“You know you’re truly alive when you’re living among lions”, said Karen Blixen.
If you’ve seen Out of Africa, you’ve probably imagined how great it would be to jump on a plane and head towards this magnificent continent in search of the adventure of a lifetime.
And yet, in real life even a hike to the nearby woods seems like climbing Mount Everest – there’s never enough time, energy, motivation, you name it. The list of excuses goes on, and you end up spending every Friday night in your comfort zone, be it your living room in front of the TV or the same old bar you hit for a round of drinks with your friends.
Not that there’s anything particularly wrong with that, but if that’s all you do, you’ll easily get stuck in a rut and end up feeling like you’re on a hamster wheel. But breaking free and living your life to the fullest doesn’t have to be impossible.
Adventures Don’t Always Have to Be Larger Than Life
Sometimes, a simple change of scenery can be exactly what you need to shake up your routine and get a new perspective on things. You don’t have to go to another continent, city, or even leave your own home.
A micro-adventure, like spending the night sleeping under the stars in your own backyard, or even taking another route to work, can be the first step towards conquering your own fears. These are the small steps that can help you start doing what you’ve always wanted to but were constrained by that most powerful four-letter word in the English language – can’t.
See, it’s nothing too expensive, demanding, or risky. You can do it any time you like, and what’s best about this is that you can always go back to your comfy bed if you change your mind. This concept allows everybody to get a taste of adventure, regardless of their budget, lifestyle, and any other factors that usually push people towards a more passive modus operandi.
But once you catch the adventure bug, nothing will be able to stop you.
How to Learn to Stop Worrying and Embrace the Adventure
More often than not, people who stick to strict daily routines and schedules will try as hard as possible to prevent making mistakes. But this fear of making mistakes is part of a mindset that won’t let you learn or experience anything new.
For example, you’ll never be able to become fluent in another language if you’re speaking up only when you’re sure that what you’re saying is eloquent and grammatically correct.
So, put yourself out there as much as possible and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You might need some time to get used to it, but that’s the best way to grow and develop. After a while, your mistakes will turn into valuable experiences, and that’s exactly what’s so good about the life of adventure. Moreover, once you overcome this fear of making mistakes, you’ll subconsciously reframe your mindset and become more courageous and bold in other spheres of life.
Asking your boss for a raise? Asking the person you like out? Quitting your job and starting your own business?
All these situations probably send shivers down your spine at the moment; but when you stop worrying about what will happen if you take a leap of faith, you’ll open the door to new opportunities.
But Why All This?
If you’re wondering why you would want to wander off the beaten path when you’ve got so much on your plate, one of the answers would be: exactly because of that!
Sure, taking the easy way out might seem like a good idea when your life is hectic, but it’s actually the opposite. By flexing your adventure muscles, all the problems and roadblocks that seem like a mountain will be reduced to the size of your average hurdle – they practically become challenges instead of obstacles.
Adventures, regardless of their size, are great for your body and mind, and arguably the best antidote to the sedentary lifestyle.
But do you even need to have a reason to camp out on a nearby lake during the weekend or take up scuba diving and plunge into the deep blue? If it’s something that you’ve been thinking about but simply haven’t mustered up the courage to actually act on it, stop thinking and start planning.
Do it simply. Because you feel like it.
Keep an Open Mind
Don’t be disappointed if things don’t pan out exactly the way you planned.
Set realistic expectations and be flexible. Be prepared that sleeping under the blanket of stars isn’t all about gazing at the night sky and taking instagrammable pics – it can be chilly, the grass might be prickly, and ants and other bugs will surely try to worm their way into your snack bag.
But when you understand that nature is a bit unpredictable and wild, you’ll be able to accept, connect, and grow to love nature in its purest and rawest form.
Similarly, don’t beat yourself up if you can’t, say, cover that 5K running distance that you’ve set as your goal. You’re not a failure if you can’t live up to your expectations. Just take one step at a time and be persistent.
And that’s another thing that you can learn from this adventurous lifestyle – never give up and try to enjoy everything you do without trying to get anybody’s validation.
All this will help you get in touch with your inner self and feel more comfortable in your own skin.
On a closing note, it’s fitting to reference another great quote, this time by George Addair: “Everything you’ve always wanted is on the other side of fear”. It’s important to listen to yourself and do things at your own pace, but be more ready to say “yes” to new challenges and adventures. Adding some spontaneity might be exactly what you need to jazz up your everydayness and add some color to it.