The Magic of Finding Your Internal Focus
Gabby Bernstein, New York Times Bestselling Author and Motivational Speaker
Introduced by Nicole Pullen Ross, New York Region Head, Private Wealth Management, Goldman Sachs
Stress and anxiety levels hit record levels during the pandemic, with 84% of adults reporting in a 2021 survey feeling at least one stressful emotion in the prior two weeks.¹ According to the American Psychological Association, the most common feelings were anxiety (47%), sadness (44%) and anger (39%).
Gabby Bernstein is a New York Times bestselling author, motivational speaker and podcast host who explored how to improve your emotional mindset to better focus your energy, ideas and goals and tackle challenges at our In the Lead 2022 event.
Focus on processing the feeling, not suppressing it
Taking the time to check in with yourself and where you are emotionally, mentally and spiritually can improve how you show up for the world. Instead of pushing through, stopping and focusing your breath, mind and energy can change the way you approach a stressor and result in a profound peace and more accepting nature of experiencing life.
“Many of us don’t think about our internal landscape enough, we override it; we move into energy about getting to the next thing,” Gabby said.
She encouraged people to be curious about how they’re feeling so they don’t suppress their stories. For example, instead of taking steps to stop anxiety, take time to absorb it and process why you’re feeling this way.
Create mantras and affirmations to say out loud
Gabby recommended taking abstract advice and grounding it in applicable coping strategies such as helpful mantras (one she uses is “notice, know, need”) and self-love affirmations like “I am safe.” Using breath work, centering your thoughts, and engaging in compassionate self-talk out loud can positively impact your internal narrative.
She explained that how we speak to ourselves about the situations and relationships we experience impacts how we communicate with the outside world. If you show up with your whole presence, focused on a higher vision, elements that make up how you navigate the world, including perspective, motivation and gratitude come together more easily.
“My presence is my power,” she said. “It is the energy with which I enter the room.”
1 https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2021/02/adults-stress-pandemic#:~:text=This%20is%20higher%20than%20stress,%25)%20and%20anger%20(39%25).
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