Big Idea #1: Travel and Movement can Change Your Life

Travel can completely shift our ideas of who we are and the way our life should be lived. It helps us see and explore the different ways we can run our lives, the variety experiences we can have, and how we can learn from the different people we connect with. Travel lets us experience a new side of ourselves that we may not have known was even there. It opens up the protective layers that keep us in our safe “shell” and busts open our previous limitations to reveal our new, changed self.

It can be so much easier to open ourselves up when we’re out of our comfort zone. Your highest self is you when you’re at your best, rocking your fundamentals and doing the things that align with your best self. And it’s not just traveling that opens us up and expands our creativity and true selves. Any type of movement can help us change and grow…because creativity comes from the body, not from the head.

So give it a try! Go for a run, break out a crazy dance, do some yoga… whatever lights you up and get your spirit moving. We might try to think our way out of overthinking, but this is a never-ending trap, a maze we’ll never escape! Getting into our bodies and out of our heads is the way to access our true potential, creativity and real selves.

Big Idea #2: Overcoming Social Comparison

Social comparison is a habit that many of us find ourselves in at times. But if you’re aware of this happening, you’re one step closer to overcoming it. Recognizing the difference between a “fixed mindset” and a “growth mindset” can help you change your thought patterns and become a whole lot happier in life.

Fixed mindset – Rooted in the idea that we can’t change, so we must spend all our energy proving that we are good enough.

Growth mindset – Rooted in the idea that we are not static individuals. We are constantly changing and growing, and can achieve any goals we set for ourselves because we can improve.

We want to maintain a growth mindset, because this is how we can avoid negative feelings when looking at the success of another person. If we view ourselves as static and unchanging, it’s pretty painful to see someone who’s at the point we want to be at. It might feel like we’ll never get there! But if we have a growth mindset, we can use that person as an inspiration, knowing that we are always growing and changing and can make it where we want to go.

Steps towards overcoming social comparison:

1. Ask yourself, “What do I really want? What am I learning from this situation?”
2. Focus on “improving” rather than “proving” yourself. (Growth vs. fixed mindset.)
3. Don’t be afraid to learn publicly.

If you’re still finding it difficult to overcome the habit of comparing yourself to others, ask yourself where the voice in your head is coming from that tells you you’re less than someone else. Practice being delighted for those who have what you want, rather than feeling envy or feeling less about yourself. Happy people aren’t affected by what others are doing around them. They are able to feel happy for the success of others without feeling threatened or vulnerable.

Big Idea #3: Change your Words to Reprogram Your Mind

It’s important to be carefully selective with the words that we use, especially when we talk to ourselves, because those words affect our thoughts and beliefs. For example, a question beginning with “Are you the kind of person that…?” is a difficult question to answer, because it implies that we are always a certain way. A better way to frame that question might be, “In the past, how have you responded to…?” Reframing this question can reprogram your mind and give you the room to grow into the kind of person you want to be.

This concept is called neuro-linguistic programming. Basically, what we think programs what we say, and what we say programs what we think. So the words we choose to use directly affect our thoughts and from there, our feelings and beliefs.

So when we think and talk about ourselves, we need to choose words that describe our behavior, not define or label who we actually are as people. For example, rather than saying “I’m a horrible presenter when I get up to speak in front of a crowd”, we can reframe this by saying “Up until now, I’ve felt some nerves and discomfort when I get up to speak in front of a crowd.” This shows more self-love and gives us the space to become more comfortable and confident when speaking.

HW + Action Steps!

As always, we’d love for you to share your personal favorite takeaways in the private Facebook group.