In our recent LinkedIn Live conversation, Reverb coach Anu Arora shared her awe-inspiring experience of conquering Everest Base Camp, highlighting the transformative power of adventure and exploration.
I’m currently in Costa Rica for a three-month work-from-anywhere experiment, so I chimed in with my own insights about how travel and an adventure mindset can reenergize us and help break up the monotony of daily life. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the Everest Base Camp challenge, remote work in Costa Rica, the art of adaptation, daily renewal, and letting go. My goal is to help others cultivate an adventure mindset, even if you don’t have the luxury of traveling right this moment.
1. The Everest Base Camp Challenge
Anu’s journey from casual hiker to deciding to climb Everest in less than twelve months demonstrates the profound impact of a spontaneous decision. Her courage to embark on such an audacious adventure led to self-discovery, pushing beyond self-imposed limits, and the revelation of her two guiding words for the new year.
After returning home from her travels, Anu found herself in a slump. The adventure was over, and she was back in the dark, damp Seattle winter. She asked herself “How can I bring the mountain with me? How can I bring that traveler’s mindset with me? How can I bring the curiosity and exploration of what I had experienced with me?” That reflection led to two words that showed up for the new year. One is expansion and the other one is excellence. These ideas allowed her to go beyond feeling small or shrunk, as she fell back into her daily routine.
2. #workfromanywhere Costa Rica
My decision to work remotely from Costa Rica for three months stemmed from my daughter’s initial idea of taking a gap year. While my daughter’s plans changed, I seized the opportunity to create my own remote work adventure. The tropical environment brought me a significant energy boost, prompting me to reevaluate my relationship with place and productivity.
When colleagues see my background on Zoom (basically the jungle) I think they’re wondering, are you really working? And yes, I’m really working – full time. But it doesn’t feel like work in the tropics, not to me. I walk to the beach every morning, I’m learning Spanish, and I started writing a new book. The chance to be in a warm climate for part of the winter has truly been life changing and is now going to be part of my annual plan.
3. The Art of Adaptation: The Mountain Chooses
Anu’s journey included a setback – an injury diagnosed as piriformis syndrome. She had to adapt her plans, seeking alternative routes to Everest Base Camp. Deepak, the planning company owner, imparted a valuable lesson: the mountain chooses, not the individual. He told her “So your job is to come here and just give your best.” This mindset shift encouraged Anu to focus on the journey, let go of her attachment to the outcome, and renew her commitment daily as she made the trek.
As she describes it “I think that was a mind shift change for me. Because until then, I was so attached to the outcome, right? I must reach or, oh, the fear of if I can’t reach or, oh, I am injured. So I had to drop all that and just work on my pursuit of doing this, healing myself, and then just doing one step at a time. And I reached the top.”
4. Cultivating an Adventure Mindset: Inviting Newness
An adventurous mindset isn’t confined to physical journeys; it’s a daily choice. Anu encourages intentionally “bringing the mountain with you” in your everyday surroundings. We can do this by looking for new in the old, for instance when taking a walk in your own neighborhood. “It’s hard because I go on this trail right next to my house and I don’t look anymore. But the other day I was looking at the river and I hadn’t noticed that the river changes every time there is rain. I just started seeing people with dogs. And I’m like, oh, my goodness, how many different breeds of dogs are there in just this one walk alone that I can notice?” So I think just inviting some newness it’s not easy, and that’s why it’s called a mindset shift.”
I suggest creating wonder in everyday experiences by adopting a traveler’s curiosity and openness. When we travel or go on vacation we have high expectations. We want it to be amazing, so we turn small inconveniences into adventure. We’re more tolerant when things go wrong, and more aware of what’s around us. I welcome you to try that at home – notice how beautiful your surroundings are and appreciate it like you would if you were seeing it for the first time. Just taking a different perspective can help us experience things differently.
5. Expansiveness Anywhere
The key takeaway from both our experiences is that expansiveness is achievable wherever you are. By adapting to challenges and cultivating a mindset of wonder, we can all bring the essence of adventure into our daily lives. Whether on a Zoom call in your basement, a tropical paradise, or amidst mountainous terrain, expansiveness is a state of mind waiting to be embraced.
Both Anu and I want to emphasize the importance of daily renewal in maintaining an adventurous mindset. Anu’s guide, Avi, advised her to “approach each day as a new beginning, shedding the burdens of the past and concerns about the future.” This perspective allowed Anu to embrace each day with freshness and enthusiasm. Similarly, my experience in Costa Rica prompted me to see what’s possible in terms of virtual work and not spending the year in just one place.
