope I don't even get a response." And that was the answer for me. That was the answer.

I was like, wow, okay. I don't even want to get a reply because I see now how much I love this lifestyle that I have, this life that I've built and my boyfriend and Europe right now and just everything about it. Yeah, there's a lot that comes with it. There's a lot of kind of baggage you have to work through and visa issues and being away from your family. But I am working my ass off to be able to be location independent and be able to travel back home whenever I want. That's the ultimate dream. That is my dream. And I kind of have it already. So I'm like, why would I want to go back into this kind of corporate world that I was not aligned with anymore? This is me. This is my opinion. This is my experience. Everybody is different, and I'm not knocking that nine to five job. It's not a bad thing. I mean, there's a big part of me that misses that, but I just don't feel like I can go back into that world as this version of me right now I guess you could say.

Anyway, I haven't gotten to the big part where the universe really played with me. So I kind of went through the whole day after I sent it, and I was like, what if I do get a reply? Is this something I can keep going down this path? Should I keep doing this? So then it's nighttime, and so it's morning in the States, nighttime in Portugal, and I get a message from my contact, and here is where it makes me laugh. The universe just totally listened to me. It answered me. So my contact messaged me, and she said, "Hey, did you send the email to the hiring manager? She said that she hasn't received anything." And I was like, there we go. That's it. I hit send. I know 100% I hit send; I sent it to the correct email address because I was like triple-checking, making sure my email did go through. My email did not actually make it to the hiring manager. I don't know where it ended up. It's in my outbox. I don't know what happened. Maybe it went to their spam folder or something, I don't know. But it didn't send. And again, that was just confirmation that's like, okay, well, I told myself, I'm going to play with the universe. The universe saved me the trouble. Now I don't have to think of a way to kind of back out of this. I can just say, hey, I don't know why it didn't.

While I ended up messaging her back and I said, "You know what? I don't think it's going to work out with me. I'm just not ready. I'm still traveling in Europe and it's just a little bit more complicated, and I'm sure there are other candidates who are far more ready than I am." So, wow, it was just over the span of just two days that this all happened, and it kind of shifted me.

And it's so funny. This whole time I've been recording this podcast, I've been looking at a sticker that my mom gave me, and it's a triangle, and it says, "Be here now." And I've just been fixated on this triangle as I've been recording. And it's like, that is my mantra. That is my motto right now. Be here now. I need to be in Portugal. I need to be in Porto and be with my boyfriend and be in this lifestyle that I've literally developed for myself. And it's so liberating. It feels so good. And I feel like there's this rejuvenated sense of creativity and passion with my business. Yeah, there's always going to be that little bit of me that wants that security, that expectation, and knowing what I'm going to be doing, how much I'm going to make, where I want to be, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But that's just not my life at this moment. It will get there eventually, but I'm still growing my business and I have high hopes for it.

So with that said, if you ever come to a point where you have to decide between something, I want to stress something, there is no wrong decision. Even if I would have gotten up and hit send on that email again, it wouldn't have been the wrong decision. That is the beauty of being a human. It's free will. We can do whatever we want. I personally don't think that there's one set track that we need to be on. We have free will, we can choose, and you can make it the right choice for you. So I encourage you to just play a little bit, like, have fun with the universe, talk with the universe, whatever you want to call it. God, spirit, intuition, universe, anything. Play a game. And you don't have to do this for major life decisions. You can do this for small things, too, and look for the messages and look for the signs and pay attention to how you're feeling.

And speaking of feeling, I like ending each podcast with the quote to kind of think about as we go about our day. And this is a quote from a book called "How to Be an Adult." So I read this book, gosh, it was probably 2015 or 16. Anyway, that doesn't matter. But I didn't really like this book. I was like, I don't want to read about how to be an adult. It was a part of this meditation group that I was in, and it was a book we had to read. I wasn't crazy about it, but there were some nuggets in there that I still obviously think about to this day. And this is kind of a longer quote, but I think it's really, really powerful. So I want to share it.

And it's titled "Deciding." "In matters of the heart, thinking, ironically, leads only to more confusion. What works best is simply noticing what your body feels, what your actions are, what your intuition keeps coming back to. Noticing leads to knowing. You can trust this to happen automatically. Effort may only confound. The next best step appears when we pay attention to the parts of ourselves that cannot deceive: body behavior, inner wisdom. A decision will feel right when it arrives unhurried and with a sense of belonging in all three of these personal territories." 

So I think that's a really, really useful and practical and magical quote to think about as we're coming across decisions about anything. Pay attention to your body.

And here's another little magic trick you can do. I didn't do it for this particular scenario, but it is super impactful. I've done it before and it's really helpful. So what you can do is you set up your camera, your phone camera, and you set a time lapse. So say you're deciding between two things and you don't know what to choose. Record yourself in a time lapse video talking about both things. So you talk about option one and then option two, and then you watch it back with no sound. So you don't listen to yourself. You literally just watch your body language, your energy, your aura. And I'm telling you, that will answer any decision immediately if you're having trouble with it. That's just a really good magic trick to use. 

Anyway. I have been talking too much. Oh my gosh, I am so happy you listened and that you're here. As always, I'm super grateful for you. Reach out to me anytime. Dreamlifeconnection.com or Dream Life Connection on Instagram. Send me a message. Let me know if you're coming across any decisions that you're having trouble with or if you have fun ways to play with the universe or make decisions. Thank you so much for listening. I will talk to you again soon.