Emotional Health

How to Stop Forcing and Start Having Faith

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Hiya Gorgeous!

Happy Valentine’s Day! I was hoping to write something about romantic love or heartbreak today, but I couldn’t decide. Should I re-tell the story of how my biggest heartbreak made space for my greatest love? Nah. Wasn’t feeling it (shout-out to my hubby, Brian, though!)

Perhaps, I’d write about cancer. Today is my cancerversary, after all. Fourteen years living with cancer and still going strong. Nope. Wasn’t feeling that, either. Politics? Hell no. What about how to make a smoothie or take a good poop? Meh. The clock was ticking (we publish every Tuesday) and I was coming up snake eyes.

Well, I could write about a much bigger love—the universal love that’s always available to us. Call it God, Goddess, the Divine, Natural Order, Higher Consciousness—whatever works for you.

But to really do that, I’d have to talk about how I’ve been blocking this love and support (when I need it most). Ooh, that’s juicy! Alrighty, here goes…

I’m a fixer, a problem solver, a get-the-job-done type of gal.

I like to manifest the crap out of life. I get an idea, gut check it to make sure it feels good and then spring into action, creating a multi-tiered plan to make it happen, captain.

Now, I’m not saying that this is always a bad thing. It’s helped me be successful in many areas. But when my behavior is out of balance, it’s exhausting.

So lately, I’ve been easing up. Less doing. More being. I re-calibrated my goals and focused my energy. I declined speaking opps and social engagements. I even expanded my team, which allows me to delegate more. Yay!

Yet no matter how much I took off my plate, I was still overwhelmed and I didn’t understand why. My conscious, solution-oriented mind was coming up short.

Hmmm. Maybe it was my adrenals? Could Ashwagandha help? Nope, tried it. Jeez, what was wrong with me? Screw strategy! It was time to tap into spirit and ask for help.

So, I prayed on it. I prayed and prayed and in the stillness of meditation, I heard this:

“You’re pushing your way through life, relying on force vs. faith.

You’re depending on your own strength vs. Divine timing.

You’re not alone. There are unseen forces working on your behalf.

So, stop trying to control everything.

Instead, show up for your life and the people in it with love. The Universe will do the rest.”

Now, that’s what I call a big medicine message from spirit!

In essence, my spirit was telling me to surrender my need for certainty.

For control freaks like me, that’s a hard pill to swallow. Control can feel so good when we have it. It’s orderly and cozy. Our ducks are in a row and stuff is buttoned up. But, is it really? In my case, control was masking anxiety. Drive was disguising fear.

Life doesn’t always want to be tucked in like that. We’re human beings, not human doings. So when we’re overly obsessed with controlling outcomes, it’s a sign that we’re out of alignment with both our inner guidance and our connection with the Divine.

Constantly plotting, planning and trying to figure things out on my own wasn’t working. My schedule wasn’t exhausting—my mind was! If this sounds like you, the following solutions may help.

How to move from force to faith.

Start by quieting your mind and connecting with spirit. As your thoughts and breath settle, ask for Divine assistance. You may say something like, “Please help me arrange this situation, I can’t figure it out on my own and I need your help.” Then, let go.

Each time a fearful, controlling thought pops up, replace it with a loving, confident thought. Rinse and repeat. Daily, hourly—whenever you need.

Remember that love is patient. Love is trusting. Love is unshakable—even in a shaky world. When we’re aligned with love, we’re aligned with the Divine and with the natural rhythms of life. We create from a place of sacred synchronicity rather than scarcity.

We believe that what’s right for our highest good is being coordinated on our behalf. Therefore, we don’t always have to strategize, force outcomes or figure everything out. Instead, we can do our part and then relax.

Again, this doesn’t mean we passively float through life letting everything happen to us. It means that we find a balance of action and allowing. Sometimes, it’s enough to just hang out with the vision we want to create for a while. We don’t have to jump on it right away. We can sip it like a fine wine. Swish it around and allow the flavors to reveal themselves.

Case in point: Have you ever worked your butt off to reach a goal but for whatever reason, it didn’t happen? Maybe you wanted this goal so badly that it was kinda hard to bounce back after it didn’t work out. Perhaps not getting what you wanted, what you worked so hard for, made you sink into a depression and even doubt your abilities.

Then, out of the blue, months or years later, the unmet desire suddenly happens. You didn’t do a darn thing, it just showed up. Why is that? Because the seed you planted blossomed while you were doing other stuff. Basically, the universe worked on it’s timeline, not yours.

Or maybe, what you wanted showed up in a different, more wonderful way than you actually imagined. Maybe your vision was smaller than what the Universe had in store for you!

You will be led to exactly where you need to be—to the right people, doctors, business opportunities, romantic relationship and decisions.

“Life loves you,” as Louise Hay would say. It’s on your side. It wants you to be unapologetically you. But, life also needs you to have faith in the unfolding.

I hope this topic resonates. If so, are there outcomes that you’re forcing? Can you try to apply a little faith and trust to the situation? Understanding that your muscle pales in comparison to the power of the Universe.

Peace & prayer,

Add a comment
  1. Ira says:

    I just found this in my tough days. My relationship is broken bcz of my negativity which i dont wanna do it again.
    Im so helpless and i found this post. Grateful. So hard to let go and surrender. But your post uplifted me 🙂 thanks xx

  2. Lee says:

    Dear Kris, I’ve just met you a couple of months ago (through the Food revolution summit), but for the last week you have been showing around a lot! I’ve been reading your posts, watching your videos, learning more about you and you have really inspired my a lot!!! Your strength, your vitality, your positivity resonates a lot with me and gave me the strength and trust to start something new that has been for quite a while inside of me, but maybe because of fear, I’ve never had the courage to start!
    Today I feel like it’s a new beginning for me and trust that you came around to give that force, or the Universe put you on my path.. We are miles away of distance and speaking a different language (literally, I’m a native spanish and portuguese “speaker?”) anyway I understand you and “hear” everything you say!!
    Hope to hear from you and hope one day we can meet or talk it would be fantastic! I send you lots of light and good energies! With love and gratitude, Lee

  3. r says:

    Kris, thank you for this. As a struggling actor I find that if I didn’t send a hundred emails a day I would never get a single audition. No one is hustling for me but me. How can I change this? It seems impossible to sit back.

  4. Breanne says:

    Love this post — so right for me right now:) Forcing body and mind.. this reminded me to know that I do have support (Universe and people) even if they can’t do my work for me, if I show up for them, they’ll show up for me

  5. Pat says:

    Wow! Words of inspiration I really needed. I keep getting stressed out trying to make things happen (good things) but its not fast enough. Sometimes, I’m really overwhelmed with my life in general. Thank you for reminding me that its better to do my best but know that my time table is not necessarily the best one. If I let go and trust in God things will be better and I will develop greater faith. Thank you for being real and sharing your positive, healing energy with the world.

  6. Chris says:

    Hi Kris,
    I’ve been inspired by you for years. Your journey helped me wade through the pain of PTSD – sleepless nights, panic attacks – all of it!! I’m curious…. You speak of “god” and the “divine” in very general terms frequently. Who is your god? I know my spiritual self is the foundation of my very existence and gets me through the day. It gives my life purpose. Who is your god? Thx for al you do!!

  7. Bryn says:

    Love this. I’ve spent many years as a forcer and am finally learning to live with more trust and grace. Can’t be reminded enough!

  8. Sandra Johnson says:

    Dearest Kris, you always speak to me. I thank the university for slipping you into my life. You have great wisdom, and that wonderful edgy wit. Namaste.

  9. Faith says:

    Oh girl!!!! From your lips to God’s ears. I have been praying for guidance around a certain situation that this ego keeps wanting to control…and even using angel cards. The angel card that keeps coming up is TRUST…and it describes EXACTLY what you are saying- “life also needs you to have faith in the unfolding.” Things happen in their own time, in their own way-and maybe when we let go, and live in the moment appreciating our own life!. And loved this insight of yours, “Or maybe, what you wanted showed up in a different, more wonderful way than you actually imagined.” That has happened many times to me. Thank you for this reminder!!! Thank you for reminding me to simply have FAITH, have TRUST, relax and enjoy my life…follow my intuition and trust that God has my back!!! Everything unfolds as it should…and always for the highest good of all. With hugs!!! Pax et Bonum.

  10. Nancy says:

    Kris, you’re totally reading my inner mail! Thanks for this.

  11. Berni Nelson says:

    Kris, I am at present having the good fortune of receiving many Miracles and this blogg of yours
    Is another Miracle. Thank you for setting down your Spirit ideas clearly from the Divine spark you are.
    You light up my days and you say “Good Morning Sweetheart!”every day to me. Thank you for your
    Wonderful meditations!! Sending you Peace and joy. xx

  12. Meg says:

    Can you write about how your biggest heartbreak made way for your greatest love, though? I’m experiencing a horrible breakup and need to hear some hopeful stories

  13. Erin says:

    Thank you! You are wonderful and uplifting . I wish you eternal health and happiness?

  14. Raelene says:

    Beautiful post, Kris. Life is conspiring for us, I forget that from time to time, but it feels much easier when I remember! Thanks.

  15. Virginia says:

    I Love You !!!

  16. Jamie says:

    I definitely needed this today. Beautifully written. Thank You!

  17. Anna says:

    Thank YOU dear Kris!!!! It’s an amazing message! So true & at the right time!!! That’s right we must learn a new art of surrender, and I guess we can teach this our kids… Years ago I wasn’t ready to see this clearly, sure deep inside I knew I must cherrish every single moment and let things happen at the righ time and space sequence on the Universe’s schedule. Today I know it. I just know it! Thanks! You are an infinite sourse of love, inspiration and wisdom!!! Love, Anna xo xo

  18. Erin says:

    Thank you so much Kris. I have felt those same feelings at times in My life and it feels empowering and freeing to allow the Divine control in my life. As I turn my will to Gods will I actually feel more calm and peaceful and in control than when I am trying to control everything alone. Thanks for your inspiring post!
    Erin

  19. Monica says:

    Thank you so much for these words, I just had a big fight with my husband because after a long time of trying to quit smoking he gave up and that frustrated my so much… and now that I feel all of the angry in my heart I just read “So, stop trying to control everything, Instead, show up for your life and the people in it with love. The Universe will do the rest” … I can’t stop crying… You are amazing

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