Giving Universe the Lead (My Joie de Vivre Story)

So here's a funny story about giving Universe room to deliver what you want …

I was due to meetup with Jeanna Gabellini and nine other entrepreneurs at a small gathering in Oakland, California last week. Jeanna was hosting a day of business wealth discussion with her money guy, Todd Tresider.

Who doesn't want more business wealth, right?! And a chance to play with Jeanna G?! I was all over it.

In fact, the morning I was getting ready for the meetup, I set a really strong intention. Something about how this day would be LIFE CHANGING. That everything would be different after this – this was what made all the difference for how I ran my business and the success I allowed through it.

(After all, I know how to set a good intention! And I knew Jeanna was likely doing the same thing on the other side, so … this energy had some punch to it, is all I'm sayin'!)

Fast forward an hour … I can't find this damn meeting. The address I have is not working for the GPS or for mapquest. Even asking a couple locals for directions didn't help. Efforts to reach Jeanna failed. (Her efforts to reach me also failed.)

(I know you astro-savvy creators out there are saying to yourself “hello, retro merc” right now. Yes, indeed.)

Anyway, after an hour of fruitless searching, I was feeling a bit frustrated. I recognized I was officially headed upstream, and knew nothing good would come from that. What felt better? Giving up this battle.

So much for my big day with Jeanna and friends.

After I gave up the fight to find this building (it turns out I had a wrong address, so the building I was looking for literally didn't exist), and wondered what I would do all the way out here in Oakland, California, all dressed up and nowhere to go – that's when inspiration hit. The redwoods!

The redwood trees were just 90 minutes away, and I've always wanted to see them in person! (It's actually on my bucket list.)

So off I went to spend the day with the most amazing trees on the planet. And it was unbelievable. Words don't do justice to how much I enjoyed that time in those woods.

Someone looking on the outside of this story, who didn't understand about how Universe delivers in unexpected ways sometimes, might think this trip was a bust.

But the way I see it is that I set a huge intention for a life-changing day. And Universe said, "hey, we gotcha covered, Jeannette."  It doesn't include talking biz strategies and financial figures - but meet some of the most incredible beings here on earth. Your socks will be rocked!  Indeed they were. Thank you, Universe.

But it gets even better.

The hotel I stayed at was called the Waterfront Hotel Joie de Vivre.

I didn't think much about the name until I called the receptionist to ask for directions to the woods.

She answered the phone and spoke “joie de vivre” in the most ridiculously beautiful French.

I liked it so much I asked her to repeat it.  (Oh so lovely!)

I knew enough French to know it meant something like joyful living.

When I explained what I was doing (twice, because she didn't quite get it the first time) – which was skipping a business meeting in favor of visiting the redwoods, she said, “oh my, what a joie de vivre thing to do.”

I burst out laughing.

And instantly knew the perfection of how this day was turning out.

Indeed. Live in joy.

Don't get beat up on the upstream journey – go where the joy's calling you.

You know, for as long as I've wanted to see redwoods, I've never booked that trip. Sure, I'll book a trip for the benefit of my business in a heartbeat, but schedule some pure goof off time to indulge my silly bucket list? Well, that hadn't happened.

You gotta give Universe credit for delivery on that morning's intention, right?!

Because what I know better than ever is what's best for my business is me having a good time. If I'm feeling the joy, my business can't help but thrive.  I've known that - and even proclaimed myself good at practicing it – but I got it at a whole new level last week.

So here's to joyful living, to big intentions, and to trusting Universe to get us there.

Jeannette Maw is the Good Vibe Coach and founder of Good Vibe University.  Find more of her manifesting inspiration at Good Vibe Blog