Isn’t it crazy how we are essentially one phone call away from our entire life shifting? A termination call from your employer, a client call cancelling their contract for your business, a significant other ending the relationship and breaking your heart, a loved one in the hospital or worse…

These phone calls or occurrences can change the entire course of your life in an instant, when you least expect it. When you think you have it all figured out. We’re all just one phone call away from life changing dramatically.

I received a few of those phone calls in the not so distant past. The feelings that ensued were heart wrenching, painful, and sliced through so deep that I felt physically sick.

The pain I experienced transcended beyond the heart and soul. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t make sense of anything or find meaning in my life. Work stopped making sense. What was it all for? What do I do now? What is it that I truly desire? How can I start over?

I started asking myself these fundamental questions - and quite frankly was surprised by the response - or lack thereof. I actually couldn’t answer these questions; and instead, more questions began to surface:

What’s next? What is my purpose in life? How can I channel this pain into something positive, pain to purpose, and move on?

As these questions arose, I felt a deep tension within myself; a lack of certainty, the void, the unknown. But rather than fear that and ignore it, I doubled down and kept spiraling down this path and exploring my inner subconscious and my deepest self. I did not want to shy away at this point; I felt like I had begun exploration of areas that I never truly dug into that deep before, and was starting to allow my curiosity to continue to try to find the answers, regardless how painful or difficult it was to wade through the surface level blockers that my ego had built throughout the years - some level of identity.

I still do not know the answers, and I am not sure I’ll find out anytime soon. But I have hope, I have excitement, and I have faith in myself and in taking this journey.

The hardest part is truly letting go, and realizing how little control we have in so many aspects of our existence.

However, do not despair, there are a few things in our control. It ultimately shifts to perspective. Here are some of the things we could control (or should learn to):

I can’t count how many times I had to stop myself, take a deep breath, pause, and ask myself; so what? What now? Why spiral out into negativity. Why overreact. Why wallow in pain when I can channel that pain to passion, pain to positivity, pain to purpose?

I am not advising against allowing feelings come and go and living through the emotions when something traumatic happens. It’s only natural and human to do so. It’s important to go through and process those emotions; however, when it boils down to what’s ultimately in your control, well you can decide how you choose to react to a certain situation and how to frame your mindset during that moment, the following moments, and then the actions you decide to take thereafter.

So when life slaps you in the face, pause, and think about those few things that are in your control. Because you’ll soon find how liberating it is to let go of everything else, and then become hyper focused on improving those things that are truly in your control. What content you consume, what food you consume, who you surround yourself with, what story you tell yourself and others. Think positive even when everything seems to be negative around you. There’s always light, even in the darkest of darkness. Even when you can’t see it. It’s there.

Lastly, take action. What action are you now taking, in light of the recent events that took place that you didn’t have control over? Action sparks movement. Movement creates momentum. An object in motion stays in motion; an object at rest stays at rest.

I knew I had to reframe my mindset in a positive way, take action, put myself into motion, and find the momentum that would propel me into the right direction towards living a life that’s truly mine. Experiencing freedom and going for it. What that is yet I do not know, time will tell.

I made the decision to explore - not only within myself, but also to physically explore our beautiful and vast world. I haven’t abandoned my core values and beliefs as they continue to guide me on this path. While those haven’t changed, I have not yet fully discovered my purpose - my Ikigai (a Japanese concept meaning “reason for being” - I’ll post more on Ikigai in the future), however I believe that by going on this journey I’ll get closer to that discovery, and hopefully create some positive impact along the way. I know that deep down I have a calling outside of the standard script. It never felt right to me, yet I sort of followed society’s guidance in going down the college degree route, getting a good job working in corporate, etc etc… but it was always there deep within, that voice telling me to go explore. To create. To take a chance. To be bold. To live the life that’s story worthy.

I am fascinated by stories. The story of others who have found their way. Who have overcome adversity and difficult obstacles in life, and been able to come out the other end stronger than ever. The stories that make us human. To me, this pursuit of finding the most interesting people and hearing their stories, while also finding my own story within this journey, is a mission worth pursuing. Regardless if I know what’s waiting for me on the other side, I made the decision to act. I always had a calling for adventure - perhaps it was hereditary due to my dad’s wild odyssey when he was a similar age (I highly suggest checking out the documentary “Godspeed los Polacos” that covers some of his insane story). I suppose I was fighting my nature by trying to mold myself to society’s script.

I believe now more than ever that I need to explore this path, wherever it may lead. The unknown is exciting for some strange reason. A blank slate. The ability to rise from the ashes like Phoenix and rewrite a story that I truly desire, a story that resonates deep within my core and my soul. A story that I’d be proud to tell my future children some day.

There’s no time like the present. This was an opportunity where I recognized while in the depth of my collapse down to ashes and darkness… that what I do have is extremely valuable - freedom. And with that freedom I ultimately decided to embark on this great adventure. Sell most of my belongings, leave behind the comfortable life, take a chance on this dream and see what happens.

You don’t have to ditch everything and buy an RV and live on the road like me, but sometimes you have to ask yourself these deeper questions and take a chance on yourself.

I believe everyone has a story. But we often don’t ask ourselves the following question: are you living or writing your ideal story? If so, hell yes, double down and share your story so we can learn from you… but If you aren’t… why not?

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