Choose Your Own Adventure!

ADVENTURE defined as:

An unusual, exciting (and possibly dangerous) activity, such as a trip or experience, or the excitement produced by such an activity.

Life is one big adventure! I often hear people say this phrase. But I wonder how many people truly enjoy the adventure they are on!

When I was in primary school, I used to love the 'Choose Your Adventure' books! The challenge was always to see how far I could get through! If I didn't get very far on one adventure, I would go back to the beginning of the book and make different choices until I ended up in a different part of the book. It was always fun and exciting to see where my choices were going to lead me!

Imagine, if we actually applied this strategy to our life?!

Imagine if we really did look at life as an adventure?

Imagine if we made our choices, we followed the adventure that life took us on and then reflected on where we could have made different choices?

We can't go back and change the adventure in life, but we could certainly learn that the next time we are on a similar adventure, we would have different options or could make different choices, knowing they would change the outcome of the adventure (ie life direction!)

 People will define themselves.

They will say they are either - 'adventurous' or 'not every adventurous'. But there is more! They will say this in regards to either life in general or a specific area of their life. 

What would you say about yourself?

 Adventure is about attitude

Adventure isn’t hanging off a rope on the side of a mountain. (Although some might define it like that!)  Adventure is an attitude.  If we are defining adventure as excitement produced by an activity then first, it must begin somewhere prior to the activity. It begins with our attitude towards the activity. Two people can be doing the same activity. One thinks it is exciting (and therefore will feel. perhaps, they are on an adventure) while the other person does not find the activity exciting resulting in a different outcome.

If this is to be true then, perhaps adventure is something we need to apply to the day to day obstacles of life? When we face new challenges, or when new opportunities arise, we embrace them with an attitude of adventure and perhaps...just perhaps, in the process, we will discover our own unique potential and what we are truly capable of doing!

 We can choose our own adventure! 

Just like the choose your own adventure books, we can do the same in our own life because guess what?! I am going to let you in on a not so little secret! :D

We are total control of our lives and our choices!! We can choose how we face our challenges. We can choose how we are going to embrace new opportunities. We can choose how we are going to deal with our fears.

The only factor that makes the difference in whether we enjoy and embrace our adventures in life is our attitude. Our attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure

 Adventure doesn't always have a plan

Because life is...well....life :D - we can make all the plans we want but sometimes, as you know, making plans is a waste of time because the unexpected occurs. Life does not always go according to how we plan it. So, we can either choose to be stressed, overwhelmed and frustrated or we can look at it as an opportunity to have an adventure!

Imagine, that moment, when life around you is every which way but straight and instead of being overwhelmed, you said to yourself - 'Ok life. Let's see what adventures we can have while we get through this!' Or, 'How can I turn this into something fun and adventurous?' It's not always easy but it's a simple statement or question that completely shifts your focus from a negative state to a positive one. How would you look at life differently then? 

You only have one life. You get to choose your own adventure.

So here are things I try to remember to help me make better choices on my adventure that may help you too!

 One way to make the most out of life is to look up it as if it were an adventure. It is all about perspective. What you focus on is what you get. If you focus on the drama and pain, you will get drama and pain. If you focus on adventure and opportunities for learning and growth, that's what you will get.

 If happiness is a goal then choosing your own adventure should be a priority. The bottom line is, without a shadow of a doubt, that you are in total control of your happiness. No-one else can make you happy. So if you want to be happy, then you must choose the adventure!

  You must go on adventures to find out where you truly belong and what you truly want out of life. How will you know what fills your soul or what you should avoid if you are constantly choosing the pain, fear and doubt? You need to choose the attitude of adventure to find what sets your soul on fire!

 Plan but be flexible. There are many adventures that you will miss if you're waiting to think of a plan. To find adventures, it is important to look for tiny interesting choices and remember that you are always making up the future as you go. The future is where the adventure is lying in waiting! Sometimes spontaneity is the best kind of adventure!

  Adventure is doing and being. Yes, adventures include things such as travel and experiences. However, it is important to remember that the most beautiful things in the world can not be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Whatever choices you are making, whatever adventure you are choosing on this path in life, ensure they fill your soul. Take the risks that will take you where your heart desires to go in life. 

  Adventure begins at the end of the road you know. We are creatures of habit. We like to stick to what we know. It helps us to feel safe. However, the biggest thing I have learned is that in order to embrace an attitude of adventure, I had to let go of some of the thoughts, patterns and choices that I spent my whole life doing or making. Sometimes you have to lt go fo everything you thought you knew and try something completely different - just like in the choose your own adventure books! You have to do something different, make choices you may never have made in the past. That, my friends, is where the adventure of life will begin!

Until next week....live your life with adventure and joy!

Clarissa xo