Retreats, retreats, retreats! This has been my life in a nutshell over the previous 12 months. In 2022, I traveled over 5 months of the 12 months and went on 10 retreats around the globe. These journeys lined the whole lot from private {and professional} growth to well being and health. I want these sorts of immersive, group-travel experiences over some other trip. Right here’s why.
Retreats are all about development: mentally, emotionally, bodily, and spiritually. You’ll study the significance of self-awareness, the facility of mindfulness and meditation, the influence of optimistic pondering and angle, and the advantages of setting clear intentions and making a imaginative and prescient in your life.
With a mix of interactive workshops, group actions, and particular person reflection time, retreats are designed that will help you achieve a brand new understanding of your self and your house on this planet.
Think about your self in a paradise of lush surroundings, surrounded by like-minded people all on an identical journey of self discovery. With a crew of specialists to information you thru the method, you’ll escape the day by day grind and get to concentrate on your self and your well-being.
In 2023, there’s no higher time to embark on this inside journey of exploration. The world wants good leaders. The world wants extra gentle, laughter, and love. Via retreat experiences like these, you’ll not solely change your self, but in addition the world round you.
Prepared for an journey that may change your life and enable you to develop into the very best model of your self? For those who’re seeking to push your self out of your consolation zone, achieve new views, and are available out feeling rejuvenated and refreshed, then be a part of me in exploring this thrilling world of private growth and mindset retreats.
Listed below are some key classes and takeaways from my 10+ retreats over the previous 12 months!
1. If you wish to be comfortable, don’t be afraid to specific your self
That is the important thing to dwelling a cheerful life. It could appear easy, however the actuality is that most individuals usually are not dwelling their lives in an genuine approach. Many are afraid to specific themselves (together with their feelings, beliefs & wishes) for concern of judgement and rejection from others. They’re afraid to be foolish and weak. Fuck that – that is no method to reside. Having to put on a masks on daily basis carries an amazing 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 permits you to be true to your self. Think about with the ability to communicate your thoughts with out concern of judgement, with the ability to present your true colours with out concern 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. Once you’re capable of specific your self authentically, others can get to know the REAL you and join on a deeper stage. Plus, if you’re true to your self, you entice individuals who additionally worth authenticity.
And let’s not overlook, expressing your self authentically will be plenty of enjoyable! Once 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 the direction of being true to ourselves, and embrace the liberty and pleasure that comes with expressing ourselves on this approach. 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: comply with your highest pleasure and pursue enjoyable and pleasure in any respect prices! In any case, if it ain’t enjoyable, it ain’t price it. Whether or not it’s a routine, behavior, or way of life change, if it doesn’t deliver you pleasure and pleasure, it’s not sustainable in the long term.
Give it some thought – if you’re doing one thing you’re keen on, 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 if you’re caught in a rut, dragging your self via a tedious process or a boring routine, it appears like an eternity.
Take train for example. Whereas some folks might not discover operating or weight lifting notably fulfilling, there are lots of methods to make bodily health into one thing enjoyable. Join pickleball at an area fitness center, go climbing with a bunch of individuals, watch yoga movies on YouTube, or attempt mountaineering. I assure you’ll discover one thing on the market to make exercising enjoyable. For those who haven’t but, then you definately haven’t regarded arduous sufficient.
That’s why it’s important to infuse your day by day life with actions and habits that deliver you pleasure and pleasure. Whether or not it’s dancing round your lounge, taking a hike in nature, doing enjoyable actions with buddies, or studying an excellent e-book, be sure 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 is not any, it’s time to make a change.
Life is just too quick to be depressing and sad. So, take advantage of it and pursue your highest pleasure. By making enjoyable and pleasure the last word purpose, you’ll thrive in each side of your life.
3. Group is the whole lot
Happening retreats has taught me the significance of group. On this digital age the place folks want Netflix over going out and dealing from house somewhat than in an workplace, it’s straightforward to reside in a solitary approach. Nevertheless, it’s if you encompass your self with like-minded people who magic occurs.
Give it some thought – if you’re on a hike with buddies, the journey up the mountain is a lot extra fulfilling when you will have somebody to share the breathtaking views with. Equally, if you’re doing yoga with a bunch, the vitality within the room is electrical and it helps you push your self additional than you’d by yourself.
However it’s not nearly having enjoyable – being in a group additionally helps you study and develop in methods you by no means thought attainable. Throughout a chilly immersion retreat I did in Iceland final 12 months, we spent our days doing chilly plunges in ice chilly rivers and lakes and climbing to the highest of a mountain in only a bathing swimsuit. For sure, it wasn’t straightforward! However doing this with a enjoyable and supportive group made this the great expertise that it was.
Once you’re in a bunch, you’re additionally uncovered to totally different views and methods of pondering. It helps you broaden your horizons and see issues from a special approach. Plus, if you’re going via a troublesome 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 predict we’re
That is maybe my greatest takeaway from the previous 12 months. I didn’t study this from a e-book or YouTube video; I realized this whereas pushing myself to my absolute limits throughout a Wim Hof retreat in Iceland.
From 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 received after it. Right here’s what I realized:
As mammals, we have been born with a toolkit of highly effective psychological colleges and bodily skills. With the precise mindset and constant effort, we are able to do just about something we set our minds to. This contains plunging into ice chilly water throughout the winter months.
In fact, you don’t need to 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 day by day train my physique might deal with. Whereas relaxation and restoration are vital, I realized that the physique will adapt to the workload regardless of how difficult it’s.
Like anything in life, observe makes good. 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 enable you to learn to faucet into that vitality.
5. Setting boundaries and studying to say “no”
Studying to say “no” is the last word superpower. It provides you the power to decide on what you let into your life and what you retain out. It’s not straightforward to set boundaries and communicate up for your self – however boy, is it vital. Retreats have helped me get there.
I spent the primary 28 years of my life as a folks pleaser. I might usually decide to issues I didn’t need to do and spend time with individuals who drained my vitality. My purpose was to be appreciated by everybody, which put me at odds with myself. How are you going to reside life to your full potential if you’re giving all of your time and vitality to everybody however your self?
Retreats have given me the chance to observe these expertise, as they supply a protected and supportive atmosphere to discover my limits and learn 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 permits you to prioritize your personal wants and well-being, somewhat than continuously placing others’ wants earlier than your personal.
Studying to say “no” will be troublesome at first, however it’s a talent that may be developed with observe. And the advantages are quite a few – if you set boundaries, you’ll have extra time and vitality for the issues that actually matter to you. You’ll even be extra prone to entice folks and alternatives that align along with your values and objectives. That is little question one of many greatest classes I’ve realized whereas on retreats.
6. It’s SO vital 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 choices that align with who you might be and what you stand for. It additionally lets you set objectives which can be in alignment along with your values and beliefs, and to reside a life that’s true to your self. Plus, if 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 ordinary behaviors.
Figuring out 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 day by day choices?
– Are you proud of them, and if not, what values would you wish to embrace as an alternative?
It’s straightforward to make an inventory of values and fill them with buzzwords like love, arduous work, management, and gratitude. However with out defining what these values imply to you, they carry little worth.
Listed below 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 vitality: Bringing pleasure and excessive vibes to the whole lot I do
- Curiosity: Having a ardour to continuously study and develop
- Freedom: Being to do what I would like at any time when I would like for my highest good
- Group: 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 playing around on daily basis
- Religion: Deeply figuring out that it doesn’t matter what occurs in my life, the whole lot will work out for me
As you possibly can see, these aren’t textbook definitions of core values. Every of those phrases and their meanings got here straight from my coronary heart somewhat than my thoughts or a dictionary. You don’t need to sound rehearsed or polished if you’re arising along with your private values. In any case, they need to be pure (and particular) to you!
As well as, as a part of this train on core values, it’s vital 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 dwelling this fashion? The extra sincere you might be about this, the more practical you’ll be on this train.
Figuring out your beliefs
After you have a stable understanding of your core values, it’s vital to get clear in your perception programs. Ask your self – what are the beliefs which can be at the moment serving you AND are holding you again?
Most individuals spend their complete lives with out considering or altering their beliefs. They simply follow 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 matters like politics or faith, by the best way. That is about your whole perception programs (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 cherished 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 the whole lot to keep away from emotions of concern and anxiousness. Now, I hunt down difficult conditions on a regular basis – doing chilly immersion, arduous exercises, and retreats frequently. What’s modified?
I didn’t get up at some point and have this large awakening second. It took plenty of intentional, incremental adjustments in my habits over time to vary the best way I present up in life. I absolutely settle for that generally life will suck, however I get to decide on how I need to present up regardless. By selecting to hunt out discomfort on daily basis, it makes the unplanned challenges appear approach much less scary.
Simply bear in mind – life is a journey and it takes time to impact change. Don’t sweat the small print and set arbitrary deadlines for reaching your objectives. Simply make progress on daily basis, regardless of how large or small. That’s adequate. 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 12 months is that the thoughts is a superb servant, however a horrible chief. Once you lead with the thoughts, you let unconscious biases cloud your judgment and speak you out of issues which can be vital to you.
I’m not saying that you need to forgo the thoughts fully. No – I’m not that a lot of a hippie. Completely use this unbelievable psychological college that you’ve got, however use it as a device for reaching your coronary heart’s wishes somewhat than let it management you.
For those who usually end up fastidiously planning issues that you simply say and do, then you might be working from the headspace somewhat than the coronary heart area. If you end up speaking about stuff you “need to” or “have to” do, then you definately’re main from the thoughts. Although I’m tremendous 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 below are a few of them beneath:
Coronary heart-opening workout routines
- Meditation: Working towards meditation may help you to quiet your thoughts and join along with your coronary heart. It will probably additionally enable you to to realize perception into your ideas and emotions, and to develop larger self-awareness.
- Aware respiration: Focusing in your breath may help you to shift your consideration out of your ideas to coronary heart. It will probably additionally enable you to to calm your thoughts and cut back stress. Chilly immersion, which requires conscious respiration, is among the greatest methods for me to maneuver from the thoughts to the guts.
- Gratitude journaling: Writing down stuff you’re grateful for may help you open the guts area. It will probably additionally enable you to to attach along with your inside self and to specific your self authentically.
- Yoga or different bodily practices: Yoga, dancing or different bodily practices may help you to attach along with your coronary heart and the remainder of your physique. It will probably additionally enable you to to launch stress and to realize a larger sense of inside peace. Kundalini yoga is certainly one of my favourite coronary heart openers.
- Nature walks: Spending time in nature may help you to attach along with your coronary heart, feelings, and emotions. It will probably additionally enable you to to realize perspective and really feel grounded.
- Artistic expression: Partaking in artistic actions resembling drawing, writing, music, may help you to attach along with your larger self. It will probably additionally enable you to to specific your self authentically and to realize larger self-awareness.
- Aware listening: Hearken to others attentively, specializing in their phrases and feelings. In doing so, your coronary heart will open as a aspect product.
In terms of dwelling a satisfying and genuine life, working from the guts area is the best way to go! It permits you to join along with your feelings and emotions, to make choices that align with who you might be, and to construct deeper, extra significant relationships.
So, let’s quiet the thoughts and take heed to our hearts. It’s time to reside 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 development. Don’t simply suppose…really feel (and reside) from the guts!
Why you need to embark on a journey of private growth proper now
People have been meant to be robust, comfortable, and wholesome. Our our bodies – which embody trillions of cells, muscular tissues, tissues, and organs – have been designed to hold us via the most important trials and tribulations in life. We weren’t meant to spend most of our time indoors and on the sofa, consuming junk meals and worrying about petty issues. The world proper now’s crammed with concern, weak spot, and victimhood, however it doesn’t need to be that approach.
Within the journey forward, you will have two choices: (1) to hunt out consolation on daily basis or (2) to hunt out challenges and alternatives. For those who select possibility one, life received’t be straightforward. The world is a troublesome place, even brutal place at instances. If you wish to pursue consolation and ease, you may be left with anxiousness and despair – if not now, sometime sooner or later when life will get robust (it all the time does). Life received’t be straightforward with possibility 2, both. However within the course of, you’ll go on adventures. You’ll study, develop, and sharpen your expertise. Life goes to throw loopy shit your approach, however you may be ready to face them.
There’s an previous Dutch proverb that claims tall timber catch a lot of the wind. By selecting a path of private growth and transformation, you’ll face adversity. However additionally, you will achieve the facility and energy to resist no matter life throws your approach, 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.
– A lot of love, Jon
