Traveling to the Edge of my Comfort Zone
Cuzco, Peru - May 2018
Eight months after completing my cancer treatments, I set out on a backpacking adventure throughout Peru. My brother joined me for the first week of this journey, but as I prepared to say bye to him and our nice hotel, I worried about whether I would make friends and actually enjoy this experience.
I had a name and reputation amongst my community in the US, but in Peru, I was just another backpacker. My whole life to that point had been surrounded by old friends who I had gone to high school or college with, played sports together, and been in the same frat. The bond was strong and natural.
Now standing in Peru, I was definitely exploring the edge of my comfort zone. Having everything and everyone I knew stripped away really exposed my insecurities and lack of confidence. It wasn’t a fear of dangerous environments or locals, but a fear of other travelers. At the root of it, I was afraid of rejection.
April 2018 - Atlanta, GA
Me and little Nicky right before leaving for the airport and my 7-week adventure in Peru.
Solo Journey with a Community
Once alone on the road, I met tons of people at various hostels and my initial anxiety softened. I realized the vast majority of travelers were kind, opened-minded people who were not judging me like I had imagined, but instead engaged, curious and open to connect.
I was rarely traveling alone in Peru; There was this huge community of adventurous spirits living out of their backpacks. The hostel life is never a solo one and is often quite challenging to find alone time.
I began traveling with a group – three Dutchies in their twenties and thirties and a British girl in her mid-thirties. Everyone knows what it’s like to travel with the family member or friend that is high maintenance, but this group of five was the opposite. Traveling was effortless - decisions were easy and we were always having a big time laughing and enjoying life.
After meeting and connecting with so many interesting travelers, I started to enjoy and embrace the unknown of who I was going to meet next. And not just embracing the unknown of other travelers, but also the general uncertainty of each day.
May 2018 - Lima, Peru
Double fisting during a big night out in Lima. Showing the Europeans that I still had my American frat boy drinking skills.
Finding Adventure
As a backpacker, every day is different. There’s little need for schedule or routine. A common goal is not to plan ahead, but instead to embrace the go with the flow mentality. A mindset that certainly did not come naturally for me.
I had worked at the bank for 3.5+ years where routine was everything. Not to mention that extended vacations as an American were one week long, almost always meticulously planned to “maximize” the trip. Breaking this conditioning was not easy, but I was in no better place to facilitate that process.
I was completing multi-day excursions through the dramatic Andes mountains, summiting 6,000+ meter (19,600+ft) volcanoes, being a beach bum, and getting a big taste of the Latino night life (never figured salsa out). Other than finding a bed to sleep in and food to eat, responsibilities were minimal.
It was a time of travel and pure adventure. I hadn’t found any clarity or purpose in life, but as I reflect on this period that included no plans nor clear goals, I can appreciate how essential it was for my growth and maturation. I started to realize the more I confronted and overcame the fears of rejection and the general unknown, the less scary they became. Phrased differently, the more I explored the edges of my comfort zone, the more they began to expand.
With some time and space (quite a lot) from everything I knew in the US, I could see how easy it is to get stuck in the inertia of life; going to work, seeing the same people and doing the same activities. I’m not here to criticize this and what was my former circumstance, but instead to recognize that this dynamic is not always the most supportive for personal growth and development.
May 2018 - Arequipa, Peru. 6,057 (19,872 ft) meter volcano summit. They say it’s one of the easiest, most accessible 6,000m summits in the world, but don’t let that smile fool you, it was quite the struggle for that guy!
How You Can Explore Everyday
I see value in sharing my South America travel experiences not to encourage you to quit your job and travel indefinitely, but instead to consider how you can explore the edge of your comfort zone wherever you are now. Traveling is not at all necessary to find your edge and the value it holds. The edge is always around and is the door to growth and transformation.
In yoga, I describe the edge as the place between ease and effort. When exploring your comfort zone in life, look for the things that feel manageable and energizing, not overwhelming. Sometimes energizing can feel like anxiety, nervousness and fear. But with a mindset reframe; fear is energy, we start to realize these feelings can be transformed into a more self-serving energy.
So, how exactly can you start to explore the edges of your comfort zone where you are now? It starts with getting clear with yourself on your priorities. Life is busy, I’m aware, but there is always time for our priorities.
If self-growth and energy for life are towards the top of your priority list, use this 3-step process to explore and integrate the benefits your edge has to offer.
How to get involved
Share this blog with someone you think could use a little extra motivation for stepping out of their comfort zone.
Let’s explore together how we can get clear on your goals and priorities and put them into action today. Use the support and accountability offered through coaching to push your edges and become the best version of yourself.
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To MÁS health and happiness for all.
Love,
Drew
