Amber Rae

It’s not just a book. It’s a movement. --> http://choosewonder.com

Who’s with me? 🌬#WonderOverWorry (at San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato)

BEST BIRTHDAY EVER! After declaring to 50 friends last year that I was going ALL IN on my book after years of excuses, I am OVER THE MOON to share that my publisher gave me the greatest birthday gift: “Choose Wonder Over Worry” is now available for pre-order. (Cue the champagne!) 🌀Link in Bio🌀 It would be the greatest honor to have you join me in “Choosing Wonder” by pre-ordering the book today and spreading the word. As many of you know, this day has been a long time coming for me. Writing a book has been the biggest dream of all the dreams, and it’s also where I’ve felt the most insecurity, fear, and doubt. If I’m totally honest, I almost pushed back announcing today because yesterday I was freaking out. Since the book is all around moving through the fears that get in the way of expressing our gifts, I saw it as yet another opportunity to practice and embody the message, and see my fear as a signal of how much I care. Truly, I’ve never cared more about anything I’ve ever created. When I sat down in Bali to write the book, with two months until my deadline, something profound happened. I wrote a totally different book than the one I was expecting to write. Wonder invited me to go deeper. To explore the stories I was aching to tell. To write in a way that felt edgy and uncomfortable and invigorating and freeing. To expose my cracks. To share what I’d never dared share before. Half way into my writing journey, I realized I had two options: I could write the “safe book” or I could write the “true book.” And because I’m committed to living a life that is true over one that is comfortable, I did what I knew I must do: write my wild truth. I wrote this book for anyone who’s committed to living their truth, sharing their gifts, and moving beyond the bullshit stories we create in our mind. Because now, more than ever, the world needs us to show up and speak up. The days of playing small, repressing our emotions, and holding back are over. It’s time to rise up, together. It's time to share the fullness of who we are, together. It's time to CHOOSE WONDER, together. Thank you. I love you. Let's take this to the moon. 💃🏻🌑❤️✨🔮

Last weekend, at a workshop with @quddustv and @coachcarmina, we were invited to set forth our intention for coming into the weekend, which for me, turned into my highest possible intention for bringing the #WonderOverWorry message and book into the world over the next year. Then, we were invited to stand before the group and declare with all of our being, what we envisioned and imagined. If the audience was feeling me, they stood up to show a stand of "I'm resonating with you and feeling you in your power." It was exciting and nerve-wracking all at once, and it allowed me the space to name my dream, while facing any lingering fears I still feel around being seen. As I was preparing to share with the group, I noticed the Worry voices in my head chiming in to say things like "Is it okay for me to aim this high?" and "Is it my ego that wants to be on the NYT best-seller list?" and "Who the hell am I to envision selling 1MM books and sitting down with Oprah?!" As I breathed into and named these voices, I felt a shift and release in my body. My voice of wisdom chimed in to say, "No love, it's not your ego. It's your fucking soul. Own the message. Embody it. Be the vessel. Take it as far as you can. Align with all the people and places ready to hear it. The message matters, and it matters RIGHT NOW. Let the ripple of wonderment light you and the world on fire. Aim high, and then LET GO." Or, as my friend @ethanlipsitz sang to me the other night, "Let go, let go. Watch the magic flow." What I'm realizing is that now is not the time to play small and stifle our truth and question our dreams. Now is the time to own our power, step the fuck up, and make ourselves proud. Who's with me?! 🔮 (at Venice Beach)

"I'm exhausted. I can't do this. I need to rest. There's no way I can speak at this event." That's what the Worry voice inside my head said three days before the #story2017 extravaganza last week—the day I also handed in my manuscript. I had pushed and given every ounce of everything I had inside of me in writing the book, and I was so tired. Plus, the old talk felt... old. My soul felt... drained. The art felt... outdated. Rewriting a talk and creating new art felt... impossible. When I asked myself, "What would it take for me to feel aligned and energized by this?", I immediately felt a pull to reach out to the creator @harrisiii, and share my worries with him. "Hiiii, Harris," I said when we connected. "So I know the event is in a few days, but I wanted to be really honest: I'm. So. Tired." And then I went on and on, naming the microscopic truth of what I was feeling, the fears that were swirling from within, and all the feelings I felt nervous to say. As I talked, and as he gave me a pep talk, it dawned on me that my sensation of being tired had more to do with my unexpressed emotions than my actual energy levels, and as soon as I named to him what I was feeling, a rush of energy moved through me. This carried me to the day of the talk, with a revised speech and new art to coincide. What I'm discovering is that feeling "tired" can be a symptom of blocked emotions. And while rest and pauses are supremely important in the creative progress, so is naming your emotions and using them as fuel. This has me wonder: is there something within you that you've been hesitating to express? If so, consider this a clue to speak your vivid truth. ✨ (at The Lipstick Lounge)

Last October, while speaking at @itstimetobloom, I met a woman with a typewriter who goes by the name @fortunewriter. I told her I was writing a book, and she typed me this fortune: "Writing a book, that's easy right? Title page, dedication, cover... but the content... let it spill from your heart and soul, let it pour from your pores. Fill the pages to the margins and beyond their limits. Share from the very depths. It's there, lead and coax, and gently allow it to unfurl from your being. Your words are worth reading. You will be heard and understood." I've held her words close to my heart like a North Star. A compass. A reminder to allow myself to be opened. To be gutted. To access my truest truth, and deepest depth. To go where I've been afraid to inch near. And that's precisely what brings me here to Bali: to access the inaccessible, to uncover the covered, to release the restrained, to be made as I make. To write the most raw and riveting book possible. For me, and for you. I'm all yours, Bali. Let's begin. 📖 (at Penestanan)

Every time the critical voice in my head says, "You can't say that! They might judge you!", I'm leaning into this mantra. It's this week's mission. Because I have some crazy powerful stories to tell, and I'm not going to allow the critic to stop me. ✨ #xoyoursoul #choosewonder #wonderoverworry (at DUMBO, Brooklyn)

DREAMS DO COME TRUE. I've dreamt of this moment since I was a little girl, and I can now officially say: I GOT A BOOK DEAL. !!! More details to come, though for now I'll say this: Getting here has been a WILD ride filled with unimaginable twists and turns, breakdowns and breakthroughs, late nights and early mornings. I've danced between deep doubt and complete trust, and have experienced EVERY emotion along the way. The roller coaster taught me this: The pursuit of anything worthwhile can be TERRIFYING and lonely. The point is not to escape fear, avoid discomfort, or make uneasy feelings go away. It's to feel it, embrace it, release it, and keep moving WITH it. When I stopped trying to reject and numb my discomfort, and when I learned to welcome all of who I am, I tapped into a well of creativity and space of stillness that I didn't know existed. From that place of acceptance, I arrived here. So, if there's an idea you can't stop thinking about, and a vision that turns the light on in your eyes and heart, STAY TRUE TO YOUR DREAM. The path might not look as you planned, and as a result, may be filled with unimaginable wisdom and treasure. I could not have done this alone, so THANK YOU for all of you who have inspired me, challenged me, and encouraged me. You know who you are, and I love you. Xoxoxo (photo by @brandenharvey)

TODAY IS THE DAY. I've been preparing my whole life for this moment, and today—and this week—I walk into publisher meetings like 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻. As I soak up every second of the process, I wanted to take a moment to thank YOU for being on this journey with me. When I started sharing my thoughts and feelings on a blog nearly 10 years ago, I didn't think anyone would read it. I was wrong. The questions stirring in my heart were also stirring in yours. We've been on a wild ride together, and because you've shown up with me, I walk into meetings with the confidence and conviction to own why the #WonderOverWorry idea matters, and why it matters RIGHT NOW. I'll keep you posted as the process unfolds, and in the meantime, know this: whatever dream or vision you have, I'm whispering in your ear the same thing @farhadini whispered in mine this morning: You were born to do this. More soon! Xoxoxoxo

I recently got an email from someone who feels “lost.” After working her way up the fashion industry for a decade, in a role she thought would be her “dream job,” she ultimately found herself unhappy and miserable. She made the brave decision to leave her job, and now… she’s clueless as to what lies ahead. She’s worried that she’ll never create a life that brings her joy. Have I been there? Oh my, yes. Many times. I spent several years striving for the finish line rather than savoring each moment. I was always trying to get somewhere because where I was in that moment wasn’t enough. When I felt unhappy and stuck, I was a pro at designing my life around micro doses of validation that gave me just enough affirmation to keep going. I wanted clarity and purpose *so badly.* I would obsess about it, journal about it, suffer in silence, avoid my uncomfortable emotions, try to force clarity, drink all the wine, and stress like hell when I couldn’t figure it out. Then one day I realized that there was nothing to “figure out.” Nothing to “reach for.” Nothing to “uncover.” Nothing even to change. Instead, my mess was my message. The challenge was learning how to embrace uncertainty and trust where I was. Here's what I mean... READ THE FULL POST > http://ChooseWonder.com/mess xo (at DUMBO, Brooklyn)

This. Always. #ImWithHer #WonderOverWorry (at Brooklyn Bridge)

👁 #WonderOverWorry #ArtbyARae (at DUMBO, Brooklyn Bridge Water Front)

You all, some real talk about this #WonderOverWorry launch process: I have a crazy passionate perfectionist worry voice. She’s constantly breathing down my neck about whether or not what I create feels right and is good enough. Maybe you can relate? It's taken a lot of time, practice, and deep breaths to learn how to channel that energy for good, and to continue taking action in the face of uncertainty. When I hit publish on my website last week, I was lying in a bed with ice on my sprained ankle and ice on my right hand that was numb from many nights of writing until 3 a.m. I had sharp pain shooting from my wrist to my shoulder, and circles under my eyes. Hours later, I let out a big scream and then broke into hysterics because I felt so stressed, tired, and in pain. It was not my finest hour, and certainly not how I imagined launch day going. Now that I've had a few days of rest, and time to reflect, here's what I'm learning: birthing anything into the world requires a devotion to a mission and message, the discipline to show up each day, and a current of energy flowing from within. It takes a willingness to go beyond what’s comfortable to realize what’s possible. In reflection, I wouldn't have changed a thing. I loved every second of the creative process. I enjoyed discovering how possessed I become about design details and word choice. I smiled icing my right hand while using word dictation tools with my left. While I'm not advocating for exhaustion and pain, those states are fleeting, can be useful in moderation, and the contrast is powerful to witness. Then, launch week happened and beautiful notes rolled in. One woman called me her "spirit animal.” Another said my words “spark a fire in her hearts and shine a light in her soul.” One man shared that rather than trying to "fight or reject his worries," he's learning to "embrace and have compassion for his full self." These stories are why I’m here doing this work. You are why I’m showing up every day, using my voice and creativity to be a catalyst in your path. I feel lucky I have the opportunity to share my gifts with you, and I’m honored we’re on this journey together. ❤️ (📷 by @pollyshot) (at DUMBO, Brooklyn Bridge Water Front)

A poem for you: I used to dim my light, worrying that I'd shine too bright. I used to hide what I saw as magical, worrying those views would seem too radical. But then I discovered a clue: You are me and I am you. I am you and you are me. Can't you see? We are the light the magic the possibility. There is room for us all to shine bright So please, my love, bring forth your magic and light. #WonderOverWorry p.s. Have you seen the new site yet? Head to: http://amberrae.com ❤️ (at 3 ROOTS)

A world of possibilities is open to you. In every moment and interaction, you have a choice: Be more loving toward myself, and others — or create separation and distance? Be curious about the here and now — or busy myself with the past and future? Believe that “clues” and magic await — or let skepticism lead the way? Which will you choose? I choose Love. Love, Wonder Want to start your day with Wonder? Sign-up for (free) daily clues like the one above at amberrae.com/clues. It's part of a new brand + website reveal today. 💓💓💓

What If Wonder Led The Way? Today on 7/11 at 11:11 a.m., I am OVER THE MOON to share my new website and brand at amberrae.com. 🔮💃🏻✨🎉💓 A bit of background, if you're curious: About a year ago, I started asking the question: What if wonder led the way? I noticed that the voice of self-doubt, which I think of as “Worry,” was hanging out way too much in my creative process. As a result, either I wasn’t going after or finishing the projects that meant the most to me, or the entire creative process felt like hell. I wondered: Is there a better way? I wondered: What if Wonder navigated the negative self-talk? What if Wonder designed my day? How would Wonder approach writing a talk? How might I enter this difficult conversation from a lens of Wonder? And so on. I noticed that too often worry was leading the design of my life and creative pursuits. This led me to suppress my deepest desires, rush around in the pursuit of enough, and say “No” when I really wanted to say “Yes.” It led me to avoid confrontation, take feedback personally, and fear speaking my truth. It led me to try to do things perfectly, prioritize external recognition over internal joy, and get caught up in the way things are already being done. Maybe you can relate? As I discovered Wonder, I began questioning my worried outlook and experimenting with ways to switch up my approach. So far, it’s taking me to far more rewarding, enriching, and eye-opening places. I’m pursuing the things I’ve always longed to do in my heart, and my level of motivation, energy, and alignment is flowing like it has never flowed before. As part of this, today I’m launching a brand new website (oh happy day!!!), filled with inspiration, resources, and tools to support your wonder journey as I continue exploring mine. Check out all the magic at amberrae.com. To Wonder! xo #WonderOverWorry

Work work work work work. Getting ready to launch launch launch launch launch. New website + brand coming TOMORROW. Here's a sneak peak. #WonderOverWorry (at Greenpoint, Brooklyn)