When I was a child, my mother used to take me shopping for clothes. I remember how she would always pull these dresses with loud colours and bright patterns off the rack and hold them up excitedly in the air, convinced they were exactly what I wanted.
They. Were. Hideous.
But she was just so enamoured with her finds, that I felt as if I had to indulge her and try them on. And each and every time I did, something amazing happened – they looked so great on me that we’d end up taking them home!
I never would have been courageous enough to pick these dresses out for myself; I was too much of an introvert. It took my mother’s encouragement for me to see the beauty they could add to my life.
Often, we live our lives in this wallflower way, moving along paths that are comfortable for us, never really deviating all that much from our own personal “normal.” We find our routines, and we stick to them, ignoring all of the juicy bits the universe has to offer. We might feel content, but we’re missing out on so much adventure!
In 2015 I created a challenge for my clients called 52 Adventures to Change Your Life, because I believe everyone deserves to have lives filled with action and adventure. Because that’s when you really start to feel like you’re living.
When my own life was in a rut, I knew that I needed something NEW. So I dove headfirst into a different way of experiencing life, one where the regular took a backseat to the remarkable.
I picked up hobbies.
I introduced myself to people.
I travelled. I started a business. I cooked on the radio. And as my days changed, so did I. I wanted to jump out of bed and throw my curtains back in the morning.
I started looking forward to things that used to seem dull. Life got more magical. Fascinating. Fun.
And I’d like to share these adventures with you over the next 52 weeks. Let’s get started...
ADVENTURE ONE
To get started we’re going to begin at the end.
Yes, you read it right – we’re going to begin with the end in mind.
This week’s challenge is to write a letter to your future self.
Imagine that it’s a year from now and you’ve just completed 52 Adventures to Change Your Life.
Take a pen and paper (or, if you prefer to go techie use this great on-line tool called Future Me.org where you can create an email today and set it to email it to you a year from now).
Grab a cup of coffee / tea / glass of wine and write yourself a letter covering these points:
Having completed 52 Adventures to Change Your Life:
- What have you enjoyed most about the experience? ie “This past year, I’ve really enjoyed… “
- How has your life changed? Describe it in the present tense ie “I am now…” for example “I am now taking weekly Salsa classes and have joined the local book club”
- Tell yourself what you’ve learned from the experience for example “I now know how easy it is to take the first step in trying new things…”
- Let yourself know how amazing you’ve been, changing your thoughts, your actions and stepping out of your comfort zone every week for 52 weeks!
When you’ve completed the activity, please share your insights using #52Adventures in the Life Design Mastermind Group on Facebook by clicking here
Or post in the comments below.
Yours in Adventure Lara xx