The challenge has ended (till next time).
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Over the next 5 days my goal is to help you break out of your rut and start having more fun.
And to start us off…
Do you stay on the path?
Ever notice that people reflexively walk on footpaths? Even to the point where they look angrily at anyone who inadvertently causes them to step off onto the grass.
You don’t often see “keep off the grass” signs in towns because to be frank they are seldom needed. People obediently stay on the path that they are expected to remain on without having to be told to do so.
I’ll let you in on a little secret. You don’t have to stay on the footpath. You won’t be swallowed up by the ground if you dare step on the grass. A rapid response grass protection unit won’t be air dropped on your location to arrest you. You’ll be fine. Trust me.
Here’s where the adventure starts. It begins with taking a small step off the beaten path. It begins with stepping outside of “expectations”. It begins with stepping off the footpath and feeling the welcoming softness of the earth beneath your feet.
For today…
Start challenging yourself to get off the beaten path and strike off in your own direction.
Perhaps you’ll go for a walk outside instead of on a treadmill. Perhaps you may decide to eat outside instead of at your desk?
Whatever it is, challenge yourself to take a step away from what you have always done and towards something new.
Today we are going to learn about listening to your gut.
You know the feeling. You might be looking down an unfamiliar alleyway and the moment you think about walking down it a tight sensation in your gut shouts ‘no’. There’s no explanation, no visible danger, yet there is a part of you that says ‘don’t go that way’.
You may have even felt it at yesterday’s suggestion to “get off the path”.
Thousands of years of evolution has given humans the keen ability to identify and avoid risky situations. It’s what allowed humans to survive to this day. This often manifests as our gut instinct or intuition.
Problem is that in today’s world this sense can be overly sensitive. Often we get a gut response to situations that present no risk. Keeping us on the footpath and in our box.
Next time you get a gut feeling I want you to remember the following..
Our ‘gut feelings’ always arise in response to something and are always entirely concerned with our wellbeing.
This means you should at least always listen to your gut.
For today…
Next time you get a gut feeling I want you to do the following.
Unless there is a risk of harm, take a few steps away from the situation and ask yourself. “What is the danger that my unconscious mind has noticed that my conscious mind has missed?”
Once you’ve taken a few moments to contemplate this question. Choose a course of action.
Today’s lesson is about fear.
A number of years ago I was physically assaulted in a car park. I wasn’t seriously hurt (though I came damn close) but the situation left me shaken and afraid.
Afterwards, and as a consequence of the random nature of the attack, everyday when I stepped outside I felt like I was rolling a dice. Roll a six and ‘bingo!’ I won a bashing.
Naturally I stopped going outside as often.
Fear drives us away from the world. It’s an understandable and appropriate response to trauma. We hide away so we can escape danger and heal.
However sometimes you may find that long after the danger has passed that the fear remains. Perhaps you notice that it no longer serves a useful purpose and is instead holding you back. Keeping you hidden.
“Well I need to start being brave” you may tell yourself.
But here’s the kicker.
Bravery is not the opposite of fear.
Bravery exists in the presence of fear. It allows us to act even when afraid. It’s an important trait for sure but it isn’t fear’s opposite.
The opposite of fear is curiosity. Fear drives us away from the world, but curiosity invites us back. It was through developing a curiosity into the nature of violence that I was able to understand what had happened to me and start venturing out again.
For today…
Choose something that invites feelings of fear.
Now jump online and out of a sense of curiosity, see what you can learn about it.
So far, we’ve taken our first steps towards an adventurous life and developed an understanding of the gut feelings and fears that may arise when we do .
Today you are challenged to pay attention to the landscapes and experiences that you feel attracted to, and to discover what they reveal about yourself.
Some of my fondest memories are of chilly mornings in the countryside where I grew up. Acres of grass shimmering with frost, fog billowing across the mysterious landscape and the cool air upon my skin.
For me it was a wonderland and certainly worth the price of being out in the cold.
At times it felt like there was something there for me to learn, that there was something about myself hidden just out of sight in the mist waiting for me to go find it.
This is the purpose of adventure. We are invited to stride off into the unknown in order to discover something new about ourselves and the world around us.
For today …
Go somewhere that you feel attracted to.
(Whilst I encourage you to do this physically, you could also try looking at pictures of places you want to visit on the internet or in books.)
When you find a place that speaks to you, simply spend time there. Don’t worry about having a set goal or expecting an epiphany. Simply spend some time noticing your thoughts and emotions as they come and go.
Notice what draws your attention and what repels it, ask yourself why?
In the past 5 days, we’ve transformed our relationship with fear, taken our first steps off the beaten path and found a place in nature that holds special meaning for ourselves.
Here is the final part of the puzzle.
Here is the final piece of advice that will see you embarking on a more adventurous life.
Are you ready?
The chances of finding something increase the moment you start looking for it.
It sounds so simple, too simple. Almost silly. Surely it couldn’t be that easy.
But then who hasn’t witnessed a friend standing in the centre of the room saying “where are my keys,” whilst making no effort to find them? Perhaps you’ve even done so yourself.
People do the same when it comes to their lives. They ask aloud “how could my life be different,” without actually starting to look.
This is why taking that first step matters, this is why curiosity is important and why understanding fear matters. Don’t wait for the answer to come to you, physically get moving and start looking for it.
It’s out there waiting, I promise.
Adventure is at the core of what I teach my clients. Through working with me they discover how to become strong, healthy and empowered whilst discovering and answering their own call to adventure.
They don’t just lose weight and gain muscle. They don’t just learn to ‘enjoy’ exercise.
They become vibrant and alive. They become a force to be reckoned with and an inspiration to others.
And for today…
Today you are challenged to stop asking the question “how do I live a more adventurous life” and to start physically looking for your answer.
Decide today what your next adventure will be.
As a thankyou for participating in the Adventure Challenge I’m offering participants an exclusive discount of $100 off the price of 4 weeks of health coaching (usual price is $500).
Adventure is at the core of what I teach my clients. Through working with me they discover how to become strong, healthy and empowered whilst discovering and answering their own call to adventure.
They don’t just lose weight and gain muscle. They don’t just learn to ‘enjoy’ exercise.
They become vibrant and alive. They become a force to be reckoned with and an inspiration to others.
Book in a no-obligation call to learn more about the benefits of the Adventure Method
