Take the Jump - Again
Sometimes doing things on your own is scary. When you have to go outside your comfort zone and step into the unknown - it’s frightening, but only for a little while. Once you take the initial ‘jump’, the feelings that will soon follow will be worth it.
Growing up and becoming independent means taking jumps, small and large, some scarier than others. Whether it’s traveling alone, making decisions on your own, moving to a new city and meeting new people by yourself or starting a new job. All of these can be intimidating but it’s that beautiful feeling of self accomplishment that makes doing it on your own, so rewarding.
It’s natural for us to feel nervous when doing something for the first time. Even the first few times, until the situation becomes familiar and you get comfortable. Some people avoid this feeling. They don’t want to step into the unknown, out of fear. Fear of failure, embarrassment, disappointment or probably because the world is such a damn scary place these days. And to step out into the unknown, ALONE! Whoa!
Many use company as a safety barrier. Going to a new country or even trying a new gym class with a friend definitely absorbs a lot of the fear. I’m not saying stop doing that, of course experiencing new things with someone else is special, but doing some things on your own can be so much more fulfilling.
Embrace the fear, rather than run from it.
My advice is to embrace the fear, rather than run from it. Be curious about the unknown and excited about the experience. The people you might meet, what you might learn and the places you might see. It’s exciting stuff, and you’ll have to take that jump to see where you land.
Over thinking – don’t do it. You’ll try and prepare yourself for every possible outcome. Just jump, have an open mind and be willing to learn. If it doesn’t work out for what ever reason, at least you can say you gave it a go, you learnt from the experience and you’ll take that knowledge with you for the rest of your life.
Travelling solo taught me to appreciate myself - appreciate my own company. It also improved my confidence, forced me out of my comfort zone. I met so many new, exciting and interesting people, because I had to. I didn’t have the security of friends from home who knew me. I was forced to talk to strangers, attempt to speak other languages and understand different cultures. And I’m so thankful for that. They say ‘Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer’ and boy is that true.
One week after posting this blog post the first time on my old website, I left for the Maldives to volunteer at a turtle and marine conservation project. I went solo again and I was so excited. I knew as I boarded the airplane by myself, I’d have butterflies fill my stomach, but it’s the feelings that followed I was (and still am) chasing.
No matter how small or large the jump is, take it. You’ve got this.
Love Han, x