“There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
Becoming a ‘Yes Man” (But in a good way)
The “old buffalo”…
Starting a post with the words “as a younger man” is always going to hurt…but here I am…older, ageing, wiser, discussing part of my youth. As a younger man, I was the guy who never said “no”. I went with the flow, followed my heart, ran head first into the storm…and I loved that side of me. Every decision was both calculated and daring. Over the last decade I’ve certainly lost some of that youthful lust for life, I decided this year that I was going to start saying YES to things, face head on into the storm, dare to live, “Once more into the fray, into the last good fight I'll ever know. Live and die on this day, live and die on this day” (if you don’t know the movie…well…shame on you). Not only that, I was going over my “things to do before I die / get too old” list and I realised…I need to start DOING things rather than writing lists about them, and I need to start listening to my heart and going with the flow…
You don’t have to go through all 100 of the above, but here are some of my favourite ways from the list:
1. Yep - it’s fun to say and direct.
6. Naturally - without question, as true as the sky is blue. Let’s do it.
30. For Sure - this reminds me of travelling with my best mates. FOR SURE!
59. A thousand times, yes! - probably my most used when something new is proposed. All the excitiement.
Recently, we were challenged to find an “uncomfortable learning experience” at work, something out of our comfort zone that would help us learn & develop both in and out of work. I’ve always had issues with my body image, in fact I’ve only ever felt truly comfortable about my body around one person, so I wanted to do something that would challenge my inner demons as well as my mind. So the first of my new adventures to announce is the Wim Hof Retreat I’ve signed up to in October; I’ve always been interested in the W.H. method and how it can influence people; mentally it should help develop my sense of self-reflection and my reaction to adversity. Physically I will have to overcome my fear of undressing around others…a weekend of ice baths and saunas with a group of strangers is, quite frankly, terrifying for me but I’m working really hard both at the gym (to feel physically better) and with my therapist (to work on the mental side of things). Oh, did I also mention it’s a vegan retreat…? I’m planning on sneaking some home-cured / dried meats along with me and eating a lot of fruit…
So what else have I said “A thousand times, yes!” to….? Well I signed up to a degree in photography which I am absoluely loving. It’s been a passion of mine for a long time and it’s great to be able to learn more and progress. I’m doing an open uni degree to be able to study around work, the degree itself is one of the things on my “bucket list”. I’ve also changed careers and stepped out of a comfort zone and into something I really find meaningful and purposeful.
And finally, I went and booked a solo-holiday for my birthday in November. I bought concert tickets last year and decided that it would be a nice challenge to go alone instead of cancelling the trip after a change in circumstances. I’m going to pack my cameras and treat myself to a week away, take photos, meet new people, eat new food and explore the markets & streets of a city / country I’ve never been to before. I sometimes struggle with confidence when I’m on my own in unusual places, this is something I’m working on and I’m actually looking forward to exploring a new place on my own. I’ll be sure to update the portfolio when the scans come back.
“I’m a great believer that saying yes is a lot more fun than saying no.”
I also really wanted to be able to give more of my time to good causes moving forward so I applied to be a leader with the British Exploring Society (I spoke about the applicaton last week), well, I’m super excited to say that I was accepted and I can start applying for expeditons from October! Next year I am hoping to travel a lot more than I have in the past and I’m really excited about the prospect of this. With this said there are a couple of other project in the pipeline that I can’t convey just yet…a little teaser for you though…we (at E.W.M.) are really concerned with our impact on the world and with this in mind we try to be as ethical and carbon neutral / negative as possible. We are supporting the re-wilding of a large area of woodland, looking to setup our own ocean-cleanup programme and try to travel only when necessary.
Why a Buffalo?
Well, besides the fact that in my ageing years I’m starting to look like one…I was doing some research for my B.E.S. application on leadership and approaches to difficult situations. I found this article on LinkedIn about how different leaders approach “storms” in the workplace, and it really resonated with me, as the son of a dairy farmer, I have seen many cows lollop about in a storm, confused and lost and I think it’s a great way to describe leadership practices and I’ll be certain to keeop it for use on expeditions should any storms arise. I have heard the role of Basecamp Manager described as an “agony aunt” for expeditions and I’m really looking forward to some deep, meaningful, resonating conversations with both participants and leaders alike!
“When cattle sense or see a storm coming over the Rockies to the West, they will turn to the East and try to outrun the storm…The buffalo, on the other hand, sense the same storm and they charge West, directly into the path of the approaching storm. By running head-first into the storm, they run straight through it, minimizing the amount of pain, time, and frustration they experience from that storm. Both animals have similar time periods to evaluate the storm, both come up against the same storm, but their responses and experiences are dramatically different. “
12 Steps to Purpose
During my research I also read this blog post by Maggie Wooll talking about ways to find purpose in life, I find that I can now relate to a lot more of these than I could 12 months ago, and all of these can be attributed to brave and daring decisions / actons I have taken. If you’re struggling to find purpose or just looking to further your personal development I’d highly recommend the read, and look over the 12 steps recommended.
”Identifying, acknowledging, and honoring your purpose is the foundation of a well-rounded life. It requires some courage because it opens up questions and ideas that might not be comfortable. Yet it's worth it. Purpose provides you with an inner compass that guides every decision and leads you to the experiences that will light up your soul.“
I’ll finish with my “Quote of the Week” which I write on the gigantic mirror in my bedroom every Sunday evening. It’s a great way to setup the week, inspire and think good thoughts. Through a year of deep, structured, personal development I am learning to once more, be brave, and with it, I hope to be fortuitous in my persuit of purpose and self-development. I’d love to hear your thoughts & comments on my blogs and the contents, and don’t forget to sign-up below to enter my framed print competition!
Please feel free to share and comment…and BE A BUFFALO!
‘till next time. Buffalo