Actually, let’s do both…

TRUTH: Each one of us — no matter our background, personality, or profession — is a creative soul.

DARE: Sit down, grab a piece of paper, and write: What should I do next? Then get quiet, allow your creative force to flow through you, and listen for the answer. 

It might sound a little out there but it WORKS.

Because if you’ve ever wondered, “Marie, what’s your secret to having so many IDEAS? Don’t you ever get blocked?” 

The answer is yes, I DO get blocked. But I also have a TON of ideas that I can access on command — thanks to a foolproof process that helps me get unstuck every time.

I wouldn’t call it my secret exactly, because over 5 million creatives (and counting) use it too:

It’s called Morning Pages —  a miraculous tool invented by Julia Cameron, bestselling author of 40+ books including her seminal work on creative unblocking, The Artist’s Way.

“Rather than trying to be brilliant, try to be of service.” @juliacameronlive
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Chances are, you’ve either tried Morning Pages or know someone who has. But did you know it’s just one of Julia’s four core tools to unlock your creativity and unleash your most important, magnificent ideas?

On today’s MarieTV, Julia is going to show you how to use each of them. You’ll learn:

• Why creativity is a lot like sex (hint: you don’t need to wait until you’re “in the mood”).
• The magic of “Assigned Play” — and how to use it to refill your creative well.
• Why you should stop trying to be brilliant and what you should do instead.
• A simple phrase that will silence your inner critic.
• How listing the things you love can lead to life-changing revelations.

Whatever creative endeavor might be next for you — a novel, short film, sculpture, or the most inspiring damn meeting presentation you can make — hit “play” for actionable advice you can use right now:  

DIVE DEEPER: Learn how to live your most creative life and generate fresh content ideas — fast. 

Now let’s turn all of this insight — and inspiration — into action. In the comments below, let us know:

Do you have a creative project in your heart that could use some reigniting? Which one of Julia’s four strategies will you try today?

The key to creativity is showing up for yourself consistently and taking action. One way to do that is by signing up for our free 7-Day Writing Class. Through a series of quick, daily tips, I’ll guide you to write in a way that’s unmistakably “you.” Sign up at TheCopyCure.com to get your first lesson instantly.

Whatever your heart is craving to create, know this: You wouldn’t have the impulse if you didn’t already have the goods to make it happen. So stay open to the flow and keep going. I believe in you.  

XO

The post What to Write About When You Have No Ideas… Quick Writing Inspiration with Julia Cameron appeared first on .

Avital is one of the most articulate, passionate people I’ve ever met. Based in Israel, she’s a graphic designer turned parenting coach, podcaster, and mother of five. (Yes, FIVE!) At The Parenting Junkie, Avital empowers “imperfect parents” to love parenting and feel confident doing it. Here she shares how she grew from an unpaid side hustle to a six-figure business in just three years.

Pay close attention to this Q&A and you’ll learn how Avital:

• Turned her unpaid obsession into a thriving, global business.
• Transformed a heartbreaking moment with her son into a life-changing idea.
• Grew to 85,000 YouTube subscribers — even though everyone around her said she was being naive.
• Maintains a 6-figure business working just 20-30 hours per week.

As a parenting coach, your intro into parenting is surprising. Can you tell us about that?

When I first got married, having kids didn’t seem like a very desirable, sexy thing to do. I was put off by the whole process, and it seemed like, “Oh, anyone who has kids is exhausted, and they have Cheerios in their hair, and tantrums in the cereal aisle, and it depletes you and exhausts you, and like wreaks havoc on your bank account and your pelvic floor.”

And here you are, five kids later!
Ultimately, it was a human experience I didn’t want to miss! I thought to myself, “There must be alternative ways of doing this.”

Where did you start?

When I was pregnant I read all these books, and I was so excited. I thought, “I’m never going to yell, and I’m never going to lose it, and I’m always going to play. I’m going to love it every day!”

How’d that turn out?

Real-life parenting came along and it can be a grind! It can be difficult and it can be challenging. For me, the hardest part was meeting those very ugly sides of myself that I was ashamed of — that I didn’t want the world to see and I didn’t want my child to see. As I like to say, “We’re all great parents before we have kids.”

So parenting was hard at first, but you figured out a way to make it joyful. Tell me about that change.

There was this one pivot point when I was really, really angry with my two-year-old. I was rageful and a little bit out of control, which I rarely, if ever, experienced before I was a parent.

My son ran away from me in defiance and I saw a look of fear in his eyes. I realized that he was afraid of me. And in that moment I thought, “Okay, no. I have to apply all of my passion and interest into better communication skills and emotional regulation and building a healthy relationship with my child so that I can enjoy this phase of my life and not be a monster.”

That’s so heartbreaking, but I know every parent reading can relate.

Parenting is such a high-stakes project, you know? But it’s also exciting! I started reading a lot of books about it and became a bit obsessed. I started telling everyone who would listen, “Oh my gosh, have you heard about this? Have you heard about that?”

So when did you start to think of parenting as a business?

Eventually, I decided to give myself an outlet and make some YouTube videos, so I could share what I was learning with people who might actually care, rather than offering it unsolicited.

I called it The Parenting Junkie because that’s what I was: a junkie for all this information! And as my channel grew, I noticed that there were other people interested in these concepts too, and that my summaries were helpful for them.

I was unknowingly providing a service. I was reading a lot, but for most parents, it was quite a burdensome quantity of research to undertake.

I experimented with these concepts on my own family, and would explain what worked for me and what didn’t. I love to simplify and reverse engineer these academic ideas into actionable steps. So that’s how my YouTube channel started, but during that time I was still working as a brand identity graphic designer.

Wow. So you had a day job, were a new parent, and you had this growing YouTube channel.

At first, it was just an unpaid side hustle, but I started getting the sense that there was a living to be made… somehow, maybe. At the beginning, I thought maybe it was AdSense, or maybe I could get sponsors. But I eventually came across the idea that I could be a parenting coach. Getting another degree in psychology seemed the longest, most painful route I could go, and also not necessarily aligned with what I wanted to do.

So you got qualified as a coach.

Yup. And at the beginning, I thought I would offer in-home courses for maybe 10 couples at a time and just teach the curriculum that this coaching institute gave me. But I did that a couple of times and realized it just wasn’t what I wanted to do. What I really wanted was to use my own voice, and not just teach someone else’s curriculum.

“I’m allergic to dogma. My interest is in the blend. I wanted to help parents personalize their experience.”

Why do you think that was?

I’m really allergic to dogma. I find that in the parenting space there’s quite a lot of pressure to stick to one philosophy, which then results in guilt or shame when you can’t adhere perfectly to that method.

My interest is in the blend. I wanted to help parents pick and choose — to personalize and tailor-make their experience. That was right around the time I took B-School. 

Yes! Tell me about your decision to join B-School.

I wanted to monetize my small online presence, turn my passion into a moneymaker, and leave my day job. I had no clear idea how to monetize what I was doing and everyone around me said no one would ever pay for parenting content.

How did that feel?

I felt almost silly, or at least misunderstood. I believed that the information and services I wanted to offer would deeply benefit others — but those around me thought I was a naive dreamer for expecting it to ever replace my “real” job. I felt vulnerable, too, putting myself out there without the validation of a degree or Ph.D. I felt confused by all the various routes I might take and unsure whether they would get me where I wanted to go. 

“My work life balance is fantastic.”

Did B-School change things for you? 

Absolutely. Thanks to B-School I launched my website, a membership program, and four online courses including a high ticket course. I’ve helped people transform their marriages and their parenting in ways I could only have dreamed — and I’ve created prosperity for my family and team in the process.

Plus, my work life balance is fantastic. At one point I was homeschooling four children and I simply couldn’t work more than about 20 hours a week. But I was still able to grow The Parenting Junkie to a place where it’s sustainable and able to sustain my lifestyle. 

But you’re not just a B-Schooler, you’re a Copy Cure student too! Why was becoming a better writer so important to your success?

As I began to set up my website, write weekly blogs, emails, Facebook posts — I found myself unsure of my “voice.” I was speaking about emotionally-loaded topics, and I needed to be clear, non-judgemental, and helpful. 

I really wanted to write in a way that truly connects, entertains, and inspires. But I found myself lacking the confidence to be as witty as I am in real life, nervous that it wasn’t “profesh.” I also tried to impress people with fancy copy and over-embellished sentences, which ended up like a long snooze fest.

And did The Copy Cure help?

You tell me! Since taking The Copy Cure my business revenue, email list, and team have more than quadrupled. 

Since that first humble launch in 2016, I’ve grown my business to be in the multiple six figures. I have a team of other part-time moms who I love and adore. We’ve sold thousands of courses and memberships and do so with absolute pride. 

I’ve had incredible opportunities, from speaking on stage in California to hosting retreats in Costa Rica. And most importantly — I receive messages every single day from parents whose lives have been transformed because of my words. 

“I receive messages every single day from parents whose lives have been transformed because of my words.”

We have thousands of members from over 60 countries worldwide and it’s become a global movement. Our mailing list grew to over 50,000 people in just three years. Our social media audience has over 100,000 followers, YouTube over 85,000 subscribers, and 4 million views.

The Copy Cure also helped me write my first book. It’s called Present Play and it should be coming out in the summer of 2022.

Omg WOW, congratulations! That must feel amazing.

I feel so honored and grateful and blessed. Every time I sit down at my computer to work, it’s truly with such deep gratitude in my heart. It’s like the wildest dream to build a business that’s exactly tailor-made to my lifestyle, to my values, that makes an impact, that’s fun to work in, and that feels meaningful.

Thank you, Avital, you’re incredible!

What did you notice from Avital’s story? Any ahas you can apply to your own life and business? Let us know in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this installment of #TheProof, you’ll love our Q&A with Vaishali Patel. She started a business with no clear idea or prior business training, overcame her paralyzing self-doubt, and went from “scraping by” to $350k per year… teaching Gujarati online.

→ Want to write words that sell and sound like you? Sign up for our free 7-day writing class at TheCopyCure.com. Once you enter your name and email, you’ll get Lesson #1 INSTANTLY. (We’ll also make sure you’re the first to know when The Copy Cure doors open again.)

The post #TheProof: Avital Schreiber Levy 4X’ed Her Business — While Raising 5 Children & Working Part-Time appeared first on .

A REAL break. And, for the record — taking a shower and clipping your toenails does not count as self-care. That’s just basic hygiene!

As a high-achiever who cares deeply about what I do, I’ve been known to keep a punishing schedule. But the truth is this:

Making time for yourself isn’t just nice, it’s necessary if you want to create and serve on a high level — without burning out.

Self-care isn’t selfish.
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The more energy you put into your career, family, business, friends, and community, the more you need to prioritize self-care.

In this Unplugged episode, I’m sharing personal footage from my self-care retreat to the dreamiest wellness resort I’ve ever seen. You’ll get an MTV Cribs-style tour of my stunning casita, drool-worthy clips of Costa Rican jungle hot springs, and coffee-picking on horseback… But, more than that, I hope this inspires you to:

• Spend guilt-free time doing what brings you joy.
• Prioritize your own mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
• Take a break — because you definitely deserve it.

Click PLAY now and try to pick your jaw up off the floor.

DIVE DEEPER: For more behind-the-scenes action, check out the entire Marie Unplugged series here.

It’s hard to put into words how deeply my soul needed this time-out. But I’m glad I listened. And now, I’d love to hear from you. Take a deep breath, tune into the longings of your own soul, and answer this question:

How will you invest in your own well-being today? This week? This year?

Choose one specific action. Then, leave a comment below for public accountability. Thousands of brilliant souls visit this site daily, and you never know who you might inspire along the way.

Whether it’s a walk, a cup of tea and a candle, or an impromptu dance party in the kitchen… promise me you’ll take a few precious minutes for you today. Deal? Good. As Ann Lamott says:

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”

XO

The post Marie Forleo Unplugged: Ultimate Self-Care Reboot in Costa Rica appeared first on .

After decades of spiritual teaching and with 8 best-selling books under her belt, Gabby Bernstein uncovered a repressed childhood trauma that sent her reeling.

She was diagnosed with postpartum depression, anxiety, and insomnia. She used every tool in her spiritual toolbox and still came up short. But Gabby was determined to find healing — and make it accessible to everyone. Because deep down she knew…

There had to be a better way.

In Happy Days: The Guided Path from Trauma to Profound Freedom and Inner Peace — a book her publisher warned her was “too vulnerable” to print — Gabby charts a path to trauma recovery. She exposes why we feel blocked, scared, anxious, depressed, or alone. And, more importantly, what we can do about it!

In this MarieTV, Gabby shares 5 simple ways you can overcome trauma and wake up anxiety-free.

You’ll learn:

“Acknowledging that there has to be a better way is an unconscious prayer.” @gabbybernstein
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• 6 words that instantly calm your mind.
• The “hug” that regulates the nervous system.
• How to stop a panic attack.
• The Four S’s to soothe yourself in any circumstance.
• A fear-free parenting method that works on kids and grown-ups.
• The #1 thing to remember if you ever experience anxiety.

If you — or someone you love — struggles with anxiety, hit PLAY now because this conversation with Gabby Bernstein could change your life.

DIVE DEEPER: Try this 3-minute tapping technique for instant stress relief.

Now it’s time to turn all this insight into action!

Because every single technique Gabby shared has the power to change your life — but only if you put it in practice. Out of everything we talked about today…

What’s the single biggest insight that you’re taking away? And, most importantly, how can you put it into action right now?

Leave a comment below and let us know.

And for more Gabby Bernstein wisdom, check out these MarieTVs:

• Manifesting 101
• How to Reclaim Your Joy When You Feel Like Giving Up
• Need a Miracle? Here’s a Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Stop Judging Yourself and Others

Thank you for bringing your voice and heart to this community. The world needs your courage, insight, and vulnerability more than ever.

All my love,

XO

The post If You Struggle With Anxiety, This Trick Will Change Your Life | Gabby Bernstein appeared first on .

Vaishali is the type of person who smiles so big her cheek hits the “mute” button when she talks on the phone. She’s a teacher, YouTuber, B-Schooler, and founder of Sanskar Teaching — an online academy designed to give people a deeper understanding of the Gujarati language and culture. Here she shares how she grew her business from “scraping by” to bringing in over $350,000 last year alone. 

Pay close attention to this Q&A and you’ll learn how Vaishali:

• Started a business with no clear business idea or prior business training.
• Overcame her paralyzing self-doubt.
• Scaled from $36k per year to $350k in just 2 years!
• Freed herself from burnout and finally started taking long vacations while her business kept on flowing and growing…

Today your mission is to “preserve Desi culture,” but this wasn’t always the case, was it?

I spent the first 16 years of my life in India, and I moved to the U.S. during a very impressionable age. I started at a school in Anaheim where it was 99% white kids, and I felt like I needed to do everything I could to be like them. I didn’t want to have anything to do with my culture or my language. And so for years I didn’t speak Gujarati, eat the food, or wear the clothes.

What changed?

Having my two children. As they got older I realized how much I wanted them to value and learn about their heritage. I began to see things I had pushed away for so long in a new light. I wanted them to be able to speak Gujarati and know the Gujarati way of life. But there weren’t any classes near me so I drove two hours each way to a temple in Los Angeles so they could learn. 

That’s a lot of driving!

We were exhausted. Eventually, the arduous drive wasn’t worth it. But the deep desire to teach them Gujarati stayed with me. I’d been volunteering at the temple and the students wanted me to keep teaching. So with a little push from my own kids, I started teaching them over video chat.

When did you realize you wanted to turn this into a business?

Business is never something I was drawn to. I was pre-med in college! As my kids got older though I started feeling this itch to find something I was good at. Maybe I’d write a book or start a business. I started taking all these different online courses and never following through on them. I’d sign up for a course and it would just sit there. I still have a couple I’ve never taken. 

And that’s when your best friend took B-School.

Exactly. I saw what Siri was doing and she didn’t really have a plan or a product in mind, but she loved Marie. So the next year, when B-School came around I thought, “I want to do this. Let’s just see where this goes.”

She and I did it together. We would meet at a coffee shop to go through that week’s Module. Through that process I was able to identify what I’m good at. And that’s when it clicked. I needed to turn my teaching into a business.

Were you scared? 

Absolutely. My first thought was, “I’m not qualified to do this.” I didn’t have a background in education. I didn’t have a master’s degree. I’d taught Indian folk dance for a while, but that was it.

How did you move past that self-doubt?

Honestly, it took a long time. At first I was just teaching my sister-in-law’s kids online using Google Hangout. But then I would catch them talking to their grandparents or singing a little song I’d taught them and it would sink in — I helped them do that.

I may not have a master’s in education or a PhD, but whatever little wisdom or language skills that I have I’m able to pass down.

I love that so much. And your approach to teaching language is really unique. Can you tell us about that?

Most language teaching starts with the alphabet. It’s all about memorization. You just write it down. Memorize. Write it down again. But I’ve learned that most people just want to communicate with their family. They want to speak and understand. They couldn’t care less about the alphabet.

One of the ways you do this is through your YouTube and TikTok videos — they’re hilarious! You have videos like Different ways to say stupid in Gujarat and Indian Playground Game, which has 253 MILLION views!

Thank you! On TikTok I do this alter ego thing, inspired by Jersey Marie actually. It’s a character I play where I do goofy things that our parents did or I do a bit called, “American mom vs. Indian mom.” People love it and now we have 17,000 followers just on that platform.

How did you come up with these ideas?

Honestly, I take myself so seriously in every other area of my life. These channels let me be a complete idiot and it just doesn’t matter. I have fun! Plus, my goal has always been to create a love and respect for this culture and language in those students.

In a review of your school someone wrote, “I finally have the confidence to hold a conversation with my wife’s grandmother after only 2 semesters!” How does it make you feel to read that?

I absolutely love it. One assignment I give to my students is called “Dada Ba” Homework, where the kids have a conversation with their grandparents. And the happiness you see in the grandparent’s faces — it’s so wonderful. I just love watching it. 

You’ve had some pretty incredible growth since B-School.

Yeah, our YouTube channel just shot up to 750,000 followers. We’re at 40,000 on Instagram. We had never touched Pinterest until recently. We started off with 48 followers in 2020, and we just ended 2021 with 15,000.

How has this translated over to your actual business success?

It’s been incredible. The first two years I was scraping to make $3-4K per month. B-School helped me find the market for what I wanted to sell and helped show me that I was actually qualified to do it.

In just two years we hit $250,000. And in 2020 we passed $350,000. We were able to hire more teachers. We have a full staff, with students all over the world.

At this point, every single person on my team has taken B-School. 

Congratulations! What helped you make that leap in growth?

The biggest shift was to invest in my business. Money. Time. Staff. Systems. I had to remind myself that a $10 investment right now will turn into $1,000 later.

Plus, now I can take long vacations without stress because everything is flowing on its own.

“Now I can take long vacations without stress because everything is flowing on its own.”

You mentioned having taken a lot of online courses and never following through. Why do you think the B-School experience was different?

B-School felt like actual school. There was homework. There were weekly Modules. There were Mentors who were around to answer your questions. It helped me take it seriously. My friend and I printed out our worksheets and had time set up every week to do the work. 

What was the most valuable thing you learned?

Before B-School I had this high level idea of who I wanted to serve, but until I did the exercises in Module 1 I hadn’t thought about it in any sort of specific way. B-School helped me figure out exactly who my people were and how I could help them.

Thanks to the process I learned, I started gathering feedback from old students and their parents and realized, “OMG! I am sitting on a gold mine.” That’s when my business took off.

The other thing I really liked was all the resources Marie provided in the B-School Member Area. I wasn’t a tech savvy person and right before B-School I’d paid $15,0000 for a website. I wish I’d had Marie’s resource list before because, oh my God, I could have done it myself for free! So yeah, if I’d taken B-School just one year earlier I would have saved myself $15,000

“If I’d taken B-School just one year earlier I would have saved myself $15,000!”

I guess you live and learn, right?

Exactly. Now I know how to work smarter. And by the end of the program we had so much momentum we couldn’t stop. Our idea bank just keeps growing! If someone asked me whether or not they should take B-School I’d say, “Do it. It’ll be the best thing you’ll do for yourself and for your business.”

Thank you, Vaishali, we love you!

What did you notice from Vaishali’s story? Any ahas you can apply to your own life and business? Let us know in the comments below.

The post #TheProof: How Vaishali Patel Went from $3k/month to Over $350k Per Year… Teaching Gujarati Online appeared first on .