Surprise Yourself

 

Have you ever felt completely stagnant? That you've reached a point where you feel as though you're standing still, going nowhere? 

 

Time to shake things up and veer off the usual path with the same old routines. Give your mind a shake up. Submerse yourself in unchartered territory. Get uncomfortable. Try something that you vowed you'd never, ever do. Close the laptop, turn off the phone. Seek out inspiration.

 

That's where I was before planning this trip. A weekend of getting out in nature, sleeping under the stars, roasting marshmallows over the fire, the whole lot. It was an experience that I never had growing up, and I fully convinced myself that I hated it. So, naturally, it felt like the perfect thing to agree to, since leaping out of my comfort zone is top of mind as of late.

 

In the days leading up to the trip, that nagging, fearful inner voice kept popping up. The closer we got to hopping in the car, the louder that voice got. A three-day camping trip? Hiking for two days in a row? No modern day luxuries? I can't do it. I won't be able to. Fears crept in. The fear that I'd absolutely hate camping. The bugs! The threat of bears! Being "dirty". The fear that I'd let my friends down and hobble the entire hike. You name it, it went through my mind.

 

I was defeated before I even began. Except, I didn't make any excuses, I make a commitment. I was doing this. It was happening. Even if I hated it. Even if I had to hobble. I had to give it my all.

 

There I was: The breathtaking 'scapes. The ever-changing terrain. Walking kilometer after kilometer, not knowing what we'd witness next. The element of surprise when what's before your eyes surpasses your greatest expectations. The feeling of accomplishment when you've just hiked your butt up a rock-mountain, and landed at the top. Huffin' and puffin' and all. The adrenaline that keeps you going. That, and singing endless Disney songs. Hakuna Matata

 

Getting out in nature has a way of speaking straight to your spirit. It leaves you feeling strong, energized, inspired, wise, and true. It brings you home to... yourself. Your wisest, most intuitive, authentic self. The energy the can be felt by disconnecting and getting away from the hustle and bustle of life is pure magic. 

 

 ze crew

Then, just when you feel as though you're on top of the world, the sun sets and the moon rises. The milky way lights up like you've never seen before, bursts of fire sprinkled across the sky. You are gently reminded how small you really are. In that moment, you become enveloped by the beauty before you. Mind-blowing. Electric. Inspiring. The kind of knock-you-off-your-feet beauty that only the wilderness could provide.

You have two choices: stay on your current path or veer off and surprise yourself. Take a chance, a leap of faith, make the commitment, stick with it, power through.

Always choose to surprise yourself.

Before you go, fill me in: When's the last time you surprised yourself? What did you learn from it?

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