A friend invited me to join her for a weekend retreat. It included yoga, meditation, nature walks, organic vegan meals – she had me at retreat. But when we arrived, the lodging looked like something out of a “Friday the 13th.” Far from the trendy, modern, glamping scenario I had conjured in my imagination, it looked like nothing had been updated since the 1960s! I felt a familiar tinge in my belly, accompanied by a nagging voice in my head setting me up for disappointment.
Meditation practice has taught me to notice such things, but not get attached to them. So I felt it, let it pass, and began to reflect. I replaced words like “old” with “rustic,” and appreciated the giant, aged oak trees providing so much shade on a sweltering August day. It turned out to be one of the best yoga retreats I’ve ever attended.
And it got me thinking…. We often let fear of the unknown hold us back, especially when something or someone seems “different” from what we’re used to. It’s natural to stick to what we know, because it feels safe, but this mindset stops us from really living life to the fullest.
When we come across situations we’re not familiar with, or people who don’t fit our expectations, our first instinct is often to pull back. We might worry that stepping into something unfamiliar will be uncomfortable, or force us to question what we believe. But if we let that fear control us, we end up closing ourselves off to so many experiences that could actually help us grow.
Living life to the fullest is about being curious instead of cautious, willing to explore what’s different, instead of shying away from it. When we do this, we open ourselves up to new passions, stronger relationships, and a broader view of the world. Plus, it helps us build empathy and connect more deeply with others.
So while it’s totally normal to feel a little uneasy about things that are different – like chanting in a group! That was a new thing for me. I felt self-conscious and awkward, but when in the woods with a bunch of crunchy yogis, that’s what you do – so I pushed through the discomfort, and unlocked a deeper, more fulfilling experience than I had imagined. The benefits of embracing the unfamiliar far outweigh sticking to the status quo.
Nature and meditation are powerful tools in helping us overcome the fear of the unfamiliar. Spending time in nature grounds us, reminding us of the bigger picture, and meditation allows us to quiet our minds, and confront our fears from a place of calm rather than anxiety, or just plain negative thinking. Skepticism is helpful as a survival instinct, but it limits our experiences. Replacing skepticism with curiosity – whenever we can – leads to a much richer experience, no matter the circumstance.