January is a time when many of us begin to re-evaluate our lives. Whether it’s the symbolic power of a new beginning or simply all of the talk of “resolutions” that inspires us, the start of a new year is a worthwhile time to ask “what kind of life do I really want?”
I can recall many times I made lists of resolutions in December only to forget them by February.
“Stop biting your fingernails.”
“Learn to relax.”
“Find a career that you love.“
It wasn’t until I made a huge transition, booking a one-way ticket to Costa Rica two Januaries ago, that my life really began to change. In the process many of these minute details: quitting biting my fingernails, learning how to relax, and finding a greater purpose in my work, began to fall into place.
But living in the jungle, traveling in Costa Rica, or ultimately deciding to live out of a backpack, did not magically cause me to change. Real change happens from the inside out, not the outside in.
In fact what travel has taught me more than anything is that wherever I go, there I am. When I’m in a world where the only constant is me, it becomes spectacularly obvious where, internally, I struggle or thrive.
Today, at the start of the New Year, I am all the way across the world from the country where my new life, my travel life, began. My journey these few months in Southeast Asia has been very different from my time in the land of pura vida. I have found it considerably more challenging to feel relaxed, connected, centered, grounded, and grateful. In many ways I see myself slipping from the person I worked so hard to become.
That terrifies me.
However, I remember that no matter the change in my environment or my behavior, I am first, foremost, and always me. I am here now, able to change absolutely anything that I want to become any person I want. And the best thing about any practice is that no matter how far you drift from your path, you can always pick yourself up and start again.
So today I am looking back at some of the practices that I have implemented over the last two years that have changed my perspective, my experiences, and consequently my life, to inspire me, and maybe inspire you, to get back on track to living a life filled with purpose, joy, gratitude, and contentment.
Ask Yourself What You Want
This sounds simple, but many times we get so caught up in our routines, our responsibilities, and our relationships that we don’t stop to ask “UHHH, IS THIS WHAT I EVEN WANT??!”
What DO you want? If you struggle to answer this question, try asking yourself “what would I do if I could not fail?” Be prepared for your answer to this question to change often. Know that that’s ok.
Believe That it is Possible
We are what holds us back from actualizing our dreams. Believe that what you want is possible. Believe that it can happen. Believe that you can do it.
I remember the first time I saw a yoga teacher push his legs up into crow position. For yoga novices, this is a posture where the yogi crouches down, rests his knees into his armpits, shifts his weight forward into his hands, then floats his his feet off the ground.
If you’ve never done it before, it looks impossible.
Yet today I am able to do crow with relatively little effort. A posture I once laughed at my teacher for even suggesting. How did I get here? I first had to believe that I could do it to give myself the courage to try.
I use this as a metaphor for my life; a reminder that I am capable of achieving things tomorrow that today might appear impossible.
First I have to believe that I can.
Live Your Life on Purpose
Decide what you want and then focus your actions to support it. By doing everything, eating, speaking, breathing, behaving, with purpose, your actions become sacred rituals that yield intentional results.
Eat something because it’s what you actually want to eat to nourish and please your palate and your body. Say something because it needs to be expressed and to be heard. Breathe in a way that supports your thoughts, feelings, and movements. Behave in a way that makes you feel proud of who you are.
Set Intentions
It’s easy to drift from your purpose with the distractions of your mind and the distractions of the world. Try beginning each morning with one clear intention: concentration, generosity, gratitude, peace, joy, energy, clarity, balance, or anything you want to harness in your life.
Throughout the day remind yourself of this intention and bring yourself back to it often. The more you remember your intention the more effortless living it becomes.
Think Positive
People say this all of the time, but how do you actually put it into practice?
A little over a year ago I was sitting on my favorite beach, Punta Uva, in Costa Rica. I was reading A Thousand Splendid Suns and wow did that book ever remind me of what I have to be grateful for. I began to make a list of all of the positive things in my life.
Yet a few minutes later, wandering down the shore I noticed my mind wandering into negative thinking. I then began beating myself up for thinking negatively in the first place. I began listing all of the things that were wrong with me and my life. But a voice inside me spoke up “ahem, excuse me, “mind”, you do not control me.”
In that moment I decided to play a game. Every time I noticed a negative thought creep into my head I gave it a positive spin.
“You’re not as skinny as you were a year ago. What are you doing wrong?”
became
“You have become so dedicated to your yoga practice. Look at how much stronger you are today than you were one year ago.”
This game became a daily exercise. I noticed that the more I practiced, the more automatic positive thinking became.
Try shifting your self talk to a positive, kind, supportive dialogue. Your thoughts become your actions and your actions become your life.
Be Selfish
How often do you give others compliments and gestures of kindness? How often do you give that treatment to yourself? You deserve to feel healthy and happy and no one has the power to offer you that except for you.
Do at least one thing every single day that is completely, absorbedly, selfish. Take a long soothing bath. Sit in a chair and read your book. Wake up in the morning and do yoga not to burn calories but to feel good. Cook yourself a beautiful meal and enjoy it alone.
Be Aware of Your Breath
Your breath is your life. Without it you would cease to survive. It literally moves life energy throughout your body affecting every function of your being. By gaining awareness of your breath and learning to control it, you can control your physical and mental state.
Check in with the movement and pattern of your breath. Allow it to support you. When life feels stressful and you feel out of control, calm your breath. Slow it down. Deepen it. Remember that as long as you keep breathing you keep living. Nothing is ever as serious as it seems.
Drink Water
Drink clean, pure, fluoride free water. Drink a huge glass first thing in the morning. Drink it throughout the day. Carry a big bottle of water with you wherever you go as a constant reminder to drink, drink, drink.
Feel More, Numb Less
Sometimes feelings are intense. Pleasure, pain, sadness, joy, anger, anxiety, fear, hope, it can all be overwhelming.
In our society we have created so many tools designed to make us feel less. We escape the intensity of sensations with food, with alcohol, with drugs, with television, with the internet, with small talk, with violence, with sex.
Why are we so afraid to just feel?
When I feel an uncomfortable emotion creep in, especially loneliness or boredom, I notice that suddenly I have an urge to eat something or get online. However the same way a throbbing headache is a signal that your body needs something, boredom is a signal that your spirit needs something. Your body is not telling you it needs a pill the same way your spirit is not telling you it needs distraction.
Stop quieting these signals and instead start listening.
Eat a Salad
This piece of wisdom comes from my dear friend and food blogger Andie Mitchell. Eat a big, satisfying, crunchy, varied, balanced salad every single day and trust me, you will feel amazing.
My favorite salads include a crunchy lettuce like romaine or cabbage mixed with dark nutrient packed greens, something sweet like fruit, corn, or tomatoes, quinoa or beans, a sprinkle of nuts or seeds, and a tangy dressing with lots of fresh herbs.
Move Your Body
Run. Jump. Dance. Move. Sweat.
Your body is filled with energy channels, let them flow! Somehow we’ve adopted this mentality that movement is about calorie burning and weight loss. It has become a chore and a “should” rather than a “want”.
Moving your body is detoxifying, liberating, energizing, relaxing, and it’s downright fun. Do it because your body wants it. Do it because it feels damn good.
Start Setting Boundaries
Do you feel taken advantage of, taken for granted, or generally out of control? Chances are you are not setting boundaries in your life and in your relationships. It is your responsibility to define what makes you feel respected and communicate it to others.
If you don’t want to loan your favorite sweater to your friend, respectfully say it. If you are too busy to volunteer at an event, be honest. If something makes you feel uncomfortable, do not do it.
You can never expect other people to behave in accordance with your wants or expectations. However you can absolutely determine what you are willing to receive. Kindly express what is and is not acceptable to you.
It can be scary at first, but really, there ain’t no shame in that game.
Don’t Take Things Personally
Did you know that nothing is ever personal? Really. Nothing.
What someone says or does that strikes an emotional chord with us is always a reflection of our own insecurities, values, and perceptions. Therefore the way that someone treats you is the mirror image of what they are personally feeling inside.
Knowing that nothing is personal, release the burden of what other people think of you and how they behave. Know that really, it’s not you. It’s them.
In turn, when you find yourself judging or mistreating, look within and ask yourself what your thoughts and your behavior says about you.
Put Things Into Perspective
A few years ago a co-worker was telling me about her divorce. I will spare the details but it sounded like an emotionally devastating experience. At the time I was going through my own never-ending breakup in an on-again-off-again relationship. Seeking guidance, I asked her,
“How did you get through it?”
“I went to the Holocaust museum,” she said.
Sometimes the best way to move on from our problems is to simply put them into perspective. Things are rarely life or death, everything will always be ok, and nothing is ever good or bad unless you think so.
Spend Time Alone
Do you ever actually spend time alone. With the internet at our fingertips many of us are never alone. I find that my greatest moments of peace and clarity are those when I allow myself to fully separate from other people and outside distractions. My alone time fuels and energizes me when I return to the social world.
Years ago I hated being alone. Really, I hated it. It was uncomfortable, boring, and lonely. Usually the thing that we want to do the least is the thing that we most need to do.
Take a long walk by yourself without your iPod. Go out to dinner and sit at a table alone. Don’t bring a book or your phone. Sit by yourself in nature and just stare at what surrounds you. Notice what you feel in your body. Notice where your thoughts go. Realize that you are not only capable of maneuvering the world with your own strength, you are cable of maneuvering your thoughts and your feelings.
Find freedom when you realize how good it feels to be alone.
Lead With Your Heart
When you experience completeness within yourself, alone, don’t forget about the outside world. Don’t forget that love that exists in friendships and relationships, in passing conversations with strangers.
Lower the walls you’ve built to protect yourself. Be honest with people about how you feel. Take a chance on love. Trust people knowing that you might get hurt.
Leading with your heart means being true to yourself. When you are true to yourself, you can live without regret.
Learn the Words Pura Vida
Why I love Costa Rica can be summed up in two words “pura vida”. This simple phrase embodies the most beautiful philosophy I have ever known. Everything is good, life is beautiful, go with the flow, surrender to what is, let things go, enjoy your life.
You can say pura vida on a sunny day as appropriately as you can in a storm. Pura vida is all about accepting the beauty in the world in every form. Learn these words and live them.
Seize the Day
Take a step towards what you want when the idea is fresh in your mind and the motivation is strong in your spirit. Live in the now. Tomorrow may never come so do it today.
Do it now.
Make it a Habit
My experience has shown me that to actually change I must practice consistently. This is why drastic shifts like moving or leaving a relationship seem to affect us in the biggest ways: the aftermath of these actions have results that remain consistent day after day.
For anything to really change you need to do it often enough that it starts becoming a habit or a pattern. Choose something that you really want and do it every. single. day. Practice discipline. Do it until you don’t have to remind yourself to do it anymore.
Then keep doing it. Again. And again. And again.
Let Everything Go
Perhaps the most transformative practice of all is the act of letting go. In order to change we must first make space to allow growth to happen.
Let go of your expectations. Let go of your past pain. Let go of who you were yesterday and who you think you might be tomorrow. Let go of everything that is not making you a better person right now.
Most importantly
let go of thinking that you need to be perfect by adhering to anything
and that includes
this list.
What practice have you implemented into your life that has helped you to grow?
Wise words and totally true! Especially the selfish part I think…it’s your travels and you should do what you want, when you want to do it.
No point living someone else’s dream!
Keep up the epic work!
…also I’m guessing you’ve read the Alchemist already?
Thanks Chris 🙂 You keep it up too! And yes, I have read the alchemist, claro que si! Enjoy Ecuador, I’d love to get there in the next year.
I think think this post is beautiful, thank you 🙂
Thank YOU Lauren-Kate 🙂
I can’t wait to share this with everyone I know and to really think hard on implementing each of these game changers. Your words, the photos, the message: YES.
Aw thank you Jillian! You are the best!
And another TAG post to print and hang in my cubicle…. to be read over and over again! How is it possible that you know what I need to hear AND when I need to hear it? I always look forward to reading your posts – gorgeous photos and eloquent words.
P.S. – After glancing quickly at the second photo, I thought Buddha was holding a laptop in his right hand. Had a good laugh at that one!
Thank you Brenda 🙂 Haha, too funny with the laptop. Just goes to show we are all mirrors looking at our own reflection when we look at the world 😉 Best of luck to you in 2014 xo
Wow girl! Best post yet. I am so astonished you are less then half my age. I have a son who is 28. I was basically a drug addict at his age.
The one thing I see missing that is very important for me is Operating my life with integrity. No, this does not mean I am always perfect, but I strive for progress.
One quote from Janice Joplin (you would have loved her!)
“Don’t compromise yourself. You’re all you’ve got!”
Rock on sister. Colin.
Thanks Colin 🙂
Yes, yes integrity. A good one that I practice is to ask myself “what kind of person do you want to be.” Even when it’s stupid things like turning off the water while I’m brushing my teeth or changing the toilet paper roll. I guess for me this is a big part of “doing things on purpose.”
Really looking forward to seeing you in Puerto Viejo one day!
Beautiful writing as always and very inspirational. Looking forward to putting many of these things into practice this year.
Much love xx
Thank you darling! xoxo
More amazing work, Camille! So proud of you! xo
thank you barbie <3 <3
I really love what you share with everyone. Keep it coming. Life is so beautiful keep showing others.
Thank you thank you 😀
This is a beautiful article and I couldn’t agree more. All great tips, especially letting go!!
Thank you darling 🙂
Great pieces of advice! Follow any one and it’ll be a positive experience. Thank you!
Thanks Kelsey happy new year to you! 🙂
As usual, such a thoughtful and beautiful post! I am going to continue to follow your blog and your wonderful journey because I want to see if in the end, you end up back in our favorite place, Puerto Viejo. Pura vida it is, but also is not! Puerto Viejo is heaven and hell all wrapped up into one. Maybe that is why I love it so much.
Aw thank you. Haha, yes Puerto Viejo has it all but you know what the great news is?? There is no end 😉
Probably your deepest, most meaningful post yet, TAG. Like I counseled earlier, you really need to consider submitting your posts and photos for a book. Your writing is beautiful, thoughtful and compelling. Your photos graceful and moving.
Just one editorial note: correct the line about the yoga master who “shits his weight forward into his hands.” It was amusing, but I don’t think it’s what you meant to convey. 🙂
Btw, Camille, I’m finally in Nicaragua myself, just beginning my own journey of self-discovery at an age well past yours. Thanks for the inspiration, young lady. You’re a gem.
Haha, oops thanks for that correction how comical!!
And huge thanks for your compliments. Not sure how I would work the images and words for a book or what topically I would pitch, but yes this is something that I have been considering.
Congrats for beginning your travel journey! Let me know any tips you have that I can share on Nicaragua and please let me know any advice you need from me!
Thank you for your thoughts……
You’re welcome thank you for reading!
No truer words were ever spoken. I enjoy your blog so much, Camille. I hope that you can some day put in print what you have here on line. Your photos are beautiful, and it is a pleasure reading your blog so much that I find myself coming back again and again. We can’t all travel the world, but it is a pleasure taking the journey through your eyes and words and photos.
Thank you so much Andrea 🙂
Beautifully written and I couldn’t agree more. I love your blog and your adventures. Thank you.
Thank you Tabitha! 🙂
I am planning a trip to thailand right now and I am so glad I found your blog: I resonate with so many of your posts. Daily practice is so important to me and this is a helpful reminder to continue that on the road.
Thank you 🙂
Thank you so much Elyse! <3
This is such a beautiful post filled with wise, positive, and helpful advice. I’ve made a habit to practice gratitude daily, and now I will work to apply these practices into my life as well. Thank you for the motivation!
Thank you so much Ashley 🙂
I’m going through a lot of changes in my life at the moment and can’t tell you how much this post spoke to me. Eloquently written, inspirational and beautifully mindful. Thank you!
Thank you so much. That means a lot to hear <3
This is beautiful, thought provoking and inspiring. I think I will be joining those who stick it on their wall to read as often as possible. Really enjoy your work Camille.
Aw thank you so much! <3
Hi Camille
I have read your journey just few days and they are beautiful expressions of you, you share yourself with the whole world 🙂 Sometimes I envy you being so brave but I´m glad i can read this journey.
You are open and you show your vulnerability.
I have contemplate on how to express love towards Creator or what ever you wanna call..What possibilities there are.
It is how we meet other people and how we react when we really reflect with each other. No one is better than the other cause we are connected as one. I feel this anxiety in me cause I can´t or are too afraid to say how i feel about other people, not in a negative way of course. That i feel love, compassion, oneness.
I know now why an wise man said to me that open your heart. And you are now inspiring me to do that 🙂
Thank you Camille,
with Love
Jari
Jari thank you for opening yourself in this comment <3 Remember that the more you acknowledge and embrace your own limitless inherent worth, the easier it is to share your love and light and truth with the world. Blessings to you!
You have learned a lot in 2 years – and lucky to have started young. I was 52 the first time I sold everything and went to Asia. Now at 67, I am still living a nomadic life and loving it. I would wish you all the best but I suspect you have already discovered that whatever you need will find you, often in the most surprising ways.
Aw thank you Helen, wow 15 years of nomad living that is quite the inspiration! 🙂
What great advice! I’m sending a link of your website to my daughter who is leaving her home in Italy at the end of the month to pursue her dreams in the US. You have a lot of useful suggestions. Thank you for sharing your experiences! JV
Thank you so much Jenny, blessings to you and your daughter during this exciting time 🙂
<3!!!