Learning To Travel Lighter
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“If we change how we look at things, the things we look at change.”
Hey friends,
I just got back from what was supposed to be my dream "Exponential Me" celebration trip in Sardinia. You know, the kind where you eat pasta overlooking the Mediterranean, sip on Aperol spritzes, and toast to new beginnings? Well, mine started with a twist: the airline lost my luggage. Cue the jet lag-induced meltdown, complete with frantic calls to the lost baggage counter, many bad hair days and some definitely “ripe” socks that almost disintegrated when I finally washed them .
But here's the story within the story: as I wandered the cobblestone streets of Alghero, Bosa and Orosei in my "italian uniform" (a.k.a. the same shorts and t-shirt I wore on the plane), something shifted. I realized that the real baggage I'd brought with me – the relentless ambition of pushing hard through resistance to “make it work”, the need to control, the speeding up when the going gets tough, and the bracing for impact –to name a few was weighing me down way more than any suitcase ever could. Despite trying to retire those coping mechanisms from my repertoire they had found an outlet.
As I was climbing Mt.Tiscali, I got a new perspective literally. The lost luggage, as frustrating as it was, became a catalyst for my next exponential shift. It was teaching me how to slow down in the midst of challenges, to let go and trust more deeply in my receiving capacity on an experiential level. I needed to learn this lesson not from an “understanding” but through living out its truth so I could “know” it in my bones.
Sardinia was nothing like I imagined and more than I could have ever asked for..a truly exponential experience. Here are some of the messages this sweet island offered me:
Wisdom reveals itself to us in unexpected ways. The lost luggage wasn't just an inconvenience; it was a symbol from the universe, reminding me to let go and trust the unfolding of life's journey. The outer world is always a reflection of our inner worlds and I must say the universe chose a most appropriate muse for this learning!
Travel is truly a process of soulful enrichment. Sure, we all love those picture-perfect vacation moments, but real travel – the kind that transforms you – often involves unexpected challenges. In my case, The missing suitcase forced me out of my comfort zone and into a deeper understanding of myself, my fears, and my true desires. Being outside of my familiar environment allowed me to confront the patterns that were holding me back from what what I desired. Sometimes we truly need be in a different place to be able to see the same things differently. This trip reminded me of the old saying, "The best teacher is experience."
There's a difference between ambition and receptive action and the later is my new power move. Ambition is often fueled by a sense of lack, a belief that we need to strive and hustle to get what we want or we won’t receive it. Receptive action, on the other hand, is about trusting in the abundance of the universe and allowing things to unfold naturally knowing there is a creativity at work beyond our mind’s plans. It's about surrendering to the flow and finding ease in the process knowing we are cared for always even when we don’t know how. As the Tao Te Ching states, "By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go."
Life is always delivering to us exactly what we need if we can lose our grip on the how. I was so focused on getting my luggage back that I almost missed the bigger picture. It wasn't the clothes or toiletries I truly needed; it was the lesson in letting go and trusting that everything would work out so I could experience the profound peace and clarity I most desired on this trip. This experience taught me the importance of staying open to ease of which life delivers to us exactly what we most desire if we allow it. It's like the Sufi poet Hafiz wrote, "The most amazing things that can happen to a human being will happen to you if you just lower your head and ask."
If you're curious about how I shifted from stressing to surrendering (and how you can too), or if you're simply ready to ditch some baggage of your own (the metaphorical kind, of course), join me for my upcoming "Lose Your Baggage"webinar and my 21-day passport to new perspectives journey daily practices. It's filled with tools, practices, and a whole lot of heart. I'd love to travel with you and share some of that Sardinian wisdom!
With love and a newfound appreciation for packing light,
Jill
"We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us."
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