Perception

By Cali Gilbert

Cali Gilbert shares her story of transformation in the third book of her Memoir Series (Book One - It's Simply Serendipity, Book Two - Pearl) where she chronicles periods in her life where she learned the power of perception, and how during this most uncertain year of 2020, she has been able to make this one of her BEST years yet. She offers guidance to the reader of how she implemented simple tools into her daily life to manifest the life of her dreams, even amongst a global pandemic.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cali Gilbert
• Release date: Nov 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005728526

Cali Gilbert

Cali Gilbert is an International bestselling author, award winning filmmaker and photographer. She has travelled the globe as a former figure skater and magazine publisher, and has contributed to the Huffington Post. With an extensive background in event management, Cali assisted the Canadian Olympic Committee at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, and most recently served as an Event Ambassador for the 34th America’s Cup sailing regatta in San Francisco.Cali is an accomplished photographer, whose work has been showcased in galleries across the United States. As the creator of the IT’S SIMPLY book series, Cali has published several bestselling books of her own and now serves other writers through her imprint, Serendipity Publishing House.As Founder & CEO of Tower 15 Productions, Cali supports other creatives through education and collaboration in the areas of publishing, photography and filmmaking. Cali splits her time between Los Angeles and San Diego, California where she enjoys serving her community, especially women in transition and youth programs. To learn more, visit www.CaliGilbert.com

Book preview

PERCEPTION

How Changing Your View Can Change Your Life

CALI GILBERT

PERCEPTION

Copyright © 2020 by Cali Gilbert. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval devices or systems, without prior written permission from the author.

Some of the names of those mentioned throughout my story have been changed to protect the individuals.

Paperback Version

ISBN 9781545042175

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017905612

First printing November, 2020

Serendipity Publishing House

Santa Monica, CA

Cover photograph courtesy of Rebecca Kuschel

Edited by Marlene Oulton - www.MarleneOulton.com

WWW.CALIGILBERT.COM

Praise for PERCEPTION

However you wish to say it 'follow your bliss', 'listen to your intuition', or 'let go let God' - it all makes sense. Perception offers countless examples of how life provides all the answers if you open your heart and just listen. Cali offers us both encouragement and a practical toolkit for sharing our creative gifts with the world.

─JORDAN BRADY, Founder, Commercial Directing Film School

Truly inspirational! No matter where we start off in life or what life throws at us, we have the power to create the life of our dreams. It starts with a shift in PERCEPTION. Cali shows us that setting our intentions and taking inspired action places us in the juicy flow which creates magic.  Be prepared to be amazed!

─TERESA FINO, Vibrational Alchemist

Perception is real life stories that will inspire you to believe in yourself, regardless of what challenges you may have had in your life. By taking 100% responsibility and only making the choices that make you feel good is tapping into your intuition and guidance.

─LINDA BENN, Founder of the BENN Method

Cali Gilbert’s Perception shares her uplifting journey and serves as a guide that we can all use especially after this unprecedented year! As a single mother who lost everything and rebuilt my life with my sons, this book resonated with me and is a must read for anyone looking to shift their perception of the world.

─TISHA JANIGIAN, Founder & President of SHE IS HOPE LA and Owner & Broker of SHE IS HOPE Realty

"Cali takes us on a raw and honest journey in her book, PERCEPTION. She shows us how thoughts and attitude can dramatically transform any adversity into an experience that holds new insights and the ability to thrive!"

─ RUTH KLEIN, Brand Strategist & Book Marketing, 7-time best-selling author, most recently Generation Why Not? 7Principles to a Purposeful Business & Life, Driven By Attitude, Not Age.

Through her own powerful stories, Cali gives us the ability to lean into our own thoughts, let our intuition speak, and guide our actions. Perception is not just a book, but it's a special book on LIFE itself.

─ BRYAN WISH, CEO, BW Missions

"I have the pleasure of writing an endorsement for Cali Gilbert for her new book PERCEPTION – How Changing Your View Can Change Your Life – as she clearly explains EVERYONE has a story but few are able to leverage the lessons learnt from their life apprenticeship and pay forward their experience.  It takes great courage to be vulnerable and Cali has this in spades.  As you will see by her writings, she has ‘done the work’, she has indeed navigated the ‘Hero’s Journey’, followed her ‘calling’ to be an inspiration to others for what is possible.  Regardless of where you are at in your life, take time to read from her wisdom for it will surely motivate you to live and lead a life of your dreams.  Nothing but respect for this woman, an exemplary example of what’s possible through the power of ‘choice’."

─ SALLY ANDERSON, CEO Coach – Specialist in ‘sustainable’ human and organisational transformation

Cali Gilbert's latest book is a refreshing look at how even during the most challenging of times, one can reach success by looking within and leading with intention.

─ JESSICA BETH CORR, WIBassador - College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Entrepreneur

Foreword

Cali and I first met each other about a year ago. You know that feeling when you feel an instant connection, a kindred spirit, a soul sister? That's what it felt like. The energetic pull was undeniable, and we could tell right away during our initial meeting that we had a lot in common and we were meant to be in each other's lives.

We were both attending a networking event in Santa Monica, California called City Summit Mastermind at the Expert Dojo Incubator on the top floor of the Santa Monica Place Mall. The City Summit events were hosted by a man named Ryan Long, who had a huge heart and passion for helping entrepreneurs and non-profits bring their big dreams and visions to the world. Unfortunately, Ryan was in a severe car accident and lost his life earlier this year in 2020. It seems like there's been so many sudden tragic deaths in this incredible, unprecedented year. So much sadness and loss.

But not for Cali. She decided to make this the BEST YEAR of her life! By making that declaration, and through her determination, drive and following her intuition…it is all happening for her. As you'll read in her story, you'll learn to love her the way I love her because of that determination and her commitment to following her passions and her purpose.

Cali and I have so many things in common, which is why we are friends. We both are practitioners of the law of attraction and use our intuition and manifestation skills to follow and pursue our dreams unabashedly…with a complete sense of trust and allowing. There’s never a lull in the conversation because we feed off of each other’s stories and experiences. I know, for me, there are very few people I can share everything with, because frankly, most people just don’t understand what it’s like to go through the awakening process. We just vibe on different frequencies. Not with Cali…she gets me, and I get her. It's quite comforting. Additionally, the timing of so many of our peak emotional experiences happened around that same time as each other. There are no accidents.

What she's done in this book is give you her candid, honest, vulnerable story of the highs and lows of her journey and how she is making this the best year of her life based on the only thing that matters anyway…her perception. She's choosing it to be. Since she's choosing it to be, the universe is bringing her everything that she needs in her state of allowance, trust and surrender. She has experienced rewards, glory, praise, independence, a dream home, and more. She's on a trajectory that only is going to get better and better and better.

In the final chapter of the book, Cali helps you intend a life that you love, too, as she walks you through all the practical steps it takes to create, manifest, visualize, intend, dream and bring into fruition all the things that you want. As someone who teaches about self-love, self-worth and empowerment, I love every word Cali has written to guide you toward making your dreams come true!

Clearly, the universe thinks that Cali and I are kindred spirits as well, because a year ago when we met each other, we were living 100 miles apart. Now, a year later, we are living only two blocks from each other…and we had no idea that was the case until about a month ago! Apparently, the universe has plans for us that have yet to be discovered!

I am so honored and feel privileged to be writing this foreword in her beautiful book with her incredible, heartfelt story. I can't wait to see what else unfolds for her in this the best year of her life and beyond!

- Diane Forster

TV Host and Founder of I HAVE TODAY, Best-selling author of I HAVE TODAY…Find Your Passion, Purpose & Smile…Finally!

Preface

Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life. Isn’t that a wonderful thought? How the dawn of a new day can be a fresh start, a blank canvas, an opportunity to begin again. This is your opportunity, and I’m grateful to be able to share it with you.

Before we begin on this journey I wanted to take the opportunity to share my story and how this book took form. Over the last decade I’ve had the privilege of experiencing massive transformation, and let me tell you, it wasn’t all sunshine and roses. In fact, there were moments when I didn’t think I’d survive. Yet now I am blessed to look back on that time and really count my small (and large) miracles, and know that each and every moment was perfectly orchestrated to lead me precisely where I was meant to be.

If you’re not familiar with me or my work, allow me to give you a brief introduction. Prior to 2008 I had what many would call the ideal life. I was living in New York and working for a major non-profit doing a job that I loved and being of service. I was financially secure and had a great group of friends. I was a former figure skater who had traveled all over the world. I had experienced so many incredible things in a short period of time, and yet I didn’t feel truly fulfilled. Something was missing.

So, despite appearing as if I had it all, I took a leap of faith and made the bold decision to give it all up and follow my heart to California. My dream was to live in Sausalito, a small bayside community on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. It was an artist area, one where I had felt so much at home many years prior when I first visited. I had been splitting my time between the two coasts, but the pull to stay in California only became stronger and stronger as time went by. Finally in 2008 I knew I needed to make the move permanent. I resigned from the dream job, packed everything up and took about a month to drive across the country as I wanted to enjoy every moment of this new adventure.

That decision shifted the course of my life in ways I couldn’t have even imagined. It set me on a new path; a path that for the first time in my life, was solely mine. You see, up until that point I had been living someone else’s dream, namely that of my family. They wanted me to go to the best schools, get the big title job and bask in the glory of financial abundance and material wealth. I did all that, and yet I was miserable. I wasn’t being true to myself. I wasn’t being authentic. I was being who I thought I was supposed to be, and for a very long time I simply went along with their vision for my life. After a while my soul began to die a slow death and I felt as though I was simply going through the motions instead of living a meaningful existence.

Today, I’m living the life I always dreamed of. I’m being true to myself and every decision I make must feel in alignment