May 2, 2026
Amid the Litchfield Hills, No. 1 New York Times-bestselling author Gabby Bernstein has found a sanctuary, one where she embraces life’s gentler rhythms with her husband and son and the quiet that nourishes the soul.
“Litchfield County holds a really special place in my heart,” reflects the long-time resident, renowned motivational speaker, and self-help guru behind the “Dear Gabby” weekly podcast. “It’s where I slow down, surrounded by nature and a sense of peace that’s hard to find elsewhere. It brings me back to what truly matters and reminds me how powerful it is to create space to just be, reconnect, and listen to my inner guidance.”
Growing up in New York, Bernstein’s path hasn’t always been tranquil. “Years of struggling with anxiety, addiction, and deep disconnection” took their toll and shaped her early life. Through perseverance and spiritual practice, she discovered tools that transformed her inner world and now shares them with millions worldwide via her website and TV appearances, including “The Drew Barrymore Show,” “Good Morning America,” and Oprah’s “Super Soul” podcast. Currently on “The Time To Trust Live Tour,” she empowers audiences from New York to London and Vancouver. The event marks a decade since the release of The Universe Has Your Back, which sold more than 1 million copies, paving the way for more than another dozen best-sellers.
Her approach, rooted in “lived experience,” resonates with audiences, making them feel less alone and more hopeful.
At the heart of Bernstein’s teaching is Internal Family Systems (IFS), a therapy that sees the mind as composed of different “inner parts” needing understanding and healing. After discovering its power in her own life, she completed IFS Institute practitioner training and explored the framework in her book Self Help, which guides audiences “back to their own sense of safety within.” “I believe that everyone has the capacity to heal, but healing doesn’t mean erasing the past,” she says. “It means changing your relationship to it.”
By abandoning self-judgment, avoidance, and “the need to control,” individuals can “witness their thoughts and feelings with compassion” and loosen the grip of negative mental habits, Bernstein reflects. “That shift, from judgment to compassion, is everything,” she says, explaining that in everyday life, healing shows up quietly but meaningfully: pausing instead of reacting, and “choosing to respond from compassion rather than fear.” “In relationships, it looks like taking responsibility for triggers instead of projecting them onto someone else,” she notes. “In your career, it’s trusting intuition instead of over-controlling outcomes. It’s not perfect, but over time, those small shifts create big change.” Prayer, meditation, and simple rituals, a hand on the heart, a deep breath, or a mantra of gratitude, anchor Bernstein in chaotic moments. These “inner luxuries” are accessible to everyone, whether on a Litchfield County trail, a country road, or a city train. “Living your dream life is feeling at home within yourself,” she says. “Your inner world creates your outer experience. When you feel safe, supported, and aligned within, your life begins to reflect that.” —gabbybernstein.com
