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Leap of Faith

Leigh — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:32:44 +0000

~ ‘A courageous leap of faith can lead you into unchartered territory, enabling you to build a new more adventurous life. Though you may anticipate that fear will be your guide on your journey across the abyss, you will likely discover that exhilaration is your constant companion.’ ~

Trying something new can be very scary.

It’s that feeling of doing something completely novel that takes us out of our comfort zone and into unknown, unchartered territory. That’s o.k., it’s supposed to feel that way. In fact, studies have shown that taking risks and trying new things makes us happier. It gives us self confidence, higher life satisfaction and even a chemical high. Yep, the simple of act trying something new, and that slightly panicky feeling that accompanies, increases dopamine levels in our brain and gives us that brief high on life feeling.

So how do we brave up and take more risks?

Getting up the gumption to try something new doesn’t require herculean effort, just a little bit of practice. If you’re new to risk taking, start with small things and work your way up. For instance, a small risk may be initiating a conversation at a party, or asking someone to dance. Once you’ve conquered those, start taking bigger chances, like planning a solo adventure, starting your own business, or delving into a new relationship. These are where the big fat rewards lie, but they take more courage. Remember… the worst that can happen is that you take the risk and hate it. At least then you’ll know, and will have learned something new. The best case scenario, is you love it, feel exhilarated by taking the risk and have achieved a whole new level of growth (aka become a way cooler person)

Traveling to new places can help in becoming more confident in ourselves and in taking risks.

I’m constantly forcing myself to try and go outside my comfort zone. It’s not easy, as I’m very comfortable there. But travel helps me do it in a fun and exciting way. How? Being out and about in the world frees us of our normal constraints. When traveling, we are constantly surrounded by new things which forces us (in a fun way) to flex our risk taking muscles. If you’re one of those people that has never left your home state but whiles in your cubicle daydreaming about escaping reality for a while, take a leap of faith and start planning a trip. First step: choose the date. Ask off from work, even if you’re not sure where you are going yet or if you have someone to go with. Take that one simple step, the rest will fall into place. Once you make a decision to do something, all kinds of forces come to your aid to help you get what you want. So don’t worry too much about the details, they will work themselves out. The important thing is that you do it. Take the leap, have faith things will work out, honor your need for new experiences, adventure, and happiness and go!

If you’re stuck on destination ideas, here are a few places you can start:

Top Budget Travel Destinations for 2009

Lonely Planet

National Geographic Traveler (one of my favorites for cool photos, stories and interviews)

The Frugal Traveler (awesome travel blog in NY Times)

Happy Travels!

Shantaram

Leigh — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:02:37 +0000

I am reading an amazing book titled ‘Shantaram’. (Thanks Josh) It’s an autobiographical novel by Gregory David Roberts, who is a talented writer but became addicted to heroin after his marriage collapsed. He was sent to prison on armed robbery charges but soon escaped and went on to live in India, New Zealand, Asia, Africa, and Europe. During his time in Bombay, India, he established a free medical clinic for slum dwellers, worked as a counterfeiter, smuggler, gunrunner and street soldier for the mafia.

There is a part in his book I’d like to share with you. It takes place shortly following Lin’s (main character) arrival in India after his prison escape in Australia. His guide, Prabaker, has invited him to his home village away from the hustle and bustle of Bombay for a few months. When he first arrives, Lin is like a fish out of water. However, at the end of three months, he has experienced a profound shift and realizes this while standing by the river…

‘I was thinking about another kind of river, one that runs through every one of us, no matter where we come from, all over the world. It’s the river of the heart, and the heart’s desire. It’s the pure, essential truth of what each one of us is, and can achieve. All my life I’d been a fighter. I was always ready, too ready, to fight for what I loved, and against what I deplored. In the end, I became the expression of that fight, and my real nature was concealed behind a mask of menace and hostility. The message of my face and body’s movement was, like that of a lot of other hard men, Don‘t fuck with me. In the end, I became so good at expressing the sentiment that the whole of my life became the message.

That didn’t work in the village. No-one could read my body language. They knew no other foreigners, and had no point of reference. If I was grim or even stern, they laughed, and patted my back encouragingly. They took me as a peaceful man, no matter what expression I wore. I was a joker, someone who worked hard, played the fool for the children, sang with them, danced with them, and laughed with an open heart.

And I think I did laugh like that then. I was given a chance to reinvent myself, to follow that river within, and become the man I’d always wanted to be. …. They judged my nature to be blessed with peaceful happiness and so the women agreed to my new name. Shantaram.

They nailed their stakes into the earth of my life, those farmers. They knew the place in me where the river stopped, and they marked it with a new name, Shantaram Kishan Kharre. I don’t know if they found that name in the heart of the man they believed me to be, or if they planted it there, like a wishing tree, to bloom and grow. Whatever the case, whether they discovered taht peace or created it, the truth is that the man I am was born in those moments, as I stood near the flood sticks with my face lifted to the chrismal rain. Shantaram. The better man that, slowly, and much too late, I began to be.’

It’s never too late to be who you want, or are meant, to be.

Joy. Decisiveness. Travel.

Leigh — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:51:53 +0000

What do you want in life? Do you know yet? Does the thought of answering this question make your head spin? Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be complicated. It can even come down to just three simple words. Keep reading to see what I mean…

I love More magazine. I’m still a ways from being their target age bracket (40 and over) but I love reading about strong, smart, sexy and vibrant women who are living life to the fullest without accepting age as a limitation. I want to be one of these women as I get older. I want an exciting, full life right up until I kick the bucket. And this magazine is fantastic at profiling women of all ages doing extremely cool things.

The most recent issue features a candid interview with Robin Wright Penn. In it, she talks about her life, her joys and regrets, and her hopes for the future. For most of the past 18 years, she spent her time at home in California raising two kids who are now preparing to leave for college. She’s battled with indecisiveness, shyness, and a tumultuous marriage in which she finally split with her husband of 16 years. When asked what she now wants in life, she responded:

‘Joy. Decisiveness. Travel.’

That simple. Her answer caught my breath.. three little words. Life and personal growth doesn’t have to be that complicated does it? Just ask yourself: What do I want? Do you want to travel? Start your own business? Become Location Independent? Or perhaps you’d like to learn how to cook, have more peace and quiet, volunteer, or take more risks. Answer yourself in just three words. And remember in times of distress or confusion to ask yourself: What do I really want? Is this experience helping me get there?

This may sound a little selfish but it’s not. As we all know, the happier we are, the more we can give to others. So don’t be afraid to go after what you really want. Your answer can change as your life changes but the simple act of defining what you want in three words is an easy, doable exercise. Keep your three words safe in the back of your head and use them to steer your course. Just the act of identifying the words and putting them into your brain, will cause your subconscious to take action in those directions.

At this point in my life, my answer would be similar to Robin’s except it would read: ‘Joy. Connection. Travel.’ Everyone’s words will be different and you define what each words means to you. My definition of joy may be something completely different than yours. Remember, we all want the same things in life, just in different ways.

What three words describe what you want in your life right now? I’d love to hear them.

Central American Revelations

Leigh — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:16:59 +0000

Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

I’ve just returned from an amazing trip to Honduras and Guatemala with my good friend Lindsay. This was our first time visiting these countries and we didn’t do a whole lot of planning. Instead, we packed a bag, booked a flight, and went. This is totally opposite of my normal ‘research everything to the hilt and plan accordingly’ method but it felt adventurous to just go with the flow. Our travels were fun and problem free for the most part. We hit a couple of rough spots due to our lack of planning but these made for the best stories later, as usual. During this trip, I was forced to step out of my comfort zone, way out in some cases and in the process, learned a few things…

1.) Location doesn’t matter as much as who you share it with

Let’s face it, you can be in the most beautiful location in the world, but if you are with someone who totally annoys you, your experience will be severely dampened. However, if you travel to that same place and experience it with one of your best friends, like I was lucky enough to do, you will have not just a fantastic time but a happy memory too. Travel experiences imprinted most indelibly in my mind usually involve not just the location, but who is sitting beside me… whether that be a kind stranger I just met on the road, a good friend, or just my own company.

2.) Kindness to strangers is the best way to go

Being kind to others takes very little time or energy yet the rewards for both you and the other person are tremendous. I like to think that I’m kind to strangers but Lindsay takes it to a whole new level. She always takes the time to stop and speak to others, to give them a moment or two of her time to smile, say hello and a few words. I tend to be a more guarded, especially when I’m traveling and am unfamiliar with a place. However, she showed me that it doesn’t hurt to open up a little, say a kind word, engage in conversation, or buy two young Guatemalan girls carrying heavy textiles on their heads a watermelon smoothie.

3.) Everyone has their own unique travel style

And it’s as individual as the person. Lindsay and I discovered that our travel styles are similar in some ways, and totally different in others. We made compromises when necessary and everything went fine. However, this trip helped open my eyes as to what I was comfortable with and what I was not. I did not, for instance, love the backpacker scene. Definitely nice, fun people but I’m past the cheap hostel age and appreciate a little more comfort in my food and accommodations. Each person also has their own energy levels and activity preferences. It can be rewarding to see how your travel partner experiences new people and places as they can help you discover things you normally wouldn’t do on your own.

4.) Connection with others is essential, especially while traveling

We all need and thrive on connection with others and this is true when traveling, perhaps even more so because we are out of our usual circle of family and friends. We need connections with others even more. Luckily, this can be done anywhere, even if there is a language barrier. Simply saying hello, having a quick laugh, asking for directions or a smile and nod are small ways that anyone can feel a sense of connection while on the road. Connection is comforting when you’re in a strange place, and well worth the small effort it takes.

5.) Sometimes you have to get through difficulties in order to enjoy the beautiful moments

There are some really dirty and poor parts of Central America. There are also the most beautiful places you can imagine. The juxtaposition of these two can be startling at times. We had some rough bus rides, stumbled upon dangerous areas, and encountered a few very sketchy people during this trip. But, we had to go through these parts in order to get to the beautiful ones. The bus ride to Lake Atitlan was horrendous. We were crammed in a hot van with no AC, an insane bus driver, 10 other backpackers and were bumped and jolted around narrow bends and crazy traffic the entire six hour trip. However, once we finally arrived at our quiet hotel on the lake, with it’s amazing views, lush gardens and kind staff, we were in heaven. And we had a good laugh about our bus ride with a fellow traveler later at a yummy dinner of fresh fish and fried plantains.

The most important thing I learned on this trip is that travel is not all fun and games. It comes with it’s own set of challenges. However, it’s pushing through these that helps you grow, even faster than you would in your normal humdrum daily routine at home. And this makes traveling out of your time and comfort zone, so satisfying and worth it. When I look back at my pictures from the trip, I remember all the beautiful and fun things, and the few hard times are pushed to the back of my mind.

Becoming Location Independent

Leigh — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:23:34 +0000

Do you feel stuck in a routine of work, gym, dinner, sleep…rinse, repeat? Are you growing in your career and want to travel the world but only have two measly weeks of vacation? There is an answer to this dilemma which allows you to grow professionally while simultaneously trotting the globe. Become Location Independent.

What is Location Independent?

Location Independence is the freedom to travel and live wherever you choose while working from that location. Sounds amazing, right? Perhaps it sounds out of your reach. I’m here to tell you… it’s not. Most anyone can become location independent. Right now this growing group mainly includes digital nomads, freelancers, consultants, coaches, web entrepreneurs, and writers. But it can include you too.

When I first heard the term Location Independent, I thought, that’s me! I want to do that. It was a strong identification. I planned my escape from the cubicle for over a year and have just recently left my job, sublet my apartment, and will be traveling for the next 5 months while starting my new Wellness Coaching business. Honduras/Guatemala is my first stop and I’ll be there for a month. I am officially location independent and I have to say, it feels amazing. Having the freedom to live and work when and how you choose is a no brainer for me and for a growing number of others.

Learn How to Become Location Independent

If you are interested in working anywhere in the world and becoming location independent, there is a wealth of resources at locationindependent.com. I found this resource rich web site when I was first thinking of leaving my cubicle. It was so encouraging finding a like minded group that shared my desire to work AND travel. Since then the site has grown enormously and there is an entire community of location independent folks.

Lea Woodward is the mastermind of locationindependent.com and she has a ton of experience starting businesses while trotting the globe. If you’re serious about taking your business on the road or starting a new one that’s location independent, Lea has a book called ‘X Marks the Spot’ as well as a fantastic business course. Both are incredibly useful, thorough and easy to digest. They cover everything you’d ever want to know and then some about being location independent. I have the business course and it has been so helpful to me during my transition. While I’m still at the beginning stages of taking my business on the road, the information in the course has helped make the transition smoother. Lea has the foresight to know that how you set up your business in the beginning can save you a lot of hassle later on.

Also on the site is the Location Independent blog which is updated a few times a week with posts from Lea as well as other guest writers (including me) who can offer different perspectives on the location independent life. An ‘Ask the Coach’ section is a new addition to the blog. The resident Life Coach, Cath Duncan, can help if you’re new to the idea of being location independent and don’t know where to start. Or, if you already are location independent and just need some guidance or direction.

A few of my favorite posts from the blog:

Advice for Negotiating Becoming ‘Location Independent’ with Your Employer

Questions About the Location Independent Lifestyle

A Recession is the Worst Time to Start a Location Independent Business, Right? Wrong.

The Story of an Early Location Independent Pioneer

How to Live Rent Free While Becoming Location Independent

Your Thoughts

I simply love the concept of Location Independence and am so grateful to have found Lea’s site. She is very down to earth and realistic about the in’s, out’s, highs and lows of location independent living. (although there are rarely lows!) If you are location independent already or if you’re not but the idea appeals to you, I encourage you to take this quick survey in order to help them better assess what your needs are. (http://www.freepursuits.com/survey). It only takes a couple of minutes and it will help the team to create materials that will be helpful to you.

Are you considering becoming Location Independent? I’d love to hear from you in the comments or drop me a line at Leigh@freshnewlife.com