How to TRUST the Universe & Let Go

One of my favorite things to do is break down mystifying spiritual concepts, and provide simple ways to put them in them into practice.

I think the phrase “Trust the Universe” is one that is throw around so much that it kinda loses its meaning. It’s one thing to recite and hear these phrases, but another to act according to them consistently – it can be difficult to know where to even begin.

When I say Universe I really mean yourself! We are extensions of the Universe, physically but spiritually too. When you connect with someone, a lover is a great example of this, and all boundaries dissolve.

You can get the sense that despite our physical bodies separating us, there is an interconnectivity between everything. THAT is the Universe. This force, this energy that pushes you on.

What does ‘trusting the Universe’ actually mean?

You could refer to the Universe as a higher power, your higher self, soul, God. I personally like to call it “The Divine” or “Divine Mother”.

I think for a lot of people, especially when there are religious connotations attached, this higher power is specifically benevolent. Trust then takes on a different form.

In my experience the Universe (as that catch all term) is not benevolent or malevolent…it just is. The trees, the birds, the stars have no agenda. To trust the Universe to me then means to work in alignment with these things. To be in flow!

In this way, good things often happen, but I can also accept the bad things and the lessons they bring. I welcome you to read the rest regardless of belief system, take what resonates and leave the rest.

How to start trusting the Universe

So the first step is a real mindset shift. Understand there are no inherent barrier between you and the Universe, rather you become disconnected from the divine through programming.

That is why children often have a strong spiritual connection. There are no preconceptions or fears in the way – trusting the Universe then, is really about dissolving those layers of doubt and fear.

When I started on my path I felt very distrustful of the Universe. Being raised Catholic, God often felt like a punitive parent. My mindset was always “Everything is bad…but especially for me.”

Even when you know this isn’t true on a logical level, it is so hard to shake! To start feeling supported by the divine – like your life is going somewhere and steadily, that you are being uplifted and guided – begin with the small stuff.

Practice gratitude

Start practicing gratitude. We’ve all heard the platitudes…a grateful heart is a magnet for miracles. Despite the cliches, gratitude really is one of the best ways to open yourself up to more goodness.

What we focus on grows (to an extent). We can’t always control the circumstances, but we do have a lot of power in how we focus our perspective.

Begin by writing a gratitude list, just a few simple items to begin. It could be as simple as ‘I’m grateful for oxygen to breathe’.

You’ll find that the more you write, the more comes up. This is a small but effective way to build some initial momentum. Going further, when you feel comfortable, start practicing gratitude even when things go wrong!

When you miss your bus or someone cancels on you. I’m not even saying you need to spin it into a positive, just appreciate the disappointment and/or delay for what it is. Switch your gears to neutral.

This small habit changed everything for me, because I started to view obstacles and detors as redirection rather than punishment.

Cultivate self-trust

Spirituality is relational. Everything is about relationships, that is what we are building with the Universe. And the relationship we have with ourselves sets the tone for every other.

The affirmations are great, the visualizations are great, but nothing will compare to the boost you get by making and keeping promises to yourself. Knowing you can trust yourself, and that your world is built around that.

Think of one habit you can commit to over the next week or month.

This could be as small as drinking a glass of water when you wake up, or writing one page in your journal. Keep the goal small so that you are more likely to take action on it, and don’t become too tangled up in self-criticism.

This may seem unconnected to trusting the Universe, but you are starting *in there* in your heart. You want self trust so deep in your core, that it just overflows out.

When you hold a good level of self trust, you start to see the way reality responds to that. The way opportunities pop up, things shift and happen for you rather than to you.

In my experience things start at the mind level. So you understand how these things work more clearly first. Then you move down to the body and the emotions.

Be conscious of the narratives you create mentally when you are facing negativity. Then notice how fear or doubt shows up in the body.

When you feel unsupported by the Universe, tested, hard done by, where do you feel the most tension or heaviness in the body? Describe this sensation – name it!

Gently shift the script going on in your mind. Bring awareness to bodily shifts and accept them before trying to ‘fix’ them.

Journal

If you have some trust in the Universe but feel like something is missing, then get really clear on what you are allowing into your life.

On the spiritual path we’ll go through phases of feeling incredibly supported and connected, and then the opposite. We’ll receive clear messages from the Universe one day then radio silence another.

This can represent some fear we haven’t let go of (we’re blocking some important guidance) but can also highlight where we haven’t set clear enough intentions.

If you send the Universe mixed messages about what you want, what you receive also fluctuates. Like a radio signal going in and out.

When we start connecting with the Universe we will start to experience changes in our physical lives.

We might feel compelled to end our relationship, quit our job, get healthier. We might start to receive more in all aspects of our life too. This can be scary if we are not accustomed to receiving! There can be fear we won’t be able to maintain it.

I recommend writing a list with the title ‘What am I allowing?’

Are you allowing yourself to be supported by those around you? Or are you closing yourself off? Are you allowing yourself to receive more? Or are you holding on tightly to what you have out of fear?

Another way to use journaling, is to record all of the synchronicities you experience.

Spend one week paying extra close attention to the signs you receive and writing them down. Looking back on this list, it will become abundantly clear just how much the Universe has your back.

Prayer

Prayer has a lot of religious connotations, which made me avoid it at the beginning of my spiritual journey! However prayer is simply a conversation with something higher, bigger than ourselves.

How can we expect the Universe to support us, rather how can we feel supported by the Universe…if we aren’t communing with it?

Approach prayer not as a request service, but as a way to speak to your spirit. Focus on what you are allowing to grow internally – creativity, intellect, strength, motivation etc.

You can start your prayers like this:

I am open to more creative ways of looking at this problem

I welcome unexpected sources of inspiration and support

I see from my higher self now

Then let a more natural conversation flow from there.

Speak to the Universe as if to a friend, about the things you are grateful for or need guidance on. Sometimes these conversations are chill, other times you just want to rant. It doesn’t have to be one way or complicated at all.

And I’d like to add that bedtime prayer was a game changer for me! It meant I started to use the precious time before sleep to develop my spirit/intuition rather than going in aimless negative thought spirals.

The energy we build before we go to sleep is super important, because it carries through our sleep/dream time and into the morning after. A good morning and night routine, where we are diligently connecting with our higher self is a must.

Get into nature

The more grounded we are on the spiritual path, the more present we are in our body, and the easier it is to feel supported by the Universe.

When working with our energy we can get stuck in the mind and feel restless. Grounding is a way to bring our awareness back to earth.

Getting into nature is one way to do this. Nature brings us into a slower pace, and presents us with endless examples of the Universe’s abundance.

Spend a few minutes walking on the Earth barefoot, breathing deeply and vsiualizing energy flowing up your body through the soles of your feet.

One of the best ways to increase your intuition is to go on a walk without a specific destination in mind (where it is safe to do so) while carefully following your inner guidance.

I like to think of these walks as ‘dates’ with the Universe, where you could end up finding a cool spot or maybe even meeting a new friend

In my experience with manifestation (which is all about the trust you build with something higher) it’s often easier to get into a new space first and then attract opportunities and people.

Knowing that once you’re in that space you’ll know what to do, or at least have opened a new door. Keep yourself moving, keep your energy moving.

What happens when you trust the Universe?

Trusting the Universe is not a magic bullet (but perhaps the closest thing to one). Trust in ourselves as an extension the Universe fluctuates over time – this is only natural.

Even with a consistent practice there will still be days, weeks and seasons where we feel disconnected, and seemingly back at square one.

Trusting the Universe isn’t about getting what we want or having impenetrable belief at all times, but trusting the Universe to support us in the good and bad.

When we trust the Universe we experience more magic in our lives. This comes in the form of synchronicities and uplifting experiences.

Our ability to manifest also increases, we align with our soul purpose, and our general wellbeing improves.

People who trust the Universe (trust themselves) exude peace and calming energy; it’s something you cannot fake. When you’re around those whose energy is aligned you naturally feel more energized and in tune with yourself.

꩜ ⋆｡°✩ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 ⋆｡°✩ ꩜

Surrendering to the Universe

Once you trust the Universe more deeply, it brings you through a series of initiations. Lessons or “tests” as some would call them, that connect you deeper with your spirit.

A common misconception about surrendering to the Universe is that it’s a passive activity.

You sit around and wait for life to happen to you. And yes, surrender has its peaceful moments! However, the beginning phases can be very bumpy. You have to get very honest about the type of life you’re leading, where that not be aligned, and then open to making the necessary changes.

You’ll face your shadows, deepest fears, whatever is in the way you of you acting in accordance with your soul.

Surrender can involve a lot of action! Because when we are misaligned, a lot of physical and practical aspects of our life will need to change. Our job, relationship or location.

There is taking action more generally speak, and then there is aligned action. In this culture, taking a lot of action is often linked to hustle culture or perfectionism.

The idea that if we aren’t filling each moment with movement and excitement we are doing something wrong. However, aligned action is when we move from our intuition. We take action that feels good and that is deeply fulfilling.

When we start to trust the Universe it becomes easier to balance our masculine and feminine energies, and we’ll feel more confident in the actions we take. It’s common to find that as you do these exercises, you become inspired to take action in some way. To complete a creative project or find a better job or relationship.

You’ll also find it’s easier to sit back and release control over circumstances, because you know things are in your favor even if they don’t appear positive on the surface. When you have to just be, relax or go into hermit mode, it won’t feel like you’re missing out on anything.

Practical ways to let go

Now that we have the groundwork set, I want to explore some practices you can use will help you maintain deeper trust the Universe.

It’s one thing to know you are holding onto fear or doubt, to intellectualize those barriers, and another to commit to a consistent practice.

So often we just aren’t giving ourselves the time to build trust; we expect an instant result. It takes coming back to your fears and doubts each day, to properly process and release them.

1. Mediate

The first practice I recommend for letting go is of course meditation. We are constantly taking on new beliefs through our environment, which influence how open and trusting we feel about the world around us.

Meditation allows us to go beyond that noise, and tune into a more free-flowing level of awareness where we are constantly seeing anew.

Meditation also allows us to hear our intuition more clearly. The calm uplifting voice that will give us all of the guidance we need to get more into alignment.

2. Allow your emotions to flow

Another reason we might struggle to trust the Universe and let go is because we aren’t in tune with our emotions.

Repressed emotions represent the shadow of our consciousness; aspects of ourselves that we want to avoid and pretend do not exist.

Emotions are information, they aren’t necessarily good or bad. Sitting with our emotions allows us to see what we are afraid of confronting, what we are trying to avoid in holding on tightly to old patterns.

I remember one time I was feeling anxious and heavy with emotion, and desperately tried to shift to something positive in my mind.

The more I tried to get rid of these negative emotions, the more anxious and frustrated I became. Once I allowed myself to simply be with my emotions, be completely present in my environment, I felt the weight of these emotions lift immediately.

3. Shadow work

The two practices above are a form of shadow work because they illuminate unconscious patterns.

However a more direct form of shadow work is the use of specific journal prompts that directly target the unconscious mind.

Three shadow work prompts:

What triggered/upset/made me uncomfortable today?

What do I need today?

What do I want to express today?

These three prompts can take you a long way with shadow work, if you reflect upon them consistently (as our energies/needs change often).

Think of some actions you can take in the next few days or weeks to test/build the faith you have in the Universe, and keep an open mind about the result.

Mindset is super important but so is taking action and doing so consistently. Once you have some ‘proof’ or experience in holding faith in the Universe and seeing positive results, the easier it is to build momentum and more faith.

Trusting the Universe also means letting go of the past. Holding faith that the Universe will guide you in a new direction, even if you’ve had negative experiences in the past.

Friend, that’s all for now!

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