#362 - MANIFEST THE LIFE YOU DESERVE with Zoe Marshall

Hey there!

Have you ever felt that quiet whisper inside that says, “This isn’t the life I’m meant to live…”?

If that sounds familiar, today’s episode is for you.

I’m joined by the inspiring Zoe Marshall—someone who's been to rock bottom and risen with power, grace, and purpose.

Zoe has just released her wonderful new book Arise: Manifest a Life You Deserve, and in this episode, she shares her raw journey from deep trauma to transformation.

This isn’t about manifesting dream cars and luxury holidays (although, hey, if that’s your dream, go for it).

It’s about learning how to get to neutral when life feels like too much. Zoe calls it “co-creation,” and it’s where manifestation and real results happen.

Here’s what you’ll walk away with:

• 💫 A deeper understanding of what it means to truly co-create with the universe

• 🧠 Insight into how your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs shape what shows up in your life

• ❤️ Practical guidance for healing and creating from rock bottom

• 📓 Powerful inspiration to begin (or return to) journaling as a daily anchor

Zoe’s journey is proof that your past does not define your future.

She’s a walking example of how to rise—again and again—and I know you’ll find a piece of yourself in her story.

So pop in your earbuds, grab your journal, or head out for a walk—whatever works for you. But do this one thing for yourself: listen in.

Because your dream life?

It’s waiting for you.

As always, I’d LOVE to hear what resonates with you from this episode and what you plan to implement after listening in. So please share and let’s keep the conversation going in the Dream Life Podcast Facebook Group here.    

Have a wonderful weekend 💛

 

Dream Life & kikki.K Founder

SHOW NOTES:

• Join my Platinum Coaching Program (NEW Member Trial offer - save $200!) - where in June our focus is on Planning Your Quarter 3. Align your plans with your vision. Reflect, refine, and reenergise for continued success - and join in our  monthly habit of Daily Movement!  Integrate daily movement to rejuvenate your body and spirit for the second half of the year. Learn more here. 
• Join my virtual book club GROW for June where we meet weekly on Zoom to discuss and squeeze the learnings from great books. This June we're reading: 

  The Let Them Theory: A Life Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About, by Mel Robbins & Sawyer Robbins. NEW Member trial offer - just $9! Learn more here.

• Dream Life Community Facebook Group: Connect with like-minded dreamers.

RESOURCES:

• Sign up to our email list here to hear about upcoming workshops.
• Take your first step to getting clarity on what you want from life with this free bonus dreaming exercise here 101 Dreams Audio Guide 
• Buy Kristina's book, Your Dream Life Starts Here
• Discover how close you are to living your Dream Life. Take our 5min Quiz here and get personalised insights emailed to you...

TRANSCRIPT:

Kristina: [00:00:00] [00:01:00] Hi there, and welcome back to another episode. Let me ask you something. Are you living the life you truly want? If there's even the smallest part of you whispering, not yet. You are in the right place because today we are diving into something truly transformative.

In her powerful new book, Arise, Zoe Marshall invites us. Into the art of science or manifestation, what she lovingly calls co-creation. but this isn't just about [00:02:00] visualizing your dream live. It's about doing the inner work. Backed by insight from psychology and neuroscience to uncover your limiting beliefs and take aligned action that leads to real lasting change.

Zoe's story is extraordinary. Not because it's perfect, but because it's raw, real, and proof of what is possible from loss and trauma to a life filled with meaning, purpose, and abundance. She's the walking evidence that no matter where you start, you can rise. so whether you are here to create space for personal growth, career transformation, or deeper relationships, get ready.

This episode is your reminder that you are more powerful than you think, and you dream life. It's not just possible, it's waiting for you. Let's dive right in. [00:03:00] Well, hello Zoe and a very warm welcome to our podcast. I'm so excited to have you.

[00:03:06] Zoe: What an honor to be here. Thank you so much.

[00:03:08] Kristina: Ah, thank you. Today we're gonna talk about your new book Arise. manifest a Life You Deserve. So I'm super excited about that. But before we dive in, I wanna ask a question that I ask all my guests, and that is, did you have a dream as a child, something you wanted to maybe do or have or become?

[00:03:28] Zoe: I did. I really, really wanted to be a model because my mom was a model. She was a catwalk model, and so just like many children wanna follow the footsteps of their parents, I wanted, my mom was my greatest hero. So it wasn't so much about the job, it was just being like her. And I remember getting to about maybe 14 and.

Mom, I wanna be like you. And going to the agencies. 'cause she had such a strong relationship with all of [00:04:00] them. And they were like, girlfriend, you're too short. And I was like, well, there goes that dream onto the next. 

[00:04:07] Kristina: Oh, well that's, that's, uh, it might be, it might be a blessing 

[00:04:10] Zoe: I think it was a huge blessing. Huge blessing. 

[00:04:14] Kristina: Yeah, I'm sure it's a super interesting, um. Field to be in, but also a hard one. I think so anyway. let's move on now to, uh, your real dream life. So you have just come up with your new book Arise. I'm curious, it's such a beautiful name. I'm curious how, what does that name mean to you? And also why did you write this book?

[00:04:39] Zoe: It came to me because I feel like. We all have moments in time where we're challenged to level up. You know, we're given a crossroads or we are. Put in a really difficult situation and it's time to kind of rise up or we kind of stay the same. And so [00:05:00] arise with the double. I was about reflection and mirroring self so you can do the work, but also growth with the universe.

It's like the universe is one eye, you are one. So that's the co in the co-creation. and the book was kind of 20 years in the making and I had a lot of shame around. My practice, being in mainstream media for so long, I didn't feel like anyone would understand what I was doing behind closed doors.

And then. One job led me to another, to another where I was like completely burnt out and had kind of lost my practice along the way. I was having an existential crisis. I was making more money than I ever had, but I was so incredibly miserable and I had to go and start all over again. And it was that moment where I was like, well.

This happens through life. We kind of get caught up in the ebbs and flows. You have this way that you reset and all of these techniques you [00:06:00] use, why wouldn't you share them? Like that would be such a disservice. Are you willing to look like a weirdo, a woo woo witch with all of your kind of peers in your industry?

And the answer was yes. 

[00:06:13] Kristina: Yeah.

[00:06:14] Zoe: So it had to be written. 

[00:06:15] Kristina: Yeah, absolutely. I, and I love it. So we'll get, deeper into the book in a minute, but before we do, actually a love for you to share, we've got. Podcast listeners from all over the world, which always makes me so excited because not everyone would've heard about you or the book yet. do you wanna just talk a little bit about through your journey, because you had a bit of a challenging, um, time but you also had some incredible success.

So maybe just share a little bit about your journey and then we'll dive into the book.

[00:06:44] Zoe: the book really covers most of this. So I'll give you the, the top line version, which was personally, Grew up single mom, very enmeshed, very dependent on each other. She worked two jobs financially. Things were always [00:07:00] really hard for us.

so my grandmother partially raised me when mom was at work. when I was early twenties, mom got a diagnosis of breast cancer, and she died within 18 months and. Because I was so enmeshed with her and so dependent, I really hadn't, even though I was in my twenties, I hadn't truly become an adult, but there I was having to sell her home and make all of these really big decisions and not really know.

It was very clunky Shortly after that, I found myself in, as you would, a very vulnerable situation to be the perfect candidate for a perpetrator. So, found myself in a very violent, sexually violent, physically violent relationship. still grieving, but so desperate 'cause not sure how to survive in the world without her.

And then a huge betrayal from my. [00:08:00] My family at the same time. So it was kind of like these constant blows to my identity, to my sense of self in the world. and I really hit a rock bottom where I didn't feel like I could be, I could move forward. I didn't see the point of living or life. everything had kind of been stripped away, and it was at that point where there was this tiny little light burning inside of me.

Propelling me forward and I wasn't sure what was on the other side of that, but I knew I kind of, I had to get out of that dangerous situation I was in, and once I got out of it. It was actually the hardest part because I had all of this space to kind of acknowledge the betrayals and the loss and the trauma, and from that, you know, you think it can't get any worse in that state of pain.

I became so desperate to find a way through, and that is where. This real [00:09:00] inquiry into healing happened into psychology, into somatic body work, into all of it. Because I was so desperate to get out of the pain that I was in, and this was the beginning, I guess, of the book that you've got now. But it was very long situation to get from A to B. 

[00:09:19] Kristina: Yeah, yeah. Absolutely. And for anyone who is going through a similar situation in terms of, of a big challenge, whatever that is, what is your. Advice for those people right in the middle of it. Because when we, you know, now you have done so much, you have taken all the experience and then put it into a box, that now can be shared to other people who are going through it.

But for anyone who's listening, who needs some advice right now, what would you, tell them?

[00:09:51] Zoe: The most important thing is to get yourself to neutral, and that is why manifestation has always felt for me, like it was for the [00:10:00] privileged. It was for everyone that already had their needs met and they can wish for fancy cars and sexy men and great clothes and cool jobs, but I was there not even feeling safe, not even having my basic needs met.

And so I felt there was a real gap. In this industry where, what about the people that are at rock bottom? What about the people that were like me? And so getting to a state of neutral is what is required. first up for people that are in that kind of, um, survival space or, or have lost all hope because when you are from that seriously low point, getting to neutral is the greatest gift that is like the fancy boy or fancy car fan, like having safety, feeling peace, having a sense of freedom or a sense of self back.

Is like the greatest manifestation you could achieve. So I would say getting to neutral is the most important part. If you are struggling and you are at rock [00:11:00] bottom. 

[00:11:00] Kristina: Yeah.

And how do people do you, like when you say neutral, how do you, what is your first step in terms of, if you wanna put in a little bit of manifestation in there?

[00:11:09] Zoe: so I wouldn't start manifesting until you get to neutral. And to get to neutral is you have to find your, like you have to. Assess your situation. Am I safe? What do I need to do to get safe? What basic needs do I have to get met? So it's quite practical versus spiritual in that, in that way. And that's all kind of, whether you listen to it on the audio book, it's actually free on Spotify for Spotify premium listeners.

I haven't even promoted that yet. 'cause there's been, it's been busy. But there's all of the ways to get to that point, but you really need to get there first before we bring in anything else. 'cause you're not gonna care about having a fancy car if you can't even feed yourself. 

[00:11:50] Kristina: Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. So I'm a big manifesto. Like I could, we could speak for hours and hours and all the things. I absolutely love it. But for [00:12:00] me, and I shouldn't say bath, but for me, that is really about. Really immerse myself in what I really want and clarity, and I really truly believe in that.

You need to be in a very relaxed, you can't be in that fight and flight stressful. And you know, as you said before, um, really difficult situation. You need to kind of really feel, ready to co-create. And, um, I love how you put the co-creation in there. So do you wanna explain what that actually means when it comes to manifesting?

[00:12:32] Zoe: I think, manifestation has maybe gotten a bad rap over the past 20 years. You know, the secret was the. Kind of initiation into the knowledge again, and I think at some points it was misleading because it gave us this idea if we just hoped and wished for things. Appear, and I did that and my mom still died, you know?

And so I think that [00:13:00] there's this element of responsibility and reality that you need to bring into your co-creation. You, the CO is you are equally as responsible at working at this as the universe. You aren't just sitting there having a tantrum, being a. Child wanting, wanting, wanting. And I wished really hard, and I did, and I had my vision board.

So why don't I get all the things I want? Because you're not doing anything. How are you, priming your nervous system and your mind, and your body to receive the things that you want? What aligned action are you taking? How does the universe know you're actually serious? What kind of thoughts are you having?

How do you feel throughout the day? How are you a service? So all of these parts are critical to co-creation. it feels like everyone's become quite spoiled and when their things don't immediately arrive, they're like, it doesn't work. No, it doesn't work because you're not manifesting. That's not what it is.

So co-creation is allowing you to step into being [00:14:00] responsible, but also the action which makes you feel like you're empowered. 

[00:14:04] Kristina: Yeah, absolutely. Last night we had a session around manifestation in my coaching program and uh, I was talking about how important it is to really. Program your brain to think and feel and really be, immersed in whatever that dream is or goal or whatever, whatever you wanna change or whatever you wanna attract.

How would you explain to kinda really get in your brain To think and really start trusting it, it will happen. and perhaps also, how do we remain patient? Because for, for example, I shared before we recorded that, I've been working on Sydney, uh, moving to Sydney for so long and it felt impossible, but.

For some reason I kept, you know, doing presentations for my family. My, my son is a keen cricketer and, uh, used to take photos of cricket ground when I [00:15:00] was walking around in Sydney, 'cause I spent a lot of time in Sydney and every day I would check the weather in Sydney.

So it kind of really felt like I was living there. But then last year I actually decided. I'm actually gonna just pause it for, a few years while the kids are finishing school, and then I'm gonna make it happen because then it's a little bit more up to me versus having the whole family involved in it because I just didn't wanna drop the kids.

So what, what's your thoughts on, in terms of priming your brain, but also them being patient? Because it doesn't always happen overnight.

[00:15:33] Zoe: this is the thing is it's a process and people get really impatient with, well, I did all of the things even Zoe's way, and I took aligned action and I primed myself and I did the things and now where is it? Right? Let's talk about that. Second to get into the state, the mindset of being in true alignment with what you want.

You have to kind of do a, a bit of a stock take of the [00:16:00] way that.

you see the world and yourself, the way you have conversations with the world and yourself, what you are consuming from social media. Do you have a conscious, habit or addiction to doing things when discomfort comes up? Are you looking at the shadow side?

Out of everything that's underneath you, are you looking at your mo motivations for wanting the thing that you want? Right? We need to kind of go underneath before we go through. And the priming so athletes call it mental rehearsals. Surgeons do it. entrepreneurs, billionaires, Oprah, everyone has, that's super successful practices mental rehearsal or priming.

Essentially that is rehearsing something in your mind that you want to come true and not just looking at all of the good stuff, right? Like if you talk about you wanna buy a mansion, okay. You're feeling the spaciousness in the mansion and all of the marble and you're seeing the [00:17:00] chandeliers and all of the things, right.

Are you also thinking about how much money it is going to take to run the mansion? I. You've got the estates, you've got the yard, you might have a housekeeper, like all of these. It's the the reality, right? And you might go, oh my gosh, to run this household will cost me $200,000 a year just to run it.

Maybe I don't want the mansion. Maybe what I want is freedom. Maybe what I want is two bedrooms for myself instead of. One, or sharing my room with my partner. Right? Maybe that feels like a mansion to me. Maybe why I wanted all of this marble is because my ego wants to prove to people outside of me that I'm so valuable that I've got all these fancy things.

So when we start to look at the reason the, the agenda and the motivations behind that, we can get really clear. So when we prime, we are like, actually, hang on a minute. the athlete doesn't just imagine, I'm gonna use my husband, for example, 'cause he's an NRL player. [00:18:00] Doesn't imagine just getting the goals.

Or the tries, they also know what it's like to get knocked down and to find the ball and to get back up. You are doing the worst case scenario as well as the best. So when the opportunity comes, you are so ready, right? You are not gonna be knocked back because they're asking you for more documentation or they're asking you to train a little bit harder.

You are like. Of course what it requires for me to be great. So I'm already gonna be doing those things before the thing arises. So I am a direct match and that takes us into, okay, I've waited, where is it? It's been months, it's been years. I. The trust that we have to have that what is for us will find us is paramount.

Nothing that is for you will ever miss you. And so for you being in Sydney now versus then, there is a reason you may know or you may not know, and in six years you may figure it out. Right, but the things that have passed you by, that you [00:19:00] so desperately wanted, we call that a divine redirection has happened specifically for you to have the greatest experience for your soul.

I. Right. It has happened deliberately. So when the things don't work out, when the boy doesn't call you back, or the job goes to somebody else, feel it, feel the disappointment, move it through your body, express it, right? We wanna transmute it. We want it out. We don't wanna hold things in 'cause that's toxic positivity.

And then we wanna be open to like, okay, well what are you showing me? What is it? Where should I be? Because we all think that we have the strategy, we have the agenda. We know how to do it. You don't know what's best for you. You think, you know, and it's humbling to be like, what is next? This is the first time in my life and it is an experiment where I have no plans post June.

Right. I am purely ready for Spirit Source [00:20:00] universe to place me where I am best placed because I talk the talk. Now I need to be completely ready for whatever opportunity comes to me. That is for me. Does that make sense? Usually I'm like, and then I'll do this, and then I'll do this, and there's a bottom line.

And what about the ROI and what about the business and how are we gonna pay? I'm gonna go deeply into trust and be like, okay, well what does it look like? How good can it get?

[00:20:24] Kristina: I absolutely love that. Do you wanna share one of the things that you have manifested, because it would be really great to see how you went with that, and also what kind of things did you do to make it happen?

[00:20:37] Zoe: I would say I've manifested each and every. Job direction, career. And so for say, um, the very first one, which was, you know, I got out of that very, difficult time and I became a nanny, right? It was what I felt. I could do to, balance both my nervous system. Being around [00:21:00] kids is amazing. not having to have a CV in place and to be able to be enjoy every day.

Right. I was healing at this point. So I went in, started nannying that was. Really seamless and easy. And then when I got my confidence, I really wanted to get into tv. It was what I was doing before and what my passion was post wanting to be a model. I remember I had this opportunity come up that there was this TV show hiring, and it was a music show and I hadn't had any experience at this point.

Right. I'd done some TV commercials, but I hadn't hosted. And I just thought, I know this is going to be really fun and I think that I would be a great fit for this. And it doesn't feel too much for me. It doesn't feel too intimidating. I'm not going on to host the morning show. I'm, I'm starting here. It feels [00:22:00] comfortable.

but it would allow me to stop nannying and I remember exactly, it was $500 a week I would make. Right, and my rent was $300, and so the $200 I had to figure it out for the rest of the week, and it was actually just so fun and so free. But I hadn't gotten the job yet. Right. I. Rehearsed the lines. I researched the company, I researched the past hosts.

I researched the producers. I went in there so confident in knowing them inside and out, you know, I was able to bring up, oh, I really loved that last show you produced. Or, I'm really interested in how Lizzie Lovett, do you remember her? She was like a big. Presenter back in like 20 years ago. And then as we could introduce each other, I got more comfortable.

And so they brought in some co-hosts [00:23:00] for me to trial with. And I just remember thinking to myself, just have fun, right? You know all the lines, you've done all work. Just have a good time and make this about the viewer. This isn't about you or your ego, and. I walked out of there and Benji and I were very newly dating at that point, and I called him and I said, I got the job.

And I hadn't, right? But I just, there was something in me where I was like, it's mine. And I could feel it. I could feel it with the connection with the co-host. I could feel it with the producers. I could feel it in myself, and I went home. I heard nothing for two weeks. And that's so agonizing, right? That's when you're in what we call the abyss, and I'm like.

Well, you know what? Regardless. I nailed that audition, so whatever is ready for me next that was the perfect experience, right? Like I'm so grateful that they got me in the room. I'm so grateful that their time. The next thing I know, they call, right? I get the job. I do that for [00:24:00] the next two years, and then things just progress.

But they progress quite radically, always. And I think that's because the priming has always been something I, it's my favorite part. I still do it when I'm in bed now. And so I think because I'm so connected to that and I'm so willing to be in the D Lulu of it because I love how magnetic it all is.

I have had quite radical results. 

[00:24:32] Kristina: Yeah. I love that. You know, it's, uh, it's interesting 'cause my, I started my business and I was very much like just dreaming really big, even if I had no idea how to even put together a notebook when I started Kiki Gay. And it was like, I had no idea. And, and then I just, I was just dreaming, being, and I was, I love that part as well, like just really dreaming and thinking about it and feeling it and, and, uh, working out.

You know, the next step, et cetera, in my [00:25:00] mind. And, uh, now I can see our son, he started his own, um, uh, golf brand and, uh. Yeah, it's amazing. And, uh, he actually, so he's been doing it online. It's just so different in today's world. He's 17 and but he went, he did the first manly market on the weekend, and, uh, both, we were away.

Like I was in Melbourne and Paul is away and, uh, he did it all himself. And, uh, he would call me a few times feeling stressed and I said to him. Don't forget to enjoy it. And the mo most amazing thing in today's world versus when I started is he documented the whole day before when he went to office work to print things out, et cetera.

and I think the, I think something that I've learned with manifesting is kind of enjoying the journey. And I, I met someone a few weeks ago that started a retail store and he said, gosh, I'm so stressed, I don't know what I'm doing. And I said, enjoy it because I said. When I look back now, the first [00:26:00] few stores were the most exciting.

My hundred and 20th store. I can't even remember it. Versus I remember the first one and it's really about enjoying it while you creating it. 'cause I feel sometimes people are getting really frustrated in the starting point. Well, I think that should be the most exciting time because when you look back you actually realize that was the most exciting time. But when we are small, we always want more. But when we, when then, and then we got to, we got to six countries and, you know, 120 stores. And to me then I was like, I was no, no longer an entrepreneur.

I became almost like a corporate kind of business. And, and then I lost everything. And, um. That was obviously really hard, but in now I have a new business that I love 300 times more than my first business. And I really do what I love doing and I, and I did as well back in the other business, but now I've taken all the [00:27:00] good bits and I'm just focusing on that.

And I think that's a really good lesson too, that sometimes when we, you know, lose a relationship or, you know, we lose a job and. I always say to my friends, when you lose a job, it's probably one of the best thing that can ever happen because you, something much better is out there. But of course, that's not what everyone wants to hear at that time.

[00:27:24] Zoe: You know what I love about that story is the humility, right? It's kind of, we focus on the stress because we are so ambitious now and we are comparing ourselves to all the things that we see in everything as an illusion online, and that we forget the humility of. Oh my gosh, I'm 17 and I have a golfing business.

That is like how proud I am that I can do that. It's the same with the book. It's like, of course we all want our book published in different languages and we want it to be this [00:28:00] and that, and blah, blah, blah. I'm so humbled that I get to talk about it, that this is where my life and, and I, I, I think I can speak for you too, has.

kind of led me to this moment of truly being landed in the work that I love. And you would know.

that too, like growing a business is vast and as fast as you did and so many people on board, and, and you lose the essence, right? Like it becomes bigger than you. And, that's exciting and magic for different people.

but then we come back to ourselves, like, the thing I love the most is connecting with people. it's like billboards are fun and top charts and all of that. Sure. Like it's all great, but the bit that lights me up inside is seeing transformation. In front of my eyes. Seeing someone willing to go to the depths of themselves and break themselves open because they know they're worth more like that, is worth so much more than [00:29:00] anything else.

So I think that humility, we, we lose that. And you're right. I think it comes with age and wisdom that we can be like, that's actually worth more than. 120 stores or billions of dollars. It's like, wow. True connection. True meaning, true purpose is, there's no price for 

[00:29:20] Kristina: Yeah, absolutely. And I wrote a book. I think it was 2018, so a while ago now. and that was just really, uh, based on, I, I went away with a journal only, no phone. And, uh, I needed to come up with some creative ideas. This is. Back in my previous business and then something came to me, I was like, I need to write a book because every time I'm speaking I have five people roughly coming up after saying I want more.

Uh, how do I do go about this? And then I thought, I'm gonna put it into a book, which I did. And last week I was speaking in Melbourne and uh, there was a lady who came up, and she said, and everyone [00:30:00] got got a copy of the book. So they didn't come up asking about more things 'cause they had it all in the book.

One lady came up and she said, I, came to one of your master classes and then I did the exercises in the book and on I resigned and now I have my own business. And that to me is like, that is why we write books, like if we can. And I think when we write a book not to think about the best, you know, it's exciting, as you said, the billboards and the publicity and you know, being a bestselling author, all that is amazing.

Absolutely. But it's really about. People making a change because you put those words into a book. 

[00:30:39] Zoe: Yeah, it's a big deal writing a book. It's, it's painful. It's a labor of love. It's confronting, it's scary. It's boring. Oh my God. Like the editing process. And I think I didn't understand, what it takes to write that. And then I don't know about you, but I was [00:31:00] writing it for everybody and I had one of my very good friends, flex Mommy read it at deadline and say, you can't publish this.

It's not true. It's not you, you're trying to please everyone. And so then I had to have more uncomfortable conversations with my editors, and I had to go back and rewrite the whole book, and it was just a, it was hard. 

[00:31:22] Kristina: yeah, 

[00:31:22] Zoe: It's a slog, you know. 

[00:31:24] Kristina: It is that, but that's why I, I always say in my coaching program, I always, say to people in there, often the people who come into my program are very ambitious to start with, but I always say. Everyone should write a book, even if you decide not to publish it, because the struggles, the challenges, and what comes out of that, you know, even if you decide then not to publish it and now you can self-publish in, um, and print on demand and stuff.

So it's a very, in, in terms of when you get to that, that's an easier part compared To what you've done with the publisher, obviously. But I think it's so amazing to have that challenge and [00:32:00] really, 'cause you have to dig really deep and for me it's a second language 

I actually went through.

all my journals. I do a lot of journaling and I went through all my journals and I looked, for four kind of messages and that was like, know what your dreams are, know what your passions are. Your purpose and your values and that then became my book and it was just so powerful.

So I'm curious, have you always been a journaler? I don't know if that's the right word. Have you always been into journaling? 

[00:32:29] Zoe: actually No.

I haven't, and It was such a beautiful gift I had. so for a bit of context, in 20, 23. May. So two years ago, my house flooded. I found a lump in my breast. I was hosting, my podcast, the Deep, which is a trauma based podcast as well as. Doing a lot of content creation for brands online, like making a lot of money, doing content creation.

But I didn't like the work. I didn't [00:33:00] really love the brands I was working with. I didn't believe in it, but the money was so extraordinary that I let myself get sucked in and I remember it was Mother's Day, so it's very timely that we're talking right now. And I had like eight campaigns going out one week on Instagram and I just.

Wasn't coping. I wasn't happy. I was so stressed by the breast, lump by the mold and the the flood and all of the things. And I remember saying to my husband, I. Do you feel like you can keep going? Like, is this what life is? Because I don't feel like I understand it and I don't feel anything. I don't feel joy, I don't feel anything.

I don't feel anything anymore. And he got really worried. And so he shipped me off with my best friend, who's actually an incredible writer, and we went to a health retreat and I had this absolute. Break down this existential crisis my [00:34:00] therapist told me it was, which was such a gift, you know, breaking through all of the kind of chaos and the habits that I've brought upon myself.

And I hadn't questioned anything. And after this all happened, my beautiful best friend, Nina, she says to me, I wanna look at your calendar and I want us tosort your life. What's a priority? What's not a priority? She's like all of that social media, yes, it's bringing in a ridiculous amount of money, but it is sucking your soul.

Is it worth it? And I was like, well, it's a lot of money. She was like, it is a lot of money. And I was like, but it's not. And so we kind of prioritized. And then she said, I want you to go back to the room and I want you to journal. And it was the beginning of me journaling every single day before anyone woke up.

And then just recently, it's funny, I just started back journaling yesterday 'cause it kind of, when you're writing a book, Oh.

my gosh, journaling is [00:35:00] like the last thing you wanna do 

more writing. and I came back to it yesterday. I went back into my Vedic meditation practice. I went back into journaling and I was like my long lost friend.

It's like coming home, I. And so it's such a therapeutic. Sometimes I do it instead of meditation. I find it so meditative. and I think people get so stuck on how it should look or sound or be. I never look back at my journals. I don't even know what's in there. It's just kind of a brain dump 

[00:35:30] Kristina: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, the way I do it is actually I do it based on Julia Cameron's book, the Artist Way. I don't know if you know 

of that 

book. Yeah. I've maybe changed a little bit, but I just do what she encouraged us to do, and that was to just dump whatever comes to mind. Uh.

Yeah, absolutely. And you know, sometimes I say the same thing for like weeks and to, to really get it out of my head. And I've been interviewed so many times by journalists over the years about [00:36:00] work life balance 'cause I have. Manage that quite well considering all the things that has been going on. and I always say it's because my journaling and they always says, no, that's because you're selling selling journals.

'cause in my new business we do journals as well. And I said, no, I am creating journals because I use them not the other way around. I'm not using 'em because I create them. So. I think it's just been a lifesaver in terms of work life balance and also not having any breakdowns, not getting to burnout, you know, getting close for sure, but always knowing that if I just get it all out of my system, it just makes such a difference.

It's, it's been a lifesaver and, you know, I often, now, when I do my talks, I, I often share all the tools when I lost the business. And what, what I used and journaling is one of them, and it seems so simple, but it's an absolute game changer of 

[00:36:52] Zoe: Yeah, it is. It really is. And I think. that is, you know, something we discuss in the book is what tools and rituals do [00:37:00] you go back to because this is a lifestyle. It's not, I'm gonna manifest at 7:00 PM every night. It is rehauling your whole life. Who you're surrounding yourself with, boundaries that need to be put in place.

Journaling, how much water are you drinking? How do you look at your body? How do you tend to yourself in the shower? Like it is a radical shift of self-love and journaling is just a really introspective piece of that where you can go. I feel really challenged in the shower trying to love my body.

Why is that? Oh, it's because my mom, I heard my mom all the time putting herself down, or I heard I'm making all of this up, but do you know what I mean? It's such a beautiful way to explore even your subconscious and your blocks, which is a big part of why we get in the way of our manifestations coming through. 

[00:37:56] Kristina: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Let's talk quickly about, energy. How [00:38:00] important is it when we manifest to, really have the right energy and, you know, our thoughts align with what we want?

[00:38:09] Zoe: It's a beautiful question because I think people automatically feel stuck if they have residual trauma or they have some anxiety. As long as you are still functioning, you're able to manifest even with that stuff buzzing in the background, right? As long as we're not currently in trauma or processing trauma, we are not robots that just have to be joyful and feeling super abundant to manifest.

The thing where I think people get it's slippery is like what I think about, I bring about, right? What I speak about, I bring about yes and no. Because if you thought all of the things that you thought every day with all those intrusive thoughts, life would be completely chaotic, right? It's about truly tuning in and being intentional with the thing that you want, [00:39:00] and then acknowledging.

Do you believe you deserve it? Because that's the title on the book, right? And why I use the word deserve it is the anchoring point to the manifestation landing. So when you're calling in the thing, like I really want a friendship group that really honors and sees me, and you go, God, but I'm not. I'm not a good friend or why would they wanna hang out with me?

Or I'm so boring, or I'm so this, or I'm so that, that already is telling you that there's a limiting belief and a block. If you start to go, actually, I know I will attract perfect people for me. I know I have so much to give people. We do something called a pride list, which is a really great way to work on the nervous system and, and rewire the neural pathways, which is writing five things down in your pride journal and visiting them multiple times a day, which is like, oh, I let somebody. Cut in the traffic. Like it [00:40:00] could be tiny, right? I'm a good person. Oh, I helped someone at the supermarket reach for something off the shelf. I care about people, right? And so when you're looking at building a friendship group, you can re reflect back to that and go, I have so much to give.

As a friend, not just I want, I want, I want. So energetically you can shift the lack yourself. We don't wanna have to keep paying thousands of dollars for other people to tell us how we can fix ourselves. It's all in you, right? You can look at your list and go, well, what else do good friends do? They listen.

I'm a really good listener or I'm thoughtful or you know, I actually have to think about that sometimes. I'm not so generous. Why is that? Is that something I can work on to be a great friend? I would love them to be generous with me. So you are now doing this work, which isn't, we always focus on, I wanna get the thing I want.

Who are you going to be as giving of service? So someone gives you what you want? It's always about me, me, me. [00:41:00] Stop coming from that place and be like, I could be the best friend to somebody. You are gonna be a divine match, a magnetic match for a friend to find you. 

[00:41:07] Kristina: Yeah. Yeah. I absolutely love that. I do a lot of Dr. Joe dispenser's meditation, because I feel like that's really, um, a good way. What kind of meditation do you do? Are you doing, um, a guided, I know you also do your own, so how do you do your daily meditation?

[00:41:25] Zoe: So I've trained in transcendental or vedic meditation, which is really tricky 'cause you need time to do that twice a day for 20 minutes, and I rather do it for five minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, even once than not do it at all. I think at the beginning I was like, oh my gosh, I've missed out. Already, I'm just not gonna do it.

And I was like, any practice, any time is enough. So I have my mantra that I was gifted through my training, and it's just allowing all of that to [00:42:00] be, and coming back to the mantra, coming back to the mantra floating off, coming back to the mantra, being in breath. I have so many amazing ideas. My mind is so.

It loves meditation so much. 'cause I never give it space because I'm such a busy Gemini and I'm a reflector. It's like sh sh sh, sh all day long. And I thrive off that. But when I'm still, it's like, wow, the wisdom, the drop-ins, the knowledge, the space, the peace. so I practice Vedic. and if I am feeling like I need some support, I would definitely, I love, Tara Brock.

I love her meditation. She. So gentle and soothing, but also mine are pretty epic. I do, I have the whole category of meditations and I think because. They come through me, I hear them back and I don't remember them as me. 

Does that make sense? So, they're really potent and beautiful. We did one last night for the Scorpio full Moon.

I really [00:43:00] pushed my membership community to go there last night. Very confronting for them and the meditation they have to support them in the next six weeks. Is what they'll be listening to every day. It's big, you know, it's big work and I, I don't coddle, do you know what I mean? I want you to have the best outcome and so we have to go there and you're gonna feel uncomfortable and I'm gonna push you because this is what you are paying for.

I'm not gonna keep it real light and easy. 

[00:43:28] Kristina: Yeah. I 

[00:43:29] Zoe: So the meditations are, a balm for the work. They work in conjunction. 

[00:43:34] Kristina: Yeah. Yeah. Love that. Talking about that, what kind of morning ritual do you have A lot of, um, of my podcast listeners love. the last two questions or the last three questions. One is the morning ritual. Have you got one that you practice on? Obviously, like anyone, we're all human. It doesn't happen all the time, but if you, if you have a one that you love, what would you [00:44:00] do?

[00:44:01] Zoe: It is probably going to sound very unspiritual, but it feels very spiritual to me. So I sleep in a different room to my husband, so when I get up in the morning, I call. My children into my bed first thing in the morning. Usually it's just my son, but my daughter has recently been getting involved, snuggling him, breathing him in, breathing them in giggling, laughing.

Sometimes it turns into chaos and fighting. It's not perfect, but I need them every, that's the beginning of my ritual. It like immediately, unintentionally anchors me into gratitude. It makes me immediately present. It makes my nervous system at ease, and it is the thing that I start every single day with.

It has to be. With love and then I get up, I have my super smoothie, I do all the things, and after they've gone, I meditate and journal. I don't like to do that anymore [00:45:00] with them in the house. I rather not fight the system and have them include them. We can talk, you know, at school, drop off on the way we talk about You know, affirmations we wanna put out in the day or protecting our energy, what we need for that day. So we do all of those little things together, and then I get to anchor by myself back at home.

[00:45:21] Kristina: I love that. That's fantastic. Thank you for sharing that.

[00:45:24] Zoe: It's, and I know it's not forever, I'm gonna have them in my bed, you know, snuggling me. 

[00:45:28] Kristina: Yeah, no, I mean, everyone is different and it's, um, it's, um, that's why it's so, powerful to share it because there might be some people who, who might take that on as their morning ritual as well. I'm curious, is there a book that had a big impact on your life, or if you're a big reader, have you got a favorite?

I know that's sometimes really difficult to answer, so either impact or a favorite.

[00:45:52] Zoe: I'm gonna say that the one that made. A huge impact on me. When I was at a really, really terrible [00:46:00] time, I was quite stuck in the abusive situation I was in. I didn't have access to friendship or the internet or anything, but my, perpetrator allowed me to read this book called Conversations with God, because I think he thought it was biblical.

[00:46:19] Kristina: Yeah. 

[00:46:19] Zoe: Conversations with God is a completely different type of, book, and it was within that book which he gave me, which was his friends that was underlined with lots of different sections that I was able to. Kind of see outside of myself at how dangerous this all was. I was able to see the tiny ember still burning inside of me that was worth moving through this.

I haven't read it for gosh decades, but I just remember it. Shaking me to my core similarly [00:47:00] with, um, the power of now. You know, I remember reading that and rereading pages 12 times because it was such new information, new language. It was so mind altering for me. and such a privilege to get access to that so young, you know?

So Yeah.

I could go on and on and on about all the books, but there are a couple. 

[00:47:24] Kristina: Amazing. And that's so good to to hear because, um, because that's what your book will be doing to people who needs what you are offering right 

now. Yeah. I am a hundred percent sure that that will be the case. So that will be for you to look forward to in years to come as well, which is really great. knowing what you know now, what kind of advice would you give to your younger self?

Say maybe when you're late? 18 or early twenties maybe when you were going through that really challenging time when your mom passed.

[00:47:59] Zoe: It gives me chills [00:48:00] that question. it would be, hold on tight. It's gonna get really bad. It's gonna get really dark. It's gonna get really scary, but you are gonna survive it. You will survive it, and then it's gonna get really, really, really beautiful. 

[00:48:17] Kristina: Wow.

[00:48:18] Zoe: yeah, It's scary to think of telling her that.

'cause it was, it was dark, you know? It was bad. Bad. It feels like another lifetime, to be honest. 'cause it's so just a foreign, you know, it's a different chapter. It's a different book. 

[00:48:33] Kristina: yeah. Wow. you might want to put another book out there eventually, uh, around that. Who knows? But you probably don't wanna think about that now as we have just came out with a new book. So obviously, we will be linking to your book, and your website, et cetera, in the show notes for anyone who wants to, um, dive in much deeper.

The book is amazing, so Thank you so much for [00:49:00] taking your time. I know you are a very, busy lady with, uh, all the things that is around, uh, publishing a book. So thank you for coming, but also. For writing that book. I know it's going to be helpful for so many people and also for all the amazing things you're putting out in the world.

And I'm excited to continue following your journey, so thank you. 

[00:49:22] Zoe: thank you.

so much for having me, and thank you everyone for listening. 

[00:49:26] Kristina: Wow. What an incredible conversation. Zoe's journey is such a powerful reminder that no matter what challenges we face, there is always a way forward, a way to rise, and it all begins with one thing, believing you deserve more.

Because you do. If this episode sparked something in you, I would love to hear we got a free Facebook group called Your Dream Live Podcast, and, join that and let me know what you've got out of [00:50:00] this in Inspiring podcast and perhaps what actions you're going to take. After listening to it, and remember, manifestation isn't about magic.

It's about alignment. It's about healing. It's about showing up for yourself every single day, even in the smallest of ways. As always, thank you for being here, for dreaming with me, for doing the work, and for believing that your dream life is not only possible, it's also within reach. As always, I will be back on Monday with another Monday morning motivation episode.

Until then, don't forget to dream big, plan well and do the work. You got it. I'll see you on Monday.