3 Ways to Live Life on Your Own Terms with Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth Gilbert is a New York Times best selling author best known for her memoir “Eat, Pray, Love”. Before that, she started her career as a journalist for Spin, GQ and The New York Times. But, even as a well respected journalist and author, Elizabeth shared with us that she still has moments where she is on the edge of breaking down. Elizabeth shares with us how she combats that and lives life with mental peace, so you can be living life on your own terms.

3 Ways to Live Life on Your Own Terms from Elizabeth Gilbert

1. As long as you’re alive, you’re story is not finished 

Transformation comes with effort. Elizabeth talks about her old friend Jim Maclaren, who she actually wrote about during her journalism days, and his outlook on pain and transformation. Jim told Elizabeth to never waste your pain. If you don’t use your pain as a catalyst for change and transformation, then that is just wasted suffering. Pain is an opportunity to level up in your life.

2. Use Rest As a Meditation

Rest is a form of meditation. It's like taking time out to meditate, but instead of sitting still and focusing on your breath, you're lying down in bed with no idea what to do next. And then? Then there's nothing to do but fall asleep. And that's perfect—because it's not about being in one place at all: it's about moving around until finally going somewhere new. So if you find yourself stuck in a rut or feeling restless for any reason, try taking some time out from your regular routine and just letting yourself relax without worrying too much about anything else except getting some rest—whether it be by lying down on the couch or taking an afternoon nap on the couch after working all day long...it doesn't matter!

3. Fear is a good thing

Gilbert believes that fear is a good thing. In fact, she thinks that fear can be the foundation for all great relationships and adventures. She tells us: “You'll be so much more likely to choose the right companion for you if you've learned how to manage your own fears rather than trying to suppress them or avoid them." She also believes that a person should learn how to deal with their fears in order to grow as an individual and become resilient in any situation they may encounter at some point in life (whether it's good or bad).

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Want to hear more about how Elizabeth Gilbert lives her life on her own terms? Check out the full episode here

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