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Kori Gouge

Body Success Mentor for High-Achieving Women, Denver

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Autumnal Equinox, Labyrinths, and Ladybugs – the Call of your Soul

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I sat serenely on a weathered wooden chair, encircled by seven pine and cottonwood trees. The wind whistled as it rustled the leaves of the trees indicating the onset of autumn. The sky shifted from indigo to cerulean as a bright red ladybug nestled on a branch in between the thick, dark green pine needles mirroring my quiet contemplation.

 

This is my office. This sacred space with no walls, no doors, no ceilings, or borders is just as much my office as my office at home. Why? Because there is no separation, no division among work, life, and love. They are one in the same because they are me. Recording a video, writing an article or post, walking a labyrinth, performing improv, teaching, coaching, sitting in the center of a cluster of trees – they each contribute to my work, my relationships, and my soul. I am present to every moment, knowing that in that very moment, everything is perfect because what determines the moment is the state of my soul. The energy – the space of me – I bring and hold is what makes each moment.

 

My soul needs this – the wide open sky that feels as deep as the ocean, acres of open land, spaciousness – no constraints or limitations, simple freedom. The wind alternates between gentle and powerful as the sun shifts from warming the body to burning and reddening the skin. No worries, no cares, no attachments. Free and supported, guided, provided for. The cycle of creation and destruction and rebirth is unfettered and unbound. A tiny yellow bug with black polka dots explores the arm of the wooden chair, its antennae waving in the wind.

 

So many paths, some taken again and again until you realize, hmm, I’d like a different path now, none “better” than another, simply different as comparison and judgment fade. There is no destination. There is, and always will be, only the journey. It will shift and change directions. You will have different companions. Yet it will always be exactly as it is meant to be. No comparison to others’ journeys because there is only yours. You are always creating it. A chirp of a bird awakens me from my reverie, asking, what are you choosing here and now? Here and now. What are you choosing to believe, to think, to do, to be?

 

Grounded, rooted, strong, sturdy. Something amazingly unbelievably beautiful is happening right now. An awakening. An alchemy.

 

Are you brave enough to bare your soul? To invite others on your journey however disjointed it may feel right now? However messy it may look, you are still walking your path with grace, awareness, attention, and appreciation. It is the experience of how you’re choosing to show up for it – even in the most intense storm, you can remain the eye – calm, centered, unshakeable, alert, and responsive. It is the experience of every moment that makes up your life; how you choose to experience each moment is what matters.

 

Your life can change in an instant because you can change in an instant. As you invoke your divine sovereign power and tap into the kingdom of riches that resides within you, you are magnetic, transformative, purifying, disrupting, alchemizing, elevating, and captivating. The body as art, your work as art, your life as art, you as art. You are creating a masterpiece, moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day.

The Empowerment of the Darkness

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Here I am. No friends. No family. A job I don’t love. Alone in a country that is not my own, speaking a language that is not my native tongue.

Here, I tell myself, here is where I am meant to learn that if I can be ok, here, without all the things I am accustomed to, all the things that make me feel at ease, without a sense of belonging or place, without doing work that fills my soul, here, here is the place I am meant to begin my deep healing. Here is where I need to learn to cling to me. Here is where I need to learn that it is not anything outside of me that will create peace and wholeness within me. Everything is within me and here, here, I am seeing that for the truth that it is.

 

Yet that was just the beginning of the stripping away of my false self – the self I had created to accommodate friends, family, society’s customs, work – while those elements were no longer who I was while I was living in another country, there was more work that had to be done.

 

While there, my sole companion, my love, my best furry friend passed away. I was shattered. I thought I had already lost all of who I was. I was wrong. This was one of the most challenging losses of my life. Alone in a foreign country, no friends or family, with only my dog, and now he had been taken from me. I was devastated. I had made him my world to make up for all that was missing. Now all that remained was a huge hole in my heart.  I was broken.


Yet, there was further down to go.

 

Upon my return to the US, I fell into a deep depression. I had been away for three years. I had changed. I wasn’t the same person I was three years ago. I once again felt like I didn’t belong. I did have my best friend, Emily, who had stayed in touch with me throughout my time abroad. She had been my rock through the trials and tribulations. Within eight months of returning to the US, Emily died six weeks after being diagnosed with acute leukemia. This must be some sort of sick joke, I thought. This time, however, I resisted the destruction that actually needed to happen. I threw myself into work, into dance class, into international travel. Little did I know that this neglect, this unwillingness to fully surrender to the tempest brewing in my soul would end up preventing me from fully healing.

 

I thought I was fine. I pulled myself together. I got support. But that isn’t what was needed. All of this had happened in order to rip apart the old me, the small me, the me that clung to some false sense of security. When I didn’t surrender to the destruction, I wasn’t able to be recreated. So I continued to play out old patterns and feed my limiting beliefs, all to prove my deep-seated sense of unworthiness.

 

So the death wish taunted me, beckoning me to come to the dark side. Instead of entering the darkness to learn from it, heed its gifts, and call it back into the light, I fed it and of course, it grew.

 

Now I can finally see that surrendering to the darkness is not the same as succumbing to it as I had been doing. It is laying down the sword in order to take up the reins so that I could reign as the true sovereign. The soul who is empowered by the dark not consumed by it. I am the darkness and the light. I am hell and heaven. I am the dragon and the warrior.

 

As I honor my path instead of criticize or disparage it, I am able to transform it and myself along with it. A true metamorphosis.

 

The gift in all of this is to come to know yourself, your true self, for the first time and to declare to yourself that, no matter what may befall you, you will never, ever, abandon yourself again. Because at the end of it all, you are truly all you have. And you must love, honor, and cherish you with all of your heart. That is the biggest transformation of all. And, that, that is precisely when everything changes. When you live as the truest, fullest expression of you, your life changes to reflect exactly that.  As you ascend, you draw in circumstances, situations, people, and opportunities that match your elevated state. Everything around you aligns to match your heightened energetic vibration. You are free to be the you you were always called to be but had denied for so long. You are the divine expressing itself through you. No more dimming your light. No more playing small. No more hiding. You are here to rise, to reign, to alter your so-called ‘reality.’ You are here to shatter false perceptions. You are here to disrupt old systems. You are here to be a catalyst for change.

 

You are a sorcerer of light, a speaker of truth, a purveyor of freedom. You, my love, are a force to be reckoned with.

You are breaking THROUGH to a new level of YOU

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Last night, at the close of the Business Breakthrough Mastery workshop I was attending, everyone had the opportunity to write down what had been stopping them from progressions or having the success they desired The lies and limiting beliefs and sabotage patterns that had been operating in their lives for many, many years. They wrote this down on a piece of board. On the other side, they wrote what would be the breakthrough as they released these limiting beliefs – what was their new truth, their real truth.

 

One of the presenters is a 7th-degree black belt in martial arts. He talked about how you could break this board with a punch with the palm of your hand. His instructions were clear – you had to think about going through the board – you aren’t punching the board, you are punching through to the other side of the board. You had to visualize not getting TO the board, but THROUGH it. The same is required for a breakthrough in our thought patterns.

 

Each person had the chance to stand in front of the crowd, speak their name into a microphone and share their limiting beliefs and breakthrough.

 

One after one, I kept hearing the same things. I don’t have the right education or training, I suck. I can’t do it. I don’t have enough money. I’m not smart enough.I am afraid of success. I’m afraid of letting people down. The one limiting belief that the majority of people said, either explicitly or implicitly by the other things they shared: I’m not good enough. I’m not worthy.

 

It struck me how prevalent this lie was. I was in a room with 100 successful entrepreneurs and almost all of them had this core belief that they weren’t good enough or deserving of success.

 

This lie is insidious. It’s like a virus. It infects you and then you realize everyone else is infected too. The vaccine for this sickness is truth. Your powerful truth. The truth that you are here for a reason. You are here to do great things with great love. You are here to become the person you have always been destined to be – a person of great conviction in their dreams, a deep desire to use their gifts in the service of others, and the belief that they can change the world. Yogi Bhajan, Kundalini yoga master, says, “Happiness is your birthright.”

 

You are not here just to struggle and suffer. This does not prove your worth. You are inherently worthy. You are here to give and receive love, to let that love propel you forward, and to recognize that you ARE love.  

 

Here is an activity you can do today.

 

On a sheet of paper, write down all the limiting beliefs and lies and bad habits that have prevented you from having the success you desire – in your career, your relationships, and your health.

 

Read it over. After you read each statement or phrase, denounce it. “That belief is no longer mine. I release it. I forgive myself and anyone else who may have contributed to this belief. I am free.”

 

Then, in a contained space – a metal trash can or bucket or patio – set the paper on fire. As it burns, embody the sensation of release.

 

Now, on a new sheet of paper, write down all the beliefs that would support you in having everything that you desire. What beliefs would feel like a breakthrough for you? Write them down. Use positive, present tense and I am statements.

 

Now, tell me, what would be your biggest breakthrough, friend?

 

I can help you with that.    (https://korigouge.com/workwithme/)

 

I have learned so much already in this workshop and it’s only been one day. I want to take everything I’ve learned to help you get unstuck and breakthrough to a whole new level of success in your business and life.

Stay tuned for a special offer coming your way on Monday!

 

In the meantime, join me at The Courageous Life FB community, where you can be a part of an incredible community dedicated to living with passion and purpose. You’ll also get to experiment with the art, science, and magic of living courageously.

 

Believing in your breakthrough,

 

Kori

Why your story matters

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Why do I believe so much in this story thing?

 

Because we make our own meaning. We make a situation, an event, a challenge, a loss mean something. We can make it mean life is hard and unfair and we might as well give up.

 

We could also make it mean that there is something to learn from this, this will make me stronger, more self-aware, more compassionate, more determined, more powerful.

 

When I lived in San Jose, Costa Rica, it was a challenging time for me. I left a well-paying job, a great community, good friends and family to step into the unknown. I expected to make friends, become a part of the community, and enjoy my work. This was not the case at all. (There is much more to this story but I’ll save that for another time.) I remember talking to a friend from grad school and telling him, I don’t have friends or family here, my job isn’t great, and I’m very alone – if I can learn to be ok here – without depending on any external circumstance for my sense of contentment, then I’ve made it – that’s the ultimate lesson. He chuckled, “If you can do that, you’ve won the grand prize.”

 

The grand prize. To be ok no matter what. To not make a difficult situation mean something is wrong with you and instead to see it as an opportunity to grow in your self-knowledge, your resilience, your faith, and your inner strength. To choose to write a new story from it. A story where you come out better on the other end.

To do that takes commitment – a commitment to choosing a new path. It also takes practice. That period of my life tested me in so many new ways. I had to learn new practices so that I didn’t let the darkness and negativity win. Those practices are what I have been sharing in the Rewrite Your Life in Seven Days challenge. They include connecting with the highest vision you have for your life, consistently taking bold actions that propel your forward, engaging in soul and self-care, participating in physical activities that lift your spirit, and connecting with something grander – your purpose, your why, and a powerful guiding force.  

You have to trust you are not alone and that you are destined for greatness, whatever that may look like for you. It is not an easy path. It requires hyper-consciousness, a deep connection with yourself and your soul’s longings, and an unwavering faith. It behooves you to pay attention, to say no to the debilitating thoughts and habits that only serve to distract and sabotage you. This is not the path for the weary. It takes vigilance and incredible love to stay the course – to know your work is needed and your story matters, that you matter. It is a true dedication to your craft.

This work is worth it. It is your legacy to have lived a life of conviction in who you are, what you are about, what you stand for, and what your unique contribution to the world is. 

 

Tomorrow is day seven of the Rewrite your Life Challenge and it’s a good one. Will you join us?

 

If you are tired of your story and want to change your path, book a session with me. I can help you get clear on your vision and mission and write a new story for your life – a life that includes meaningful work, a successful business, and a fulfilled life.

 

Your life starts now. You always have the opportunity to begin again. What will you choose? How do you want your story to go?

Losing, Learning, Loving, Laughing, and Living – Lessons from Emily

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Today would have been my best friend’s 39th birthday. Emily LOVED her birthday. It was better than Christmas to her. I was talking to one of my business besties last night and telling her how I usually do something for Emily on her birthday. She replied, “You are doing something for her. Look at all you are doing.” She was referring to me building my business and not giving up on it, no matter what.

I was talking to one of my business besties last night and telling her how I usually do something for Emily on her birthday. She replied, “You are doing something for her. Look at all you are doing.” She was referring to me building my business and not giving up on it, no matter what.

She was right. Emily would be so psyched for me as I would have been for her. That is part of what struck me when she died – how much she still wanted to do. From that day, I wanted to make sure I was doing everything I could to live my life purposefully since I was given the chance to do so. Living my life to the fullest is the best way to honor her and to celebrate her life. I wish she could be here, every day. I will always miss her.

Life is strange. It’s so devastating to lose someone so close to you, someone, who was such a huge part of your life. It’s hard to imagine life without them. And then you have to. And the only way to do it is to do it so well, that you know wherever they are, they are smiling with you.

I wanted to share a few things I loved about her in the hopes you will take some of it with you today.

Lessons from Emily:

  1. Never lose your sense of humor, no matter what is going on, share a smile.
  2. Commit fully to personal growth and healing.
  3. Travel as much and as often as you can, even if that means going somewhere new in your city.
  4. Always tell the truth, even when it’s hard.
  5. Go after what you want, no matter how scary it may seem.
  6. Stand up for yourself even when your knees are shaking.
  7. Love deeply.
  8. You are stronger than you realize.

In honor of Emily and to celebrate her birthday, I encourage you to tell someone you love them (this includes telling you this!), smile more often, commit to your own self-learning, explore a new place or activity, and above all, do something fun!

Never ever pass up an opportunity to leave someone in a better place than you found them – whether that’s through a story you share, a heartfelt smile, a good laugh, a hug, or a sense of good energy and a lightened spirit.

We get to choose how we show up each day and the impact we desire to have on every person we come into contact with. Today, above all days, make that interaction count.

Much love,

Kori

Asking the universe for signs requires us to be open to receiving them

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“Please give me a sign of some sort that I am on the right path.” I sent this out to the universe on Saturday morning during my meditation.

I have done this before yet I often miss the signs, (thanks to my analytical nature).

When we ask for signs, they may be subtle and they often come in ways we don’t expect.

On the entrepreneurial path, there are many ups and downs. With this, comes many opportunities to doubt yourself and the path you’ve chosen. This is not uncommon. We are constantly walking into the unknown, testing, experimenting, and evaluating to see what works and what doesn’t.

Once in a while, you just want a sign that you are on the right path, that you’re not so crazy after all, and this is what you are meant to be doing.

So as I sat in meditation, I asked the universe, please give me a sign that I am on the right path, and, if I’m not on the right path, show me.

Often when we are facing our fears in one area of our lives, we start to pick apart other areas of our lives. I am guilty of this. When I am moving to a new level in my business,  I start to pick apart my body or my relationship or something else. It is our ego’s way of keeping us small – don’t go getting too happy or successful.

We are often so accustomed to struggle that if we aren’t struggling in one area, we will find another area to struggle in.

So that’s what I did. I started to get down on my relationship with my boyfriend. I started to withdraw (that sure helps, doesn’t it?) and feel bad. We had plans on Saturday to go to a performance of the Colorado Ballet. On the drive over, I brought up my fears (which made them less scary). This led to a great conversation and a new understanding of each other.

As we walked to the car after the ballet, I noticed that across the street, they were shooting off fireworks. We stood there and watched the entire show of about ten to fifteen minutes. About a third of the way through, two fireworks went off in the shape of a red heart. I thought to myself, “Wow. There is no denying that sign.” It made me laugh  because I often miss the subtle signs and this felt like the universe’s way of saying, “Hey, you see this? It can’t get much more obvious than this, so I hope we got your attention this time.”

It filled me with joy as I felt a renewed sense of magic in life and I realized that magic is all around us. We just have to be open to seeing it. And when we ask, we need to be ready to receive. That is a beautiful thing.

Where are you creating unnecessary struggle in some area of your life? Look around to see what’s going really well. Can you allow yourself to feel good about it without looking for drama in some other area of your life?

It is when we are in this place of allowing all the good in that we are more in tune with how incredible life is. That’s exactly when the magic happens.

Sending you a renewed sense of magic,

Kori

P.S. Want to create more magic in your life? Book your Breakthrough Session with me and let’s get the magic flowing.