The Great Wanderlust Core Values: Adventure

Words for the Wanderer
Written By Candice McCoy

With social media, the media, and our fast-paced society, there is a lot of noise around every corner.  Everywhere we turn, there is someone or something shouting a message about what we should be doing, thinking, buying, choosing or believing.  While a lot of these messages are well-intentioned and may be promoting good things, that doesn’t mean they are all meant for us, specifically.  It’s easy to internalize and take on everything as our own, which leaves us frantically trying to place value + importance on all the things. While we may technically know that’s not actually possible, we still subconsciously take it all on, and over time it wears us down, dampens our spirit and burns us out.

Taking the time to dig deep and uncover what our highest values are, not only frees us up to hone in on those and really drive them home, but it also (and maybe most importantly!) relieves us from all the rest.  That may mean that we let go of some things that feel really important. But at the end of the day, when we try to do it all, we end up accomplishing nothing.  The best thing we can do for ourselves is to narrow it down, get laser-sharp focused on what’s most important, and let those values be our guide.

When we started The Great Wanderlust, we knew we needed to do exactly what we’ve done with our family life and narrow down these values. What are the highest values we want to focus on and build this movement around?  Since our beginning, those values have guided us in all our decisions - from who to feature in our She, Who Wanders series to which brands to work with to what links make it into our weekly newsletter to what kind of content we’re putting out into the world. Everything we do orbits around these central values: adventure, wonder, authenticity, kinship and contribution.

Today we’re starting at the beginning with adventure - sharing what it means to us and why it is one of the top values that guides everything we do.

Adventure literally means - an exciting and remarkable experience.  That’s the dictionary definition (yawn) of course, but I’m way more ignited by Matt Walker’s definition, “adventure is the willingness to commit to an uncertain outcome with an open heart and a willingness to learn and engage. It is the ability to take a leap into the unknown with mindfulness and grace. Framed this way, the opportunity for adventure presents itself to us everyday.”

We often think of adventure as what we do with our physical body, but it’s just as pertinent to what we practice in our mind + spirit.  I love a good adventure outing - a hike to a waterfall, surfing when the waves are just a little too big, cliff jumping - I love (and am terrified by!) it all.  While those things are great, adventure of the mind is something we can pursue and experience every single day.  But I think sometimes it can be harder to wrap our heads around this side of adventure, so let’s break it down.

  • Adventure starts with being in tune with our own spirit and the deepest part of our being so that we know what we are called to - journaling, meditating, praying, quiet time with ourselves as a non-negotiable part of every day.  Being open-minded to not just what we want in life, but what’s possible for our lives! 

  • Recognizing + accepting that doubt and fear are 100% going to be riding shotgun on this drive with adventure.  Even the most confident-seeming people out there still have fear and doubt on a daily basis. There’s a reason it’s the number one killer of big dreams! It’s human nature to second-guess or want to protect ourselves from risk, pain or failure anytime we’re seeking out or taking on a new adventure. So expect to face these things and know that anyone who has ever accomplished something big got really comfortable dancing with doubt and fear.

  • Connecting with like-minded people or a community who are passionately pursuing their own adventures for support + camaraderie.  This doesn’t have to be in person!  I have found this through connecting with like-minded women on instagram and even through the She, Who Wanders series, and then taking it a step further to marco polo, face-timing and even in-person meetups over time.  Or maybe you’ll find your person/people in your local area!  Connecting with other adventurers is crucial to living a life of adventure because we need that encouragement, accountability, and understanding.

  • Finding a mentor to help encourage and support you daily on the journey. This may not be in person or in the traditional sense you think of. Podcasts, blogs, books, courses etc. are great ways to find mentors!  Some of my greatest mentors have no idea I even exist haha.  And that’s okay. 

  • Staying grateful, yet committed  - Keeping one foot planted in gratitude for where we currently are + the privilege of being able to pursue the incredible adventures God gives us.  And the other foot turned forward in commitment to the adventure/vision.

  • Being in alignment with our highest self by taking care of ourselves in mind, body and spirit.  Eating healthy foods, moving our bodies + getting out in nature every single day, so we have the energy, stamina and mental clarity necessary for the adventure.

There was a time where I was feeling dull in my day-to-day. I was passionate about homeschooling the kids and loved many parts of my life…from the outside everything looked great. But on the inside I knew something was still missing, and I didn’t feel completely alive and inspired. I needed something more.

So I started asking for it. I began with step one - getting in tune with my own soul, clearing out the noise and listening for guidance with an open mind and heart. Adventure made itself known, but it took me several months of working through the hesitations, fears and doubts before I jumped in with both feet. And I have been jumping in with both feet every day since. I traded the uneasy feeling that I wasn’t living my most vibrant life or pursuing my passions for the tension that comes with more responsibility, commitments and showing up everyday to build a vision.  It’s been worth it 1000x over.

As Helen Keller once said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.”

So, what do you think? Do you have enough adventure in your life? Which of these steps are you currently working from on your journey to a life of adventure?

 

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Candice McCoy

Candice McCoy is the founder + editor of The Great Wanderlust.
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