Thursday, 15 August 2013 14:12

A Sense of Adventure

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It is not given to us to know what difference we can make, and perhaps we can make no difference at all. But that is no reason not to make the attempt," said Saliman quietly. "The Light shines more brightly in the darkness.
 Alison Croggon, The Crow

Do you remember the days when you'd be counting sleeps to some exciting event? It didn’t matter what it was, a birthday party, Christmas, or simply a tooth falling but you'd be busting out your skin with 'Donkey-like-are-we-there-yet' impatience. Sadly, as I've got older the only things keeping me awake at night are stress and worries. It makes me wonder what happened to that overwhelming exuberance. Where did it go? And is the joy still there?  

Curiosity is an amazing thing, it has children eating sand and bugs and driving you mad with why questions and is something we easily outgrow. The more experience we have, the more certain we become and the less time we take to explore and discover why something is like it is. We start skipping the step of actual experience and go straight to the mental computation of what we expect to happen, from either our own, or someone else's past experience.

The truth is that no two people or two situations are alike, similar maybe, but identical? No. When we start engaging with our life with a sense of adventure, a childlike curiosity, it changes. In Zen Buddhism it's called Beginner's Mind. It is having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject. In coaching, that subject is you.

It is a fascinating process to spend time with yourself asking quality questions like the good old fashioned 'Why?'  Why on earth am I doing what I do, thinking what I think and saying what I say? The moment we get curious about ourselves and our life and start poking around in the dirt, so to speak, it changes everything. Sometimes, hidden within the muck of past failures and fears, or fortress like defences and sadness, we find the shining light of acceptance and kindness, our jewel of joy. This is the beauty of getting to know yourself, of living in the moment and paying attention to important things like your breath and the little moments that make life worth living.

It is a journey worth making. One that frees you from old habits that are no longer relevant. For the next few days make an effort to cultivate a sense of adventure, play with your world, do something differently, speak up if you are shy, stay silent if you are a chatterbox. Wonder, instead of decide what will happen and watch yourself to come back to life.

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Comments  

# Kalliopi 2016-08-08 17:46
So true. You are in my mind! I am in that process at the moment, finding my inner self and what I really want!
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-09 17:32
Good luck to you Kalliopi, it can be tough figuring yourself out, but it's worth the investment of time and energy.
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# Garf 2016-08-08 17:27
Yes, I remember and it usually happens when I am taking trips abroad. The closer the day of the adventure gets, the more I lose sleep.
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-09 17:31
Such a divine feeling, the anticipation, the excitement, the nerves! It sounds like you have done a fair amount of adventuring, Garf.
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# Borka 2016-08-07 23:35
Sometimes is good breaking habits. Getting out of your comfort zone. Adventure is key to happiness.
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-09 17:30
It really is, Borka, we so easily get stuck in the known and familiar and there is so much more to life than the tiny bit we know.
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# Dreammerin 2016-08-07 09:05
Yes - I totally agree. Curiosity is an amazing thing - curiosity is the key to learning! Very nice post! Thanks for sharing!
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-09 17:28
Thanks Dreammerin, glad you resonated!
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# Nina 2016-08-06 07:03
A good sense of adventure is perfect. There are so many ways to be adventurous too without having to leave your city!

Nina
aworldofdresses.com
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-06 07:40
So true, Nina! It really is a mind state more than anything.
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# Lubka Henry 2016-08-05 16:17
Sometimes it's really healthy to step out of the comfort zone and try to change some rusty old habits.
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-05 17:14
That it is, Lubka!
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# Elizabeth O. 2016-08-05 09:10
When all the excitement has died down we find ourselves in the same old routine and most of the time it also stops us from dreaming. It would be nice to do something different, to rekindle that excitement! We definitely should make an effort to do that.
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-05 13:17
I agree, Elizabeth! We are heading away for a short holiday tomorrow and I am allowing myself to feel that excitement and it's lovely.
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# Sandra M. 2016-08-05 09:05
Very interresting post ! You catch me immediatly with the first sentence as I always have some issues to fall asleep when something very exciting is coming haha
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-05 13:16
That kind of excitement is so lovely, the anticipation, the uncertainty...
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# Anwar 2016-08-05 02:16
Very interesting article, I never have any issue fell asleep but I’m only 20 years and 3rd university sometime my iPhone prevents me from sleeping because I’m always texting and or working on the go. Thank you for sharing
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-05 13:15
That's the problem with phones these days, you can be connected anywhere. Texting and technology are a no-no for me around bed time if I want to get any sleep.
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# Liz Mays 2016-08-05 00:31
I think it's super important to bring that sense of excitement back into your life. There are so many reasons not to live a boring life.
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-05 13:13
Hear, hear, Liz. And it's amazing how doing stuff you love, brings your joy to life.
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# Daisy Crawford 2016-08-04 23:04
School takes this curiosity away from us, gives us answers too easily. It's nice to let your brain get away from the entrapments of modern society and structure... let your head stay in the clouds for a while.
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-05 13:12
Past experience really is not all it is cut out to be, and it's true, Daisy, there is still some magic in the clouds!
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# Brian 2016-08-04 23:03
Christmas morning and travel excite me the most, but that excitement has dwindled with age.
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-05 13:10
Gosh, remember Christmas morning as a kid! That and birthdays and almost anything nice. I wonder why we stop.
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# Ana De- Jesus 2016-08-04 22:33
I wish I could count to sleep , I have insomnia and chronic pain/fatigue so its hard to drift off.
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-05 13:09
And that has got to be the worst, Ana, being physically exhausted and unable to sleep. My heart goes out to you.
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# Terri Beavers 2016-08-04 19:01
I miss the childlike excitement that I once had. Now I just stay awake counting my sheep until my back pain eases.
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2016-08-04 21:01
Sorry to hear you have back pain, Terri. It must be bad if it stops you sleeping and there is nothing like a combination of pain and lack of sleep to take your joy away. Sending a big hug your way.
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# - Soul Sense Coaching 2013-08-20 15:54
My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it.
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