12 Lessons from Gabby Bernstein’s Book—The Universe Has Your Back

Gabrielle Bernstein is one of my favorite go-to authors for all things personal growth and spirituality. She’s written bestsellers like The Universe Has Your Back, amongst other books that are packed with practical advice and soulful inspiration to help you live your best life.

What I love about Gabrielle is how she makes big, spiritual ideas feel super approachable and easy to apply, even if you’re totally new to this stuff.

She’s been featured on Oprah’s SuperSoul Sunday and has a down-to-earth way of cheering you on every step of the way. Here are 12 lessons from Gabby Bernstein’s book The Universe Has Your Back that I think are worth revisiting.

Please enjoy.

12 Lessons from Gabby Bernstein’s Book—The Universe Has Your Back

• The world is your classroom, and people are your assignments.
• The pathway to healing occurs when you love yourself so much that the darkness from the past can no longer co-exist with your faith in the light of the present moment.
• Freedom from the past is available to you when you show up for the assignments in the present.
• When you’re in a state of joy, you leave a positive imprint on every being in the world.
• Your life’s goals work faster when you’re having fun.
• Reconnecting with your power begins by realizing that you have lost it.
• Be unapologetic about how you want to feel.
• Obstacles are detours in the right direction.
• The universe will do for you what you cannot do for yourself.
• The path to certainty requires a profound desire to be free from fear.
• The frequency you embody supports the experiences that you have.

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1) The world is your classroom, and people are your assignments.

Gabby Bernstein’s idea that “The world is your classroom, and people are your assignments” means that life is full of opportunities to learn and grow, especially through our interactions with others.

The people we meet—whether they’re amazing or challenging—are fucking here to help you grow.

“The world constantly gives you lessons,” says Bernstein, “and it’s up to you to recognize them and grow from the experience.”

That annoying coworker? is probably teaching you patience (or at least trying to). While a nice friend might teach you kindness. Every interaction is like a little life lesson, and it’s up to us to figure out what we’re meant to learn.

Pretty cool when you think about it, right?

2) The pathway to healing occurs when you love yourself so much that the darkness from the past can no longer co-exist with your faith in the light of the present moment.

What Bernstein is trying to say here is that real healing happens when you love yourself so much that your past pain can’t compete with the good vibes of your present. In other words, when you’re focusing on the good things happening now, the sad or scary stuff from your past can’t bother you as much anymore.

It’s like turning on a flashlight in a dark room—the light makes the darkness go away. The more you think about the happy stuff, the less room there is for the sad stuff to stay.

It’s all about choosing the light over the dark and letting your faith in the present guide you forward.

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 You might also like: Do Not Repay Evil for Evil

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4) Freedom from the past is available to you when you show up for the assignments in the present.

Bernstein reminds us that true liberation from past experiences, traumas, or limiting beliefs can be achieved when you’re fully engaged and present in your life right now.

The “assignments” she refers to can be understood as the tasks, lessons, or challenges that life presents to us daily. Whether they involve emotional healing, personal growth, or mindfulness—can allow us to let go of the weight of our past.

It’s about taking action in the present so you can move forward and feel lighter. So deal with what’s in front of you today, in order to free yourself from the baggage of yesterday.

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5) When you’re in a state of joy, you leave a positive imprint on every being in the world.

What Bernstein is saying here is that when you’re really happy and feeling joyful, that good vibe doesn’t just stay with you—you spread that thing out and influence everyone around you.

It’s like your happiness acts as a ripple effect. It boosts the mood of others and creates a positive atmosphere.

So, when you’re out there radiating joy, you’re not just lifting your own spirits, but you’re also making the world a little brighter for everyone else.

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6) Your life’s goals work faster when you’re having fun.

When you enjoy what you’re doing and having fun, you can achieve your goals more easily and quickly.

That’s the power of being in a good mood. Instead of stressing out or grinding hard all the time, you want to lighten up and enjoy the process. Whatever you’re working on will flow better and come together faster.

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7) Reconnecting with your power begins by realizing that you have lost it.

What Gabby Bernstein is saying here is that you’re not feeling as strong or in charge as you used to. You’ve lost something.

It’s like when you lose track of your keys, and can’t find them, the first step is admitted, like, “Hey, I can’t find my keys!” And once you recognize that you’ve misplaced them, you can start looking for them and eventually get them back.

So, if you’re feeling off or not completely in control, the first step is to realize it. Once you do that, you can take steps to get back to your empowered self.

This journey is all about awareness and taking those first steps toward reclaiming your strength!

8) Be unapologetic about how you want to feel.

Bernstein is basically telling you to own your emotions and desires without feeling the need to justify them to anyone.

If you want to feel a certain way, whether it’s joyful, peaceful, or excited, then go after that bitch with confidence.

All I’m saying is, give yourself permission to want what you want and not let anyone make you feel bad about it. If that means prioritizing your happiness, so fucking be it!

Just be yourself and don’t hold back on pursuing those good vibes.

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9) Obstacles are detours in the right direction.

Bernstein wants you to realize that when you face challenges or setbacks, these things aren’t fcking roadblocks!

They’re there to lead you to new paths or opportunities if you let them.

Things you might not have explored otherwise.

Think of it like taking a wrong turn while driving – it might seem frustrating at first, but it can lead to discovering a cool new spot or a better route to your destination.

So, when you hit a bump in the road, (no pun intended) just remember it might be guiding you somewhere even better!

10) The universe will do for you what you cannot do for yourself.

“The universe will do for you what you cannot do for yourself,” basically means that sometimes, when you’re struggling or feel stuck, you can rely on the un(or a higher power, if you believe in one) to help you out. Trust the process, stay open to possibilities, and things will fall into place in ways you might not have been able to achieve on your own.

Bernstein is reminding you that if you relax a bit and let go of the tight grip you have on things, the universe can step in and bring you opportunities or solutions that you might not have even considered.

It’s kind of like when you’re trying to open a jar and can’t quite get it, but then someone else comes along and gives it a twist, then boom! that bitch opens. In the same way, sometimes you just need a little help, and the universe is here to lend a hand. Just keep faith, be open to what comes your way, and trust that things can work out in ways you might not expect.

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11) The path to certainty requires a deep desire to be free from fear.

If you want to feel sure about things in life, you’ve got to let go of fear. Realize that fear can keep you stuck and make you feel unsure of yourself. But if you really want to stop being afraid, you’ll have to start to see things more clearly.

It’s about knowing that being scared can stop you from doing things and feeling good about yourself. So, If you’re tired of being scared and want to feel strong and happy, you have to really want to make a change.

12) The frequency you embody supports the experiences that you have.

When Bernstein talks about “the frequency you embody,” she’s referring to the energy or vibe you’re putting out into the world.

Imagine it like a radio station; if you’re tuned into a positive, high-frequency channel, you’re likely to attract the same frequency into your life. Whereas a low-frequency channel, like negativity, stress, complaining, and whatnot, turns you into a magnet for more tough situations like these coming your way. If you never read or watched the movie The Secret, I’ll highly recommend it.

Basically, the energy you carry affects what you attract. If you focus on positivity and happiness, you’ll likely see more of that in your life. And as the saying goes, Energy flows where your intention goes.

life gets a whole lot easier when you choose love and faith over fear.

These 12 lessons we’ve just covered are tools you can actually use to build a life that feels calmer, happier, and more connected.

You don’t have to have it all figured out.

Just trust that the universe has your back, and take small steps toward what feels good. Let go of the need to control everything. It’s about leaning into love, being present, and knowing that even the tough moments are part of your journey.

So, which lesson spoke to you the most? I’d love to hear how Gabby’s wisdom inspires you—drop your thoughts in the comments!