Retreats, retreats, retreats! This has been my life in a nutshell over the previous yr. In 2022, I traveled over 5 months of the yr and went on 10 retreats around the globe. These journeys lined all the things from private {and professional} improvement to well being and health. I favor these sorts of immersive, group-travel experiences over some other trip. Right here’s why.
Retreats are all about progress: mentally, emotionally, bodily, and spiritually. You’ll be taught the significance of self-awareness, the facility of mindfulness and meditation, the influence of constructive considering and angle, and the advantages of setting clear intentions and making a imaginative and prescient in your life.
With a mixture of interactive workshops, group actions, and particular person reflection time, retreats are designed that can assist you achieve a brand new understanding of your self and your home on this planet.
Think about your self in a paradise of lush surroundings, surrounded by like-minded people all on an analogous journey of self discovery. With a staff of specialists to information you thru the method, you’ll escape the every day grind and get to give attention to your self and your well-being.
In 2023, there’s no higher time to embark on this interior journey of exploration. The world wants good leaders. The world wants extra gentle, laughter, and love. By way of retreat experiences like these, you’ll not solely change your self, but additionally the world round you.
Prepared for an journey that can change your life and show you how to grow to be the perfect model of your self? Should you’re trying to push your self out of your consolation zone, achieve new views, and are available out feeling rejuvenated and refreshed, then be part of me in exploring this thrilling world of private improvement and mindset retreats.
Listed here are some key classes and takeaways from my 10+ retreats over the previous yr!
1. If you wish to be glad, don’t be afraid to precise your self
That is the important thing to residing a contented life. It might appear easy, however the actuality is that most individuals should not residing their lives in an genuine means. Many are afraid to precise themselves (together with their feelings, beliefs & needs) for worry of judgement and rejection from others. They’re afraid to be foolish and weak. Fuck that – that is no approach to stay. Having to put on a masks each day carries an incredible quantity of weight and results in pointless struggling.
Expressing your self authentically is a breath of contemporary air. It provides your soul a voice and in addition lets you be true to your self. Think about having the ability to communicate your thoughts with out worry of judgement, having the ability to present your true colours with out worry of rejection. It’s like having a weight lifted off your shoulders – it’s tremendous liberating!
Being genuine (and sincere) additionally lets you construct deeper, extra significant relationships. If you’re in a position to categorical your self authentically, others can get to know the REAL you and join on a deeper degree. Plus, once you’re true to your self, you entice individuals who additionally worth authenticity.
And let’s not neglect, expressing your self authentically may be numerous enjoyable! If you’re true to your self, you’ll let your creativity and individuality shine. You may faucet into your distinctive skills, passions, and pursuits and use them to create one thing actually particular.
So, right here’s to authenticity and honesty. Let’s take a step in direction of being true to ourselves, and embrace the liberty and pleasure that comes with expressing ourselves on this means. It’s time to let your true self shine!
2. Discover the enjoyable in all issues
Retreats have taught me the last word lesson in life: observe your highest pleasure and pursue enjoyable and pleasure in any respect prices! In spite of everything, if it ain’t enjoyable, it ain’t value it. Whether or not it’s a routine, behavior, or life-style change, if it doesn’t carry you pleasure and pleasure, it’s not sustainable in the long term.
Give it some thought – once you’re doing one thing you like, it doesn’t really feel like work. You’re so engaged and within the second, that point flies by and also you’re left feeling fulfilled and energized. However once you’re caught in a rut, dragging your self via a tedious process or a boring routine, it seems like an eternity.
Take train as an example. Whereas some folks could not discover operating or weight lifting notably satisfying, there are numerous methods to make bodily health into one thing enjoyable. Join pickleball at an area health club, go mountain climbing with a gaggle of individuals, watch yoga movies on YouTube, or attempt mountaineering. I assure you’ll discover one thing on the market to make exercising enjoyable. Should you haven’t but, you then haven’t seemed laborious sufficient.
That’s why it’s important to infuse your every day life with actions and habits that carry you pleasure and pleasure. Whether or not it’s dancing round your front room, taking a hike in nature, doing enjoyable actions with pals, or studying an excellent guide, ensure you’re doing issues that gentle you up. And when you end up in a scenario the place it’s not enjoyable, ask your self, is that this sustainable for me? If the reply isn’t any, it’s time to make a change.
Life is just too quick to be depressing and sad. So, profit from it and pursue your highest pleasure. By making enjoyable and pleasure the last word aim, you’ll thrive in each side of your life.
3. Neighborhood is all the things
Happening retreats has taught me the significance of group. On this digital age the place folks favor Netflix over going out and dealing from house fairly than in an workplace, it’s simple to stay in a solitary means. Nonetheless, it’s once you encompass your self with like-minded folks that magic occurs.
Give it some thought – once you’re on a hike with pals, the journey up the mountain is a lot extra satisfying when you have got somebody to share the breathtaking views with. Equally, once you’re doing yoga with a gaggle, the power within the room is electrical and it helps you push your self additional than you’d by yourself.
But it surely’s not nearly having enjoyable – being in a group additionally helps you be taught and develop in methods you by no means thought doable. Throughout a chilly immersion retreat I did in Iceland final yr, we spent our days doing chilly plunges in ice chilly rivers and lakes and mountain climbing to the highest of a mountain in only a bathing swimsuit. Evidently, it wasn’t simple! However doing this with a enjoyable and supportive group made this the super expertise that it was.
If you’re in a gaggle, you’re additionally uncovered to completely different views and methods of considering. It helps you broaden your horizons and see issues from a unique approach. Plus, once you’re going via a tricky time, having a supportive group could make all of the distinction.
In 2023, I’ll proceed to hunt out alternatives for extra group journey experiences. I encourage you to do the identical!
4. We’re SO a lot stronger than we expect we’re
That is maybe my greatest takeaway from the previous yr. I didn’t be taught this from a guide or YouTube video; I realized this whereas pushing myself to my absolute limits throughout a Wim Hof retreat in Iceland.
From mountain climbing a snowcapped mountain in only a bathing swimsuit to leaping 9 meters into Europe’s coldest lake, I discovered my edge on this journey. I pushed past my fears and self-imposed limits and obtained after it. Right here’s what I realized:
As mammals, we have been born with a toolkit of highly effective psychological colleges and bodily talents. With the fitting mindset and constant effort, we will do just about something we set our minds to. This contains plunging into ice chilly water throughout the winter months.
After all, you don’t should submerge your self in icy waters to beat your self, your fears, and your limiting beliefs. However rattling, does it work wonders. And I can’t think about a greater place than Iceland to just do that!
One other expertise that helped me discover my edge was Physique Camp Mallorca. Throughout my week at this world-class health retreat, I labored out for 3-4 hours every day. This helped me crush my limiting beliefs round how a lot every day train my physique might deal with. Whereas relaxation and restoration are essential, I realized that the physique will adapt to the workload irrespective of how difficult it’s.
Like the rest in life, follow makes excellent. To unlock the deep layers of energy and energy that every of us possesses, it requires us to persistently problem ourselves and push our bodily and psychological limits.
There’s a lion within you simply ready to be unleashed; retreats like these will show you how to discover ways to faucet into that power.
5. Setting boundaries and studying to say “no”
Studying to say “no” is the last word superpower. It provides you the flexibility to decide on what you let into your life and what you retain out. It’s not simple to set boundaries and communicate up for your self – however boy, is it essential. Retreats have helped me get there.
I spent the primary 28 years of my life as a folks pleaser. I’d usually decide to issues I didn’t need to do and spend time with individuals who drained my power. My aim was to be appreciated by everybody, which put me at odds with myself. How are you going to stay life to your full potential once you’re giving all of your time and power to everybody however your self?
Retreats have given me the chance to follow these expertise, as they supply a protected and supportive surroundings to discover my limits and discover ways to talk them successfully.
And it’s not nearly saying “no” to exterior calls for – it’s additionally about setting limits by yourself self-imposed expectations. Moreover, saying “no” is usually a type of self-care. It lets you prioritize your individual wants and well-being, fairly than continually placing others’ wants earlier than your individual.
Studying to say “no” may be troublesome at first, but it surely’s a ability that may be developed with follow. And the advantages are quite a few – once you set boundaries, you’ll have extra time and power for the issues that really matter to you. You’ll even be extra more likely to entice folks and alternatives that align together with your values and objectives. That is little doubt one of many greatest classes I’ve realized whereas on retreats.
6. It’s SO essential to get clear in your private values and beliefs
Having a transparent understanding of your values and beliefs is like having a map or compass to information you in life. It lets you make selections that align with who you might be and what you stand for. It additionally lets you set objectives which are in alignment together with your values and beliefs, and to stay a life that’s true to your self. Plus, once you’re clear in your values and beliefs, it’s simpler to acknowledge and say no to issues that don’t align with them.
Retreats have given me alternatives to get crystal clear on what my core values and beliefs are. This may be fairly an intentional train – requiring you to dive deep into unconscious patterns and routine behaviors.
Realizing your private values
To get clear in your core values, begin by asking your self these questions:
– What are the values that form your life and your every day selections?
– Are you pleased with them, and if not, what values would you prefer to embrace as a substitute?
It’s simple to make an inventory of values and fill them with buzzwords like love, laborious work, management, and gratitude. However with out defining what these values imply to you, they carry little worth.
Listed here are a few of my core values and what they imply to me – taken from my pocket book in the course of the Stay Life Activated Retreat in Costa Rica:
- Authenticity: Letting my coronary heart information my life. Being actual with myself and others
- Boldness: Getting after it it doesn’t matter what
- Excessive power: Bringing pleasure and excessive vibes to all the things I do
- Curiosity: Having a ardour to continually be taught and develop
- Freedom: Being to do what I would like at any time when I would like for my highest good
- Neighborhood: Prioritizing time spent with individuals who encourage me. Deeply connecting with others – bodily, mentally, and emotionally
- Journey: All the time searching for out new experiences
- Enjoyable: Prioritizing play, laughing, and fooling around each day
- Religion: Deeply understanding that it doesn’t matter what occurs in my life, all the things will work out for me
As you may see, these aren’t textbook definitions of core values. Every of those phrases and their meanings got here straight from my coronary heart fairly than my thoughts or a dictionary. You don’t need to sound rehearsed or polished once you’re arising together with your private values. In spite of everything, they need to be pure (and particular) to you!
As well as, as a part of this train on core values, it’s essential to make a distinction between your required values and the way you might be exhibiting up proper now. For instance, many individuals worth authenticity, however how usually are they really residing this manner? The extra sincere you might be about this, the simpler you’ll be on this train.
Realizing your beliefs
After you have a strong understanding of your core values, it’s essential to get clear in your perception techniques. Ask your self – what are the beliefs which are at the moment serving you AND are holding you again?
Most individuals spend their complete lives with out considering or altering their beliefs. They only persist with what they know – consuming content material that reinforces their opinions and discovering like-minded individuals who make them really feel protected and unchallenged. I’m not simply speaking about subjects like politics or faith, by the best way. That is about your whole perception techniques (primarily unconscious) that dictate your ideas, actions, and behaviors each single day.
One set of beliefs that I’ve essentially shifted over the previous years are my beliefs about misery. Like everybody else, I used to hunt consolation and ease. I beloved staying in my consolation zone, giving excuses for why I wasn’t reaching sure issues, and avoiding excessive ranges of bodily and psychological stress. I additionally did all the things to keep away from emotions of worry and nervousness. Now, I search out difficult conditions on a regular basis – doing chilly immersion, laborious exercises, and retreats frequently. What’s modified?
I didn’t get up someday and have this big awakening second. It took numerous intentional, incremental modifications in my habits over time to vary the best way I present up in life. I absolutely settle for that typically life will suck, however I get to decide on how I need to present up regardless. By selecting to hunt out discomfort each day, it makes the unplanned challenges appear means much less scary.
Simply keep in mind – life is a journey and it takes time to impact change. Don’t sweat the main points and set arbitrary deadlines for reaching your objectives. Simply make progress each day, irrespective of how huge or small. That’s ok. Benefit from the journey!
7. Get out of your thoughts and into your coronary heart
One of many greatest classes I’ve realized over the previous yr is that the thoughts is a superb servant, however a horrible chief. If you lead with the thoughts, you let unconscious biases cloud your judgment and discuss you out of issues which are essential to you.
I’m not saying that you must forgo the thoughts fully. No – I’m not that a lot of a hippie. Completely use this unimaginable psychological school that you’ve got, however use it as a instrument for reaching your coronary heart’s needs fairly than let it management you.
Should you usually end up fastidiously planning issues that you just say and do, then you might be working from the headspace fairly than the coronary heart area. If you end up speaking about stuff you “should” or “must” do, you then’re main from the thoughts. Although I’m tremendous acutely aware of it now, I nonetheless discover myself hanging out extra within the thoughts than I would really like. It’s a-okay although…we’re all human!
On all my retreats, I’ve realized many highly effective methods to open up the guts. Listed here are a few of them beneath:
Coronary heart-opening workout routines
- Meditation: Practising meditation may also help you to quiet your thoughts and join together with your coronary heart. It could additionally show you how to to achieve perception into your ideas and emotions, and to develop higher self-awareness.
- Aware respiration: Focusing in your breath may also help you to shift your consideration out of your ideas to coronary heart. It could additionally show you how to to calm your thoughts and scale back stress. Chilly immersion, which requires conscious respiration, is likely one of the finest methods for me to maneuver from the thoughts to the guts.
- Gratitude journaling: Writing down stuff you’re grateful for may also help you open the guts area. It could additionally show you how to to attach together with your interior self and to precise your self authentically.
- Yoga or different bodily practices: Yoga, dancing or different bodily practices may also help you to attach together with your coronary heart and the remainder of your physique. It could additionally show you how to to launch stress and to achieve a higher sense of interior peace. Kundalini yoga is certainly one of my favourite coronary heart openers.
- Nature walks: Spending time in nature may also help you to attach together with your coronary heart, feelings, and emotions. It could additionally show you how to to achieve perspective and really feel grounded.
- Artistic expression: Partaking in inventive actions equivalent to drawing, writing, music, may also help you to attach together with your larger self. It could additionally show you how to to precise your self authentically and to achieve higher self-awareness.
- Aware listening: Take heed to others attentively, specializing in their phrases and feelings. In doing so, your coronary heart will open as a aspect product.
In the case of residing a satisfying and genuine life, working from the guts area is the best way to go! It lets you join together with your feelings and emotions, to make selections that align with who you might be, and to construct deeper, extra significant relationships.
So, let’s quiet the thoughts and hearken to our hearts. It’s time to stay authentically and in alignment with our values and beliefs. It’s time to let our hearts information us on this journey of self-discovery and progress. Don’t simply suppose…really feel (and stay) from the guts!
Why you must embark on a journey of private improvement proper now
People have been meant to be sturdy, glad, and wholesome. Our our bodies – which embody trillions of cells, muscle groups, tissues, and organs – have been designed to hold us via the largest trials and tribulations in life. We weren’t supposed to spend most of our time indoors and on the sofa, consuming junk meals and worrying about petty issues. The world proper now’s full of worry, weak point, and victimhood, but it surely doesn’t should be that means.
Within the journey forward, you have got two choices: (1) to hunt out consolation each day or (2) to hunt out challenges and alternatives. Should you select choice one, life gained’t be simple. The world is a tricky place, even brutal place at instances. If you wish to pursue consolation and ease, you’ll be left with nervousness and despair – if not now, sometime sooner or later when life will get powerful (it at all times does). Life gained’t be simple with choice 2, both. However within the course of, you’ll go on adventures. You’ll be taught, develop, and sharpen your expertise. Life goes to throw loopy shit your means, however you’ll be ready to face them.
There’s an previous Dutch proverb that claims tall bushes catch a lot of the wind. By selecting a path of private improvement and transformation, you’ll face adversity. However additionally, you will achieve the facility and energy to resist no matter life throws your means, and impact significant change on this planet within the course of.
If you wish to change the world, all of it begins with your self.
– Numerous love, Jon
