Do you ever get the annoying feeling that you are stuck in a life that doesn’t make you happy, but you don’t know what to do to change it?
If the answer is yes, you are in good company!I’ve been there too, and I had to go through all the five points I’ll mention below, in a time frame of more than 15 years (I like to take it easy!) before I could finally break free.
So I truly understand your struggle to change, trust me on that. I know it very well and I hope this article will help you out!
I can now say with confidence that I’m living the life of my dreams and I want you to be able to do the same (It feels so good when you say it out loud!)
Since I created my website 2 years ago, ( when I screwed up my entire existence to become a travel blogger), I receive daily emails with questions that I myself couldn’t find an answer to for years…
- How did you find the courage to leave?
- Weren’t you scared when you decided to quit your job?”
- My life sucks, but I don’t really know what the alternative is, can you give me some advice”?I want to leave this place!
- I really envy you and your lifestyle, I think what you do is amazing… too bad I am not like you!”
I guess that for the people reading my blog, I’m the girl with a wonder woman outfit. How cool!
But is this who I really am? I think it’s about time to tell you a thing or two about myself and why you, regardless of what your fears are, could be doing exactly what I’m doing right now.
So am I saying that turning your life upside down to follow your passions is as easy as buying a Wonder Woman outfit for Halloween?
Of course not. I know you know better than that.
You know it’s hard, otherwise, you would have already joined the millions of (invisible…where are they?!) people who left their dreadful jobs to follow their dreams, and I wouldn’t have so many emails in my inbox!
So, what’s the secret? What’s the behind-the-scenes version of my “wonderful” life?
Before getting to the core of it, I’d like you to click on the video I created for a project called “Favella Creative Lab” where the theme was “Free to…”
Why you should watch it?
When I decided the “story” and the soundtrack for my video, I was inspired by all the requests for advice I’ve gotten over the years. Even if it’s me on the screen, I want to dedicate this to YOU and all the people with an “impossible” dream buried somewhere inside them…
So, click play, and I’ll see you again in a minute!
“FEEL FREE TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS” – THE VIDEO
Here we are! I hope you enjoyed the video, and If you didn’t…let’s just pretend you did, OK? as it took me a hell of a lot of time and effort to put it together 🙂
All joking aside, what you just saw is simple: the story of my life. From the moment I realized that I was trapped in a prison, created by my own hands, to the day I finally dropped the chains to run free and realize my crazy dream!
I don’t blame you if you are thinking ” Easier said than done!” This is why I want to share with you what’s really behind the choices I made.
Meaning: What’s really holding you back?
And what was holding me back, up until that moment?
So here they are: your enemies.
The 4 main obstacles stopping you from living your life to the fullest.
1| FEAR
Fear was my #1 enemy: Fear of the unknown| Fear of failure| Fear of being labeled as ridiculous| Fear of expressing my true feelings| Fear of rejection
It took me so long to realize that I had caged myself with walls made of fears. I kept finding all sort of excuses to avoid the most basic question:
What do you really want out of your life?
(If you haven’t guessed it yet…I wanted to travel the world 😉 )
While I was slowly wrapping the chains around my wrists, year after year, I convinced myself of a lot of things that you’re probably thinking right now…
“I don’t have enough money.”
“I’m not talented or smart enough to write about what I really love.”
“Leaving a steady job during a period of recession is insane.”
All the excuses were somehow reasonable: I’m not rich, I’m not Hemingway either and the words “economic crisis” had haunted me since the day I was born. A word to the journalists: yes we are in time of recession. WE GOT IT. Now could you please give us some good news for a change? Thank you! (end of the rant).
The truth is, if you have a dream, something that burns inside your veins, none of this really matters.
During the months before my departure I went through a roller coaster of emotions, from pure excitement to panic attacks. I was well aware that this decision would change my life forever.
Changing your life is A BIG DEAL.
I was damn scared of the unknown and the idea of failure haunted me. Heading back home penniless a few months after my departure was my worst nightmare.
Two years of traveling and blogging later, I now know that this is total nonsense.
If you really want something, you will find a way.If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.Whatever your dream is, however big your fear of failure is, what’s the worst-case scenario? You have to admit that you made the “wrong choice”.
But what does that mean? A set back or two are just part of the package when you’re following your dreams. It’s not as big of a deal as you think it will be.
Maybe you feel you are a “failure” because you are afraid of what other people will think of you. Or you might feel like you aren’t “good enough”.
Good enough? Compared to whom?!
Compared to those who were able to accomplish what you did not, right? That’s the trap of society and human nature: We are constantly comparing ourselves to other people.
Wandering Earl, one of my favorite travel bloggers, wrote a very insightful article about this topic. He talks mainly about travel-related “failures” but the concept can really apply to anything we pursue in life.
———————————————-
And speaking of fears and failures.. when they chose me for the Favella Lab project, my first words were “Oh shit, NO!!” I was petrified. When I applied I obviously wanted to go, but my family and I were also going through one of our toughest moments ever. Issues that deeply affected my life as well.
I told to myself, “How can I possibly cope with all this? Being around people I’ve never met before, smiling and pretending that everything is fine, with the hell I’m going through?”
Well, I decided to face my fears by taking that damn plane. Everyone has troubles, after all. It’s all part of that package called “life”, and we just have to deal with them.
The experience was a great one, but I felt completely out of place most of the time. I tried to take it day by day, thinking that whatever the outcome was, it would be helpful in the end.
If you want big things out of life, you have to face your fears.And since that’s what I’ve always wanted, that’s what I’ve always done.It was a battle within myself, a battle that I didn’t really win, as my actions and words during the lab were heavily affected by my situation.
I felt STUPID almost all of the time. I had nothing to say. I was totally drained.
It’s not a nice feeling, but I have to give some credit to myself for it: considering my personal situation, I went out of my comfort zone big time, and I am proud to realize that, even living with the hell inside me, I was still brave enough to give it a try.
The only real failure, in my opinion, is when you have a dream and you don’t even try to achieve it because you are scared.
2| GIVING UP TOO SOON
This is one of the most disappointing reasons. So many people are SO close to success and they give up just a step before they reach it. If they only took a moment to look back! They only see a long way up instead of realizing how far they’ve gone.
Compare your dream to a love story. Yes, again! Think about your dream as your partner: You fell in love and for the first few months everything is great, you are in the “honeymoon phase” and nothing can go wrong. After a while, the enthusiasm starts to fade and you start to notice your partner’s flaws. You get a bit bored, which is normal, but you immediately think that this might be a mistake, so you decide to give up.
Your dream, just like with love, needs time and hard work to grow and be called a success. It’s not a smooth sailing, there will be many obstacles to overcome. People will try to convince you that you are just fooling yourself or that it’s not worth it. All you have to do is stay focused on your main goal and keep trying.
———————————————
When I launched this blog it took me a year to start taking it seriously and even if I was working day and night, I didn’t see a single result. My traffic was as low as my enthusiasm and I wasn’t making a single penny out of it. I have to thank my lucky stars that I am a very stubborn and that I didn’t give up. I kept trying.
Fast forward to one year later: I just wrote an article on how I make money with my blog. Last month I even exceeded my salary at Burberry.
I am still not there yet, every month is a challenge, but this is exactly the point: I look back and I see how far I’ve come. This gives me motivation when things are not so good.
Another thing I’ve learned is that people who give up are usually those who constantly compare themselves to others. The are blogs that are not even one year old and are doing better than mine. Should I be concerned? No, I shouldn’t. Everyone has a unique story, a different background and a different pace. This is another trap you shouldn’t fall into.
The only person you should compare yourself to is….YOU.
Are you improving compared to the past? Can you see a positive trend towards your goal? If the answer is yes, you can relax and keep on working harder than ever. You can’t go wrong. And what if something actually does goes wrong? Admit the defeat, analyze your mistake, get back up, and keep trying.
Successful people are not necessarily geniuses; they are those who never gave up. The ones who see an obstacle as an opportunity.
3| WAITING FOR THE RIGHT MOMENT
This reason is what I call the “black dress excuse”: It suits any occasion. I used it so many times that I was starting to believe it.
All bullshit. The funny things is, we all know this excuse is bullshit, but it’s a nice safety blanket to use.
“I am too young, I need to graduate first” becomes ” I need to finish university” and after that “I need to find a job to save a bit”.
Before you know it you are doomed, like everyone else. You’ve caged yourself and thrown away the key.
Let’s cut to the chase: It’s NEVER the right moment, and if you wait for it, you already know that that day will never come.
I presented my resignation letter after 5 years at Burberry at age 35. Was it good timing? Absolutely NOT.
It was quite possibly the worst timing. At 35 you are “supposed” to settle down, not to come up with the crazy idea of quitting your job and traveling the world.
I decided to do it because the idea of living that life for the rest of my days scared the hell out of me. Staying was way crazier than quitting. So I quit.
My advice here? If you really want something, today is the right day to start. No excuses.
I’m not saying that you have to drop everything right now, sell your house, give your little kids to a nanny and just leave for good.
All I’m saying is to start taking your dream seriously.TODAY.
- Write down what you dream about and allow yourself to truly believe that you will get there. Not maybe. YOU WILL.
- Imagine it as you were already living that life. Pay attention to how this makes you feel.
- Plan your dream by writing a list of every possible way to achieve it. The more into details you go, the better.
- Search online for people who have done something similar before you.
The last point was crucial for me. Reading about other people who did what I didn’t even dare to imagine gave me the final push. People with kids who sold their houses, young or middle aged people who saved money, working 2-3 jobs at a time while waiting for years.Normal yet extraordinary people who had a big dream and the belief that nothing could stop them.
If they made it, why couldn’t I? And if I made it, why can’t you?
4| THINKING THAT YOU DON’T HAVE A CHOICE
I have to be brutally honest here. This excuse really gets on my nerves.
The other day I was showing to my brother (who still lives in Sardinia)some videos of my time in the Philippines , which blew his mind away. He’s always complaining about his life. He has a job, a beautiful house and 2 cars. He’s not rich, but he definitely owns many more possessions than I do.
Despite all of that, he’s missing something I have, something far more precious than whatever he owns. It’s called FREEDOM.
- Freedom of choice.
- Freedom of doing whatever I want with my life.
- Freedom to make mistakes, and pay for the consequences.
He told me that I’M LUCKY. Excuse me? LUCKY? I’m not lucky. This life didn’t knock on my door, begging me to choose it.
I CHOSE TO CHANGE. AND SO CAN YOU: YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE. EVERY SINGLE DAY.
Unless you are in jail, or seriously ill, there is no reasons why you can’t change your life. There are people in wheelchairs traveling around the world. A blind man , Amar Latif, did the same and much more with his life.
If you think you don’t have a choice, think again. Is anyone forcing you to live your current life?
It doesn’t matter whether people were expecting something from you and you thought it was right to follow their advice to avoid disappointing them.
You chose anyway. You chose to not disappoint them, but you ended up disappointing the most important person. YOURSELF.
Your person and your time are the most important assets that you will ever have. You can do incredible things with your life. No matter what your age is, it’s really never too late to choose a life that really suits you, and screw all those annoying people who try to convince you otherwise!
The word “change” should not scare you, it should excite you! If you want to read more, I highly recommend a post written by “Young Adventuress” a very talented and very honest travel blogger. She also gives away great insights on the topic!
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: “IF YOUR DREAMS DON’T SCARE YOU, THEY ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH” 🙂
I’d really love to read your thoughts and most importantly your dreams, so feel free to comment and leave your own voice!
Thanks for reading 🙂
Comments
I want to go in human resource in hospitality can you give me some ideas because I know my dream is big and right now I’m doing nothing so will you help me??
I am over 35 and there is just something inside me that keeps telling me that working in an office and having an apartment isnt enough. I love writing and I dream of having some kind of media forum that I can use to showcase some of the incredible artists I have found over the years. Having this will allow me to meet talented people from all over the world. Music, film, fine arts etc… I would like to mostly cover small independent artists. This is my dream. I am in college at the moment taking a business course. I want to change to the journalism course so I can better follow my dream. The drawback is, the journalism course requires harder math classes than this business course. Math isn’t one of my strong points. I just can’t let it go. I found a musician not long ago who reignited my passion for this dream. There is a burning inside me to not waste any more time and get on with my dream.
Hey Ann, it’s great to hear that you have a dream and you are already thinking ahead! Just remember that not all our plans go as we expect, and this is actually a good thing in my eyes. Just saying it because of your math “issue”. Look at me, besides wanting to travel the world, I wanted to work as a copywriter (and had a massive passion for photography). Well, I was rejected at University for my marketing and communication studies but this obstacle and disappointment only tested how big that dream was, as I didn’t give up and even if it happened after years, here I am, learning copywriting and using it on my website and finally being able to unleash my photographic passion.
So..whatever happens, remember that your path might change, but the important thing is to remain focused on your goal! Good luck for everything you want to accomplish!
I’m 24 and dying on the inside.
I’m writing this at 1.27 a.m. East African time, sitting on a laptop with a job I should have started doing three hours ago but havent started because I was listening to music and wondering why I havent done anything in a decade of writing good songs [not once has anyone, stranger or friend, told me that my music sucks :)]
I actually googled “What to do when you’re too scared to follow your dreams” and stumbled across this blog. Real talk.
So when the sun comes up I’m totally hitting the music studio. I have a feeling I will never look back.
Thank you!!!!
Oh… And if my momma asks me about it, I’m gonna give her a link to this blog and let you do the explaining 🙂 Then maybe she can kiss her clerical job goodbye get into agribusiness as she’s dreamed of doing for a decade and ahalf hahah.
Ahsante sana.
Thanks so much for your comment Mukoko. For reason you can’t obviously know, it really helped ME in a moment when I needed it. As you can see, we are not perfect, even those who inspire us and that’s an additional reason to take your life into your hands, believe in yourself and even with all the struggles you might find along the path, really follow your dreams. I’m sure your songs are beautiful, as nothing bad can come up when there is passion behind it. Believe in it, TRULY believe in it and in yourself. This is the first and most important step of all!
I wish you the best, and I’m sure that one way or the other, you will find a way. Remember, it’s not easy… it never is, but it is your life, make a plan and make it happen!
Pingback: 4 Reasons Why You Don’t Follow Your Dream – Merely Inspired
Pingback: A Year Without Make-up: Why you can't miss this travel E-book. - KEEP CALM AND TRAVEL
Hello Clelia!
Great blog, great post! 🙂
My actual situation is very similar to yours…
I’m 31 years old and actually working on a “stable” public bank in Brazil, but I’m feeling trapped and bored. I’ve always dreamed to travel the world but I’ve been creating excuses like “the right moment”, money or simply fear itself.
The fact is, I’ve set a deadline.. I’ll quit my job on August and travel to USA to a roadtrip on September. But I have to admit, the fear of taking the wrong way is growing as the date is coming.
How did you dealed with this feeling? I’ll do this alone, so it scares a little bit.
Sorry for any grammar errors. My english is not 100% yet!
Regards,
Vinicius Nitz
Accidentally (or was it fate lol?) Found your website via flipboard. Very inspirational blog/post. Thanks for sharing your experiences. My dream is to be able to live comfortably as an artist, but it seems time, financial obligations, and fear always get in the way. I recently reached my breaking point, and though I am still working the dreaded 9-5, I have reduced my workload and am working slowly to establish myself. I’ll spare you from any further details, but let’s just say there are many parallels in your story and what I’m going through. Reading this reaffirms I’m on the right path. Thank you so much.
Hi Jesse, messages like yours are the reason why I love what I do. Seeing other people like you, trying to live the life they want is… priceless. You are definitely on the right path (but you already knew) 🙂
Pingback: Change Life Crushing These 3 Roadblocks - My Thai destination
Well done on your blog!
I really enjoyed reading this article since i’m in a wheelchair & would like to quit my job to travel the world. At the same time I feel like it’s an impossible dream since it was very hard to find the job i have & also think I don’t have enough money saved (about 30.000 euros).
What kind of work I could do when i’m abroad? The countries i like to visit are: Greece, Maldives, Thailand & Philippines.
Hi Cle, so weird, we have the same name (or nickname!). I’m sorry to hear that you are in a wheelchair, but I also know that there are blind people who travel the world solo (now I can’t remember the name but you can google it and you’ll find this awesome guy who did it).
Sometimes the adversities make us even stronger as we need to put double or triple the effort compared to the people without these disadvantages. I won’t deny that’s going to be more difficult for you to travel, but what I would do is a lot of research on the procedures to fly and travel in wheelchair, proper places where you won’t have issues in moving around and more. Write down a plan, contact tour operators and maybe find forums for people with the same issues, they usually are a great way to get the courage and take the leap.
I travel with extreme anxiety and panic attacks, which is also invalidating in its own way (I should actually write more about this) and I had to face difficult situations myself but seriously, anything is possible.
I’m sure that after some research you will be able to visit these beautiful countries! I send you a big hug, just the idea of acting on your dreams makes you a super strong person, trust me on that. But I’m sure you already know that 🙂
Hey Clelia,
i just read your article now, i know it’s time you wrote it but nevertheless it’s very inspiring.
I am also stuck in a not very happening kind of routine in life, i go to work come back home, exercise, relax, eat, sleep….. The kind of person i am this is totally a contrast situation i am in. I love meeting people, cooking for people, traveling, music, adventure sports, moreover exploring but as of now i am doing none. It hurts me deep within bcoz i have a constant realization of it that what am i doing but then what do i do, how are the question which pester me.
I need to earn for myself, secure my needs for future, what if i left and started traveling, for how long will i be able to support my expenses from my savings, how to answer these questions.
I feel trapped, i do want to break free and travel but don’t know how to go about it?
Can you help me out of it?
Thankyou for such an inspiring story.
Hey i stumble upon your blog when i was googling “hardwork always pay off” and here i am writing this comment..
I just want to say thank you for writing.. i’m currently 27 and is on a current pursuit chase with my dream.. and my game was to make a living playing video game.. a game that i had since my dad bought me my first console since i was maybe 6? it haunts me everyday this dream of mine.. i dream about it when i was in elementary school.. i thought about it more when i was in high school then i talk about it with my friends in college but I thought such “job” will never exist for me..
At age 25.. i found a way to make this dream of mine come true.. and someone else is already doing it and succeeding in it extensively.. i was jealous and within half an hour of discovering how to achieve this dream.. i went on full pursuit mode..
i started at January 2016 and have been doing this for 1 year now.. and i was at your phrase where you stated that “alot of hardwork, yet no result. zero” which really bumps me.. and make me worried whether or not i’m ever gonna make it.. but this post gave me hope and the fuel for my fire.. which is funny because a few days before i found you i applied the same attitude for myself too.. which is to focus on putting it the work and not let small letdown distract me or discourage me.. just keep applying pressure.over.and.over.again..
now all i can do is wait.. one day.. my dream will come true.. and i will be the happiest boy in the world.. my friends will be jealous and it will be the greatest achievement i have ever achieved.
Thanks you for this post.
I went to college and graduated during the recession. There were no jobs, so I got a job as a secretary. I eventually “moved up” to the point where I was “one step above” support staff (ah office hierarchy). I am almost able to afford rent by myself (thank God for roommates) and even eat out a week, while still putting some money away in savings. Living the dream! And my contemporaries and I are so bored and underemployed, we started 3 pm colorfest (before it was cool I might add).
Now I am facing the scariest step of my life. I want to work with animals. This will most likely mean getting paid near minimum wage or being self-employed until I can start a business. This will also mean dropping out of the hierarchy and losing those years of “paying my dues.” I am paralyzed with fear, especially of my parents. I dread hearing the “why did we bother sending you to college” lecture, which is what they said when I became a secretary. This time it will be even worse, I am sure. But when I picture my life around animals and/or making products for animals, I feel so happy that someone told me I was glowing. I don’t know if it is a dead-end track but I feel so excited looking at jobs.
Thank you for the inspiration. I feel the word inspiration is thrown around too easily, but inspiring someone to courage is one of the most difficult tasks there is. Keep your fingers crossed that I don’t mess it all up!
Oh Sarah! I loved your comment! Working with animals might not be as well paid as your current job but it certainly gives a real purpose to your life. Over time, I realized that what makes us really happy is not money or recognition but understand that we are actually fulfilling our “dreams”. I didn’t even complete my university studies (I’m missing only 4 exams out of the 36 to get my degree, but I couldn’t care less). And my parents disapproved of me for years because of this choice. Well, after a while, seeing how motivated I was and how much passion I was putting into what I was doing that guess what? they are now my greatest supporters and are so proud of me.
Your parents will be too I’m sure. They might be scared about your financial situation, for your own good, but knowing that you are much happier is a great thing for them too 🙂
Best of luck and remember, you won’t screw it up. You know why? because you tried at least, and in the process you will learn so much! there is no guarantee of success in life, but I know that trying and sometimes failing, helped me so much in finally find something that it was truly ME.
I wish you all the best, you seem to be very excited and that’s a great sing! Don’t give up!
Thanks so much for this article and God bless you.
Thank you! Same goes for you 🙂
Great Article…
Guess Fear and money were probably stopping me from chasing my dream.
I think it is time to think otherwise…
Thanks for the Inspiration !!!!
Yes! What are you waiting for? when you start making a plan you’ll see how many things change. It’s not all roses and flowers, of course, there will be obstacles and sacrifices but at least you are fighting for your dreams, not for someone else’s dream! Life is just one, we should really think about it. We don’t have second chances so let’s make the best out of it, best of luck to you!
Great article! This is a perfect motivation when things are not so good. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks April! 🙂
I didnt have the courage to make the change on my own.
I always worked hard and achieved great success. I thought I had everthing. But I was miserable.
Many nights I would sit alone and ask “When is my life going to be fun again”. After much in my world came tumbling down around me I found myself stripped of my posessions and all that was familiar to me. I realized immediately that this is what I was asking for. I’m starting all over and I’ve never been happier. I am thankful every day for my second chance in life.
Good for you. You have only just begun.
Thanks for sharing your story Arthur, I’m so glad to read about other people who decided to truly live, not just surviving! When I wrote this post I was just at the beginning and I certainly still have a lot ahead of me but this time I can’t wait to see what happens!
Great article. I’m inspired to dare myself to do what I want to do. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome Christian! 🙂
Pingback: South UK Holidays: Top 5 Must-See Places! - KEEP CALM AND TRAVEL
Pingback: South UK Holidays: Top 5 Places You Can't Miss! - KEEP CALM AND TRAVEL
Great post. I wish everyone of my friends who hates their lives and thinks what I am doing is crazy would listen to this! I am sharing it with them all 🙂
Awww thanks Sally!
Ciao, lo scrivo sulla pagina in inglese perchè ci sono capitata dal tuo blog, forse qui dovrei scrivere in inglese … 🙂
In ogni caso, complimenti davvero per come scrivi, per come lo scrivi, per il filmato che hai realizzato, e tutto in così poco tempo.
Brava, brava, brava davvero!!!
Grazie, che gentile! Mi fa piacere dare ispirazione ad altre persone come posso 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
I love how you pinpoint the common reasons why many people do not follow their dreams. When I quit my full time job to pursue the things I love (including travel), I was scared to death. I figured out later on that most of our fears are not real; oftentimes they are excuses to stay within our comfort zone.
Keep posting and traveling! 🙂
Hey Joann, thanks for your comment, spot on!
It’s true, we make so many excuses when it comes to follow our dreams as stayin within our comfort zone is much easier and less risky, but certainly a lot less stimulating!
Well done to you for your choices, I know how difficult it might be, so kudos to you!
Good luck with everything 🙂
Just stumbled onto your blog (my first blog ever visited/read!) and found it very inspiring….
We have it all, and yet no inspiration for our lives!!! 37 years old and starting to downsize to travel and your site has stoked the fire!!
Thank you…
Hey Jared
I’m so glad that you found some inspiration in my words. It’s really never too late, I wish you all the best for your future!
I think #4 is a big one for a lot of people, everyone always seems to be waiting for the “right time”. Honestly, it’s never the right time, you can always find reasons NOT to do things. My favorite saying about this is:
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
Inspiring post!
I totally agree with you last quote, love it! and of course is never the right time (or maybe people don’t want their dream bad enough…who knows?)
Excellent Quotes, just gave me new Hope, Thanks for sharing!
Thanks a lot Mian! keep on dreaming!
Hi Clelia
Very inspiring,I enjoyed reading every bit of it:)
This was my favorite quote:( He told me that I’M LUCKY. Excuse me? LUCKY? I’m not lucky. This life didn’t knock on my door, begging me to choose it)
I really like your comment system, could you please tell which one is it ?
Have a great week
Annie ox
Hey Annie,
Thanks for your comment! 🙂
The comment system is very easy, it is the one built in with WordPress. Still not sure I’m keeping it or adding something else…let’s see!
Cheers to following one’s dreams!
Cheers to us! :))
I agree some people think that they have all the time in the world but unfortunately, everything doesn’t go as planned. It is better to live life to the fullest every day!!! Time stands still for no one!!
Loved this post!!!
Thanks for the comment Constance, very true! Especially young people think that they have all the time in the world. I was a teenager just…yesterday! time flies indeed!
Gracias. Gracias. Gracias… I’m starting this path. Just quit my job. Leaving my apartment and I’ll go to Centroamerica by myself. Your words and experience are really helpful, emphatic and is a relief not to feel like a marcian… Jajaja…Thank you
Hey Francisca
So happy for your new adventure, well done and good luck with your new solo trip! Centro America must be awesome!!
Great post! So glad to have stumbled upon your site from Twitter. I can totally relate to so much of this, especially the fear and judgment by others stuff. I moved to Costa Rica from the US last year under similar sounding circumstances to you- had a great job, nothing was really wrong, but I just wanted more. I wanted to do what I wanted to do- and that was live in Costa Rica. It was so important for me to realize that a lot of my fears were mostly about the fear of failure and what other people would think. I was a lawyer so there can be a lot of judgment there… Anyway, my husband and I are doing pretty well in CR, trying to make a living off our website. Like you allude to, it’s so much work but it’s really what we want so we don’t mind working full-throttle. So many people are dying to take the plunge but are so scared- I find it really sad. Even if it doesn’t work out long term, I seriously doubt I’ll have any regrets about this amazing adventure. Cheers!
Jenny, you can’t imagine how glad I am to read comments like yours! You made the right choice, and I can feel how happy you are about your decision! The fear is indeed our enemy n.1 when trying to realize our dreams, but you conquered it and look at you now!
However your experience will be in Costa Rica, I’m 100% positive that you won’t regret it. Life is too short and you have to do what you really feel.
I also find sad that so many people are still trapped in a life that isn’t good for them, I wish they could finally do what they want and try. That’s why your comment made me feel good!
Kudos to you for being that brave, I wish you all the best! 🙂
Uncertainty is mine! Whether that be not knowing what to expect, or expecting something and then fearing it won’t be as good as I expected….if that makes sense!
Sara
Tell me about is Sara! It perfectly makes sense to me.. I guess it all falls under the “Fear” category!
I can relate and agree with everything. We gave up our corporate careers that we had worked hard at for 7-10 years, but I haven’t looked back yet. It’s hard to explain to others, but I am happy and that’s what matters. Thanks for sharing this article maybe others will understand…
You are right Hannah, for the other people, the ones still on the “rat race”, it’s very difficult to understand. Hell, when I was still working in London, I couldn’t understand! I think the fear is really the reason n. 1 why people don’t take action on their lives. I’ve been following your steps for a while now and you guys are definitely living on your own terms, a very good example to follow!
Hi Clelia, greetings from Italy! Really nice post, I liked it so much. My dream is writing stories people love to read, something seemingly easier than travelling the world, but quite a challenge all the same. You hit the mark when you said “They only see a long way up instead of realizing how far they’ve gone.” That’s what I often do! Since I know neither how far my target is, nor whether I’ll reach it, it’s easy for me to forget the distance I’ve already covered. Hearing experiences like yours is a great help!
Hey Grazia!
Another Italian dreamer..I’m glad that you enjoyed the posts and your own dream is actually great. It might look easier than traveling the world but in fact, every dream, if big enough is not easy to achieve. As I said, If it were that easy, why not everyone is doing what they really want?
So stick to it and keep going, when things are still not where you want them to be it’s easy to get discouraged, but you shouldn’t! You will see the results, trust me on that!
Thank you for sharing your dream with us Grazia! Good luck for everything 🙂
Wow, this is such a deep post! Story of my life really.
It has been only a year since I made the leap and to risk everything. I left a job that I hated with a passion to try a new career. I didn’t fear it because I knew if I didn’t take the risk and the longer I stayed at doing something that makes me unhappy, the crazier I’ll get and will become more lost. Plus I’m not getting any younger so it’s now or never! Now I have a permanent remote job doing what I really enjoy!! It was a long painful process to get to where I’m at today.
Thank you for the great reminder!
Danny, Thanks for you comment!
It is so good to read messages like yours, I love when people tell me that they finally were brave enough to change, and you just did it.
I know exactly what you mean when you say “long painful process”, but it’s worth it right?
Kudos to you!
Awesome article! I have had some of those thoughts myself but have not been able to express them nearly as well as you! Plus I needed a kick to hear it said again… Thanks
Thanks Johnny, always happy when I can help!
Dreams are your end goals in life. Without it, you have no destination. No wind is favorable to a ship that has no destination. Aim at nothing and you will hit every time.
Maybe you’re working at your dead end job now. Or maybe you’re looking for some work in these hard times.
But you still need to struggle, to fight and to stand up to live your dreams. All things that fly need to push against the wind. Go with the wind and you lose a lot of lift.
Achieving those dreams depend on you, what you do and a bit of luck on the side.
Great article!
Wow Mel,
Thanks for the deep comment, I really appreciated your analysis.I love when you say “All things that fly need to push against the wind” it’s a great metaphor.Love it.