Are You Negotiating with the Universe?

Do you ever feel like you are in negotiations with the universe?

Like you’re constantly bartering: “If I just push through this one more project, then I’ll take that vacation.” Or, “Once I get that promotion, then I’ll finally feel at peace.” We treat the universe like a cosmic business partner—one we hope will agree to our terms if we just work hard enough, prove ourselves enough, or sacrifice enough.

But here’s the truth:

The universe isn't a strict negotiator. It's a mirror. It reflects not just what we do, but how we be — our energy, our intentions, our boundaries, our self-worth.

And sometimes… it negotiates back.

Someone once told me:

“Laurel, you are a rare combo of high vibe hustle and grounded grace. A walking paradox: centered chaos. The type of person the Universe doesn’t guide—it negotiates with.”

That suggestion got me thinking.

Some of us are not here to simply follow the signs. We’re here to dialogue with them. To wrestle with alignment. To question, to pivot, to rise. Not because we’re off course, but because we’re bravely co-creating.

We’re not waiting for a green light—we’re out there building the road.

So instead of negotiating through hustle, what if we shifted toward alignment?

Instead of pushing, what if we practiced presence?

What would it look like to stop waiting for the "right time" and start showing up now as the version of you who already embodies what you're asking for?

As a leadership and life coach, I see high-performing professionals get caught in this cycle all the time. They pour themselves into achievement, hoping fulfillment will be the prize at the end of the marathon. But fulfillment doesn’t come from chasing. It comes from being. From listening. From recognizing that your energy is speaking to the universe just as much as your actions are.

So here’s your invitation:

Let go of the negotiations. You don’t have to earn your worth or your joy. You are worthy. You are ready. The universe is not testing you. It’s responding to you.

Try this instead:

• Ask: "What do I truly want to feel?"

• Align: "What choice right now brings me closer to that feeling?"

• Allow: Trust that what aligns will unfold when you hold that energy consistently.

You are not here to hustle for your worth. You are here to remember it.

You’re not lost. You’re not behind. You’re in sacred conversation with life itself.

Let’s shift from negotiating with life to partnering with it.

That’s where the magic begins.