5 steps to become more adventurous

Imagine this scenario: Amber stumbles upon a radio interview with someone who flew herself to and around the Bahamas on a charter plane. I expected the movie to be about beaches and sunsets, but when I listened to it, it wasn’t focused on those things at all. The episode had the thrills, chases, and dramatic tension of any good story, but in a completely unexpected way. These elements came from the rule-finding and rule-following parts of logistics.

It turns out that the process of flying your own plane from the United States to the Bahamas and back requires all kinds of hoop jumping. There are several logins that need to be created. There are many nominal fees to be paid (for example, for radio licences). There are very precise procedures that must be followed exactly, including how to notify US border authorities of your planned return.

The story the podcast told was that accomplishing this mission wasn’t about being adventurous in the stereotypical sense. It was About diligence. The beaches, ocean and sunsets were barely mentioned, even though they were clearly part of the bonus.

What is the moral of this story? The strengths required to be an adventurer are not what they seem at first glance. big A variety of skills and talents can contribute. Let’s reveal five lesser-known steps to becoming more adventurous.

1. Determine which of your current strengths will contribute

Adventures need to be imagined, PlannedAnd it was implemented. Each stage relies on different strengths.

For example, a tendency to follow research rabbit holes may help you imagine unusual adventures. If you are good at gathering evidence and presenting a case, it may help to get permission or participation from others. Perseverance and anticipating what could go wrong are obvious advantages. Even traits that are usually seen as negative, e.g Stubbornness Or a touch NarcissismIt may play a positive role.

The more strengths and attributes you bring to a given adventure, the more unique it is likely to be, the more you are likely to learn about yourself, and the more potential it has to move you forward in your overall personal development.

2. Take physical action before you commit mentally

In my book, Stress-free productivityI tell the story of buying my house. I started out visiting open houses as a tourist activity in a place known for a particular architectural style, but where I didn’t have the ability to afford homes. Then I visited another city briefly and noticed how cheap the houses were there (it was 2014). Shortly after, I told my wife I wanted to come back and buy one.

Buying a house and location were not in my plans. But work leads to more work. Our thoughts are dragged along.

It’s hard to resist that pull. You can spot the adventure bug based on just a few initial actions.

3. Distinguish between adventure and adventure clichés

You may think you have little interest in adventure because you don’t like the clichés of adventure. You can feel some shapes boring Or contrived because of its popularity. For example, moving to Bali, Thailand or Portugal as a digital nomad. Or run every major world marathon. Or climb the vertical distance equivalent to the summit of Mount Everest. These types of adventures tend to be an escape or a physical challenge.

An adventure that supports your other essence Objectives Or making you closer to your loved ones may be more attractive to you.

The better you know yourself and the more opportunities you have to experience different forms of adventure, the more likely you are to want to deviate from stereotypes.

4. Improve your creativity in visualizing adventures

I mentioned earlier that adventures need to be conceived, planned and executed. You may realize that you are good at planning or executing but less creative at conceptualizing ideas.

Treat imagining adventures that appeal to you as a test of your abilities creativity. Don’t chase weirdness or uniqueness for the sake of those things. Consider how customization can make adventure more fun, challenge you, and support your broader life goals.

To expand your creativity beyond the current borderWherever your thought process goes, try to take it one step further. For example, if you think of an adventure that requires a skill set that only 1 in 100 people have, try pushing that idea to require a skill set that only 1 in 1,000 or 1 in 10,000 people have. Or combine three of your interests, not just two.

5. Treat adventure as part of your broader personal development

Let’s go back to the Bahamas example. This pilot may have come back a more confident and competent pilot. Perhaps he caught the adventure bug, making him think about more international travel or ways to expand his career as a pilot.

Or maybe you’ve drawn him into other adventures that require it Jumping hoop Or deal with governments to withdraw.

When we follow our noses in pursuit of something that interests us, it often pays off in ways we didn’t expect. What we expected to be the highlight of this endeavor is often replaced by something else.

You don’t need to fit a stereotype to be an adventurer

Let’s get back to Amber, our podcast listener. She probably won’t be flying a plane around the Bahamas anytime soon, but exposure to the story got her thinking about what adventures she’d like to have. Like Amber, once you get past the stereotypes, you’ll notice that you’re more suited to adventure than you think. Your current strengths (Even the boring onesEveryone can contribute. Action can push you forward before you’re ready. Personalization can help you discover adventures that enrich you at the stage of your life you’re currently in, wherever that may be. You don’t always need to know where an adventure will lead you or how it will help you grow, but you can expect it to happen.