An Interview With Maria Angelova
Try something totally new. Like samba, boxing or whatever is new for you. Something that feels somewhat new and maybe uncomfortable.
It feels most comfortable to stick with what we are familiar with. But anyone who has achieved great success will tell you that true growth comes from pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. What are some ways that influential people have pushed themselves out of their comfort zone to grow both personally and professionally? As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Gunilla Larsson.
Gunilla Larsson is dedicated to empowering individuals, guiding them in understanding their true selves and reclaiming their power. Through a courageous personal journey involving divorce and a career change, she found a renewed sense of freedom and global connection in France. As an alchemist, Gunilla provides transformative techniques to release old patterns, fulfill dreams, and transition from the 3D matrix to a more expansive 5D existence.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we start, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
I grew up with only my mother. My father left before I was born. I contacted him when I was about 30 years old. This gave me the message that I am not important, I am not safe, I have no value, I am not loved. I can not trust men.
My mother came from a small farm. I experienced her as afraid, bitter, low self confidence but someone that could easily laugh. She loved small children. We lived in an apartment. But the best thing was to spend time at my uncle’s farm. I was lonely and loved to spend time with the animals. I wanted to become a farmer as a child. But I didn’t understand how. As I wanted to have animals but not to eat them. As a teenager I had a lot of fun with my friends and we had a dance company.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
(Work always pays. My dance teacher Charlie Rivel told me. )
Later I have my quote: “Consciousness is all there is — Imagination creates reality.”
This quote I use to understand that I can change everything. I can create anything. When something “bad” shows up in life. I step back and look at my thinking and beliefs. And how I can change on my inside.
Is there a particular book, podcast, or film that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
Agnes Vivarelli, has books, courses and youtube that teaches the importance of Self love.
This made me really work on my beliefs, thoughts, emotions, expectations etc. So that I got my ex back. A French man where we had a lot of drama. I think he is really awful. But I realized he mirrored my old story from my father and mother.
Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. Let’s start with a basic definition so that all of us are on the same page. What does “getting outside of your comfort zone” mean?
To follow your heart. Do something you want to do but you have fears. Do it anyway.
Try something new, unknown.
I painted the image of a Dragon. It’s like the dragon is guarding a bridge. It feels scary but actually the dragon looks more scary than he is. And when you have crossed this bridge, the Dragon has got a treasure for you!
Do something new that scares you.
Can you help articulate a few reasons why it is important to get out of your comfort zone?
It is so important for your expansion. We never stop expanding. When you reach one goal another comes.
To live more who you really are.
To follow your heart instead of just living how others expect you to live. Do not shrink yourself to fit in. I believe you might get a disease in the end if you don’t follow your heart. You block the energy that wants to flow.
Is it possible to grow without leaving your comfort zone? Can you explain what you mean?
Yes to a certain degree. But the bigger growth comes when you leave the comfort zone.
It’s like you are born in a very big house. With many rooms. And choose to only stay in the bedroom your whole life. If you can’t change, challenge yourself, dare to jump.
For me the expansion could not be the same if I had stayed in the same city with the same people around me. It was like my soul called on me, it’s time to move forward.
Can you share some anecdotes from your personal experience? Can you share a story about a time when you stepped out of your comfort zone and how it helped you grow? How does it feel to take those first difficult steps?
I divorced and this helped me to be more myself. I moved from Sweden to France. It felt scary, sad. There was grief and fears.
I left my real estate business and started to give coaching on the phone. I lived at that time alone on a mountain. With a view over the french riviera. I took care of 2 horses, 1 cat and 1 dog. I had done training as a medium, as a teacher in a meditation used for personal development and a training as a law of attraction coach. Now was the time to start using it. I was forced to do it, work from home. As it was forbidden to leave the home for several months.
In 2012 I created a big painting and participated in Gemluc Art Monaco. I had no experience as a professional artist. But I won the price of the jury. That led me to create more art in the french nature and create multidimensional art shows.
Now I decided to participate in a project to write my book. I will finish the book in December 2024.
All these changes above made me feel fear. And sometimes a little lost.
When I was younger I let the fear stop me. I was offered to work as a model for Elite models. I said no because of fears. Instead I stayed in Sweden having my 6 kids. That was also a wonderful period.
What are your “five ways to push past your comfort zone, to grow both personally and professionally”?
- I write down my fears and burn this paper. On another I write the opposite positive affirmations and read daily.
- How would I like to live in 1 year? I write it down like it already happened. And how it feels.
- Try something totally new. Like samba, boxing or whatever is new for you. Something that feels somewhat new and maybe uncomfortable.
- Fasting 3 days. It feels hard and uncomfortable. But it helps your organs and your mind to get clear.
- Just follow your heart. Feel the way. Don’t think the way. When I make a decision I try to FEEL the answer, the path.
From your experience or perspective, what are some of the common barriers that keep someone from pushing out of their comfort zone?
You are used to following a pattern. A heritage.
You get trained in life and in school to stay like in a box.
You are afraid of the change. To lose something. Maybe a person, a house, money etc. These are the crutches in life. But who are you without them???
Fear of not being good enough.
There is a well-known quote attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt that says, “Do something that scares you every day”. What exactly does this mean to you? Is there inherent value in doing something that pushes you out of your comfort zone, even if it does not relate to personal or professional growth? For example, if one is uncomfortable about walking alone at night should they purposely push themselves to do it often for the sake of going beyond their comfort zone? Can you please explain what you mean?
I think you should use your intuition. Not do something scary to provoke something bad. Your thoughts create. If you try to walk alone at night and you have some fear, this is what you attract.
But yes I once did Via Ferrata in the Italian Alps, where you walk on high mountains. Sometimes the path is like 2 meters wide. But next to you you can fall down 1 km. And at some parts you have to climb ladders and attach yourself to be safe. I was soooo scared. I cried and crawled. But I did it. I think the fear was not only connected to the height but something else getting triggered inside. After this I am not so afraid of heights, not the same level as before.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Movement — Inspire people to practice daily:
SAGAF
Self love. Affirmations. Gratitude and Appreciation, Forgiveness
I am creating a course for this, manifesting journal, youtube etc.
You have to start with yourself. In your own little world. Your thoughts create.
Like this you spread
Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have lunch with, and why? Maybe we can tag them and see what happens!
Russel Brand — someone that left addiction to uplift others
Esther Hicks — channeling Abraham regarding the law of attraction
Natasha Graziano — created the life of her dreams. Inspiring others
JLO — so powerful in creating!
Darryl Anka, Bashar — channeling Bashar that teaches about creation etc.
Viktoria Silvstedt — Swedish woman who created her dream life
How can our readers follow you online?
Instagram: @gunilla_art
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@LiveyourdreamguideGunilla/videos
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at angelova@rebellious-intl.com. To schedule a free consultation, click here.
Gunilla Larsson On How to Go Beyond Your Comfort Zone To Grow Both Personally and Professionally was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.