We’re looking forward to introducing you to Emily M. Gould. Check out our conversation below.
Emily M., it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
This may sound odd, but the thing that I am most proud of building, or rather rebuilding, is my heart. I’m not sure that I could possibly muster the words that would adequately describe the depths of sorrow and suffering that I found myself in. I learned long ago to set any of my own difficult emotions aside in an effort to not weigh others down. A few years ago, that all caught up to me in a way that I was not prepared for. Triggers from my past began a relentless assault on me just as unabated attacks from current events dismantled my very being. In short, I was “fine” on the outside and a prisoner of my own psyche on the inside. Step by step I worked hand in hand with God to dig out of a really dark place that many people never knew I was in. I still have work to do, but I am very proud of the work I’ve done to rebuild my heart.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! My name is Emily Gould. I am the author of “Turning Weeds into Wildflowers”, “It Gave Me You”, “It’s Okay If I’m Not Okay (Jesus Loves Me Anyway)”, and coming soon “Life, Embraced.” I have been writing for well over twenty years and enjoy expressing my thoughts in all types of genres. I write with the purpose of helping others to feel seen, loved, and better understood, regardless of what they are going through. My writing is real, raw, and genuine. While I am an optimist by nature, life has also taught me to be a realist of necessity. My writing reflects both such traits. I am looking forward to the release of my most recent manuscript “Life, Embraced.” as the focus of this book is to learn to embrace your trials and emotions, as opposed to shying away from them, and how doing so will ultimately bring you closer to Jesus Christ.
This concept is particularly dear to my heart as it seems that too often we believe the opposite to be true. For some reason, it has been commonly accepted that if we are struggling with heavy emotions or difficult trials then our relationship with God is in jeopardy. In my experience, that simply is not the case. I’m very excited to share this new book with my readers in hopes that they may see God’s hand in their lives regardless of the challenges they may be facing.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Communication. I believe communication to be one of the most powerful tools we have been given. When it is used, we succeed. When it is not, we fail. Every relationship, whether it be romantic, platonic, familial, or professional is based upon communication. If the parties involved are able to openly communicate, the relationship flourishes. If the parties refuse to communicate, the relationship ceases to exist. It is not enough for only one party to communicate, both parties must be willing to do so. This is not to say that communication is a guarantee for agreement. On the contrary, if both parties are openly communicating and are comfortable in the relationship there will likely be disagreements as opinions will differ from one another. There is nothing wrong with that. Communication is not meant to make everyone have the same opinion, it is simply to keep the dialogue open and foster a safe space for everyone to be able to share their opinion with love and respect.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
Oof. These questions are going straight for my heart haha.
I have a lot of very happy memories as a child. I also have a lot of really hard and heavy memories of being sad and being scared but not wanting to tell anyone. There was abuse in my home growing up. My mom would regularly take my five siblings and I to my grandparents house. The seven of us would stay there until things settled back down and we could go back home. These stays become such regular occurrences that I packed what could be called a “go bag”. It was a small hand-me-down bag that I had found somewhere. In it were my most prized possessions – a ball of yarn and a crochet needle (my grandma was teaching me to crochet) and my Book of Mormon (a book of Scripture that accompanies the Bible in testifying of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ). Whenever I heard the screaming and chaos starting I would take that Book and I would hold it to my chest. I did not know the words in it. I’d never read it and wasn’t even sure what it was about at the time. I just knew that it made me feel better when I held it close to my chest.
As I got older, I read the Book and have since read it several more times. I understand now why it brought so much comfort, but am still amazed at the calming impact that its mere presence had on my younger self. Throughout my life, I have experienced other trials and heartaches that have caused me to feel sad or scared. Without realizing it, I find myself gravitating back to my Book of Mormon recognizing that just being in the vicinity of this sacred Book will put my heart at ease.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I’ve never been impressed much with power. It feels temporary to me. Character, however, is quite the opposite. Character cannot be taken away nor it does not fade with time. True character is often revealed in the most difficult of times in the most unusual of circumstances. Power seems to seek attention and status. Character seeks nothing and no one. It remains the same regardless of who is or isn’t watching. Power is fleeting. Character is foundational.
When it comes to strength of character, I admire my husband, Kris, far more than he realizes. Life has thrown some unspeakable trials his way and yet his character has never once faltered. He continues to be the foundation of our family. When our world threatens to fall apart, he holds each of us closer. He is who he says he is, regardless of who is watching or not watching. The most incredible thing is that it comes so natural to him that he doesn’t even realize what a gift he gives us each day just by being him.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Are you really giving your best if you are only doing it for the praise of others? It seems to me that we live in a world of constant gratification. As a result, we have conditioned ourselves to need praise for the things that we do. But this is should not be the case. Are we being kind for the camera or because of our character? Do we love others because of the limelight or the laudatory? While it is wonderful to use the resources we have to spread awareness about causes that are important to our hearts, things that others can do to help or serve others, or experiences that bring us joy, doing such things and offering your “best” only when others can see never served anyone well.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @emily_m_gould
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-m-gould-b54b4421a
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/emilygouldwrites
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