What we wanted to talk about this week was an idea that's very fundamental in helping us to relax in our lives with whatever shows up. And it's a concept that we often refer to as "the universe has your back."
Join us to hear more.
What if life isn’t something we need to control, but something we can trust? Like we 've said before, difficult experiences often become our greatest teachers. Looking back, I, Connie, see how every challenge has led to growth, openness, and deeper wisdom.
When I had a mini-stroke, I could have seen it as a setback, but it's clear to me now that it was a wake-up call and I used it that way. It led me to refine my diet, eliminate salt and oil, and ultimately experience greater health and vitality. What seemed like a terrible problem at first turned out to be an incredible gift.
Similarly, for me, Bill, my divorce was one of the most painful experiences of my life. At the time, it felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me. I was lost, confused, and deeply hurt.
But in hindsight, it was a turning point—it led me to self-reflection that made me more aware of how I was showing up in relationships. It helped me grow into a more loving, considerate person. The universe wasn’t working against me—it was guiding me toward greater understanding and alignment with life’s principles.
What we're seeing and basing our coaching on is that life operates on fundamental principles, like gravity. If we align with them, we experience ease; if we resist or try to go against them, we struggle. Challenges aren’t punishments—they are opportunities to see where we’re out of sync with these principles.
Instead of asking, "Why is this happening to me?" we can ask, "What can I learn from this?" How is this a way that the universe is showing me it has my back and is leading me to more growth and understanding?
When we shift our perspective, even the most difficult situations can become stepping stones toward deeper wisdom and enjoyment in life.
Resisting things that show up in our lives creates suffering, while being open to them, even welcoming them, opens the door to growth. We now embrace the idea that it’s all good—even if we don’t see the benefit immediately. We trust that clarity will come in time. By letting go of the idea that we need to control the things that occur in our lives and trusting in the flow of life, we’ve discovered a profound sense of peace.
The universe doesn’t promise a life free of challenges, but it does offer guidance—if we’re willing to listen. Every experience, no matter how difficult, has the potential to lead us toward greater awareness, love, and joy.
Next time you face a challenge, take a deep breath, welcome what comes, and remember: the universe has your back.
The recipe this week, inspired by a surprise winter snow storm, is a Hearty Minestrone Soup. It's very substantial and really takes the chill off. And is it delicious.
To your Amazing Health,
Connie and Bill
Hearty Minestrone Soup (Serves 4-6) Adapted from Mary McDougall
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- 2 carrots, cut in triangles
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup green beans, cut in 1 inch pieces
- 1½ cups potatoes, cut in chunks
- 2 cups cabbage, chopped
- 15 ounce can fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 cup tomato paste
- 28 ounce can Cannellini beans, drained
- ¼ cup dried parsley
- 1½ teaspoons dried basil
- fresh ground pepper to taste
- ½ cup uncooked pasta
Add onion, celery, carrots and garlic to a large pot with ¼ cup of the vegetable broth. Cook, stirring often until veggies soften slightly, 3 to 5 minutes.
Add remaining broth and all ingredients except the string beans and pasta.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and cook for 35 minutes.
Add pasta and string beans, mix in well and continue to cook for another 15 minutes until string beans and pasta are tender.
Enjoy.