Permission to Change Plans: Choosing stillness over constant motion
Finding Joy in Staying Still
Allowing Plans to Evolve
For someone like me, who has built a life and career around travel, it might seem surprising to hear that staying still can bring as much joy as exploring my favorite destinations. However, this newfound insight has transformed my understanding of fulfillment. While in the past I always embraced a nomadic lifestyle & extensive mindful travel, I recently discovered the power of granting myself permission to travel less—instead, choosing to enrich my life by staying put.
The Unexpected Joy of Stability
My journey has been filled with opportunities for exploration, including a much-anticipated move to Japan disrupted by the pandemic. Rather than adjusting my nomadic plans immediately when the country reopened, I chose to stay home and give myself time and space to reflect. Recently I booked a 3 month trip to go back, and this one too I changed to 5 weeks. When it was time to go I was more curious to explore what my life could be like without constant movement. Surprisingly, I found myself enjoying this stability immensely. This period of staying still became a form of rooting therapy, encouraging deep reflection and growth.
Enhancing Life Through Groundedness
Staying home opened up opportunities to deepen my connections within the community and explore interests I hadn't prioritized before. It gave me the time and space to further develop my expertise in trauma healing and attachment styles, and to fully integrate somatic practices into my psychotherapy work. Embracing the simple pleasures—like preparing nourishing vegan meals and living an organic lifestyle—while nurturing stable, meaningful relationships revealed to me the profound richness of a life rooted in one place.
Discovering Inner Peace and Personal Growth
This time at home redefined my perspective on balance, showing me that staying still could be as rewarding as movement. The realization that I could change plans and the alternative could even be better—deciding that less travel could lead to more personal happiness—was truly liberating. It underscored the importance of being adaptable and recognizing when groundedness would better serve my journey toward self-discovery and inner growth.
The Balance Between Movement and Stillness
Choosing to travel less isn't about abandoning my nomadic spirit but enhancing it with the clarity that comes from stillness. I've found that this balance between movement and stillness can lead to the most profound insights, allowing travel to be a conscious choice rather than a habitual need. Through this, conscious travel is emphasized more than ever: knowing the value of when to stay and when to go is as vital as the journey itself.
Embracing the Power of Choice
I want to share this realization for anyone who may be on similar paths. We often believe that constant travel is the ultimate path to fulfillment, but sometimes the most transformative experiences occur when we allow plans to change, leading us toward unexpected joy in the present moment. Whether you're exploring the world or exploring within, embrace the permission to travel less when it serves your journey toward happiness and growth.
Offering Guidance for Your Journey
If you find yourself at a crossroads, contemplating changes in your lifestyle or seeking to explore the richness of staying still, I offer life mentoring sessions tailored to support you in this transformative phase. Whether you are reassessing travel plans or looking to deepen your connection with yourself and your surroundings, these sessions provide personalized guidance to help navigate your path with clarity and intention. Embrace this opportunity for personal growth and let’s explore the possibilities together.
