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People say a lot of things about me, but Iโm glad to say that boring isnโt one of them. I donโt make a lot of money, I donโt have some bigshot career or fancy house. But I have crafted a life for myself that is abundant in adventure because thatโs what I value in life.
Iโm not the man you would come to if youโre seeking advice to climb the corporate ladder. But if youโre after a life as an adventurer, an explorer, or a nomad, maybe Iโm worth hearing out. Itโs easy to tell you to try new things, but youโre not here for generic pointers. If it were that straightforward, you would be doing it already.
Here, weโre going to get to the roots of the matter, and you be the judge. Iโm going to tell you everything I know about living an adventurous life based on my own experiences. Iโm not necessarily going to tell you what to do because weโre all different.
What Iโm going to do is help youย perceive lifeย in a better way that facilitates adventure, spontaneity, and exciting new experiences. So let me tell you a little about how I crafted a life full of adventure for myself, and how you can do the same for yourself.
My Values Led Me Into a Life of Adventure
When I was in my early twenties, I was on track to live a cozy life.
Go to university, get a degree, then a job, and build from there. I had a path to follow, and it was simple. But the trajectory of my life was abruptly shattered after I went through aย spiritual awakening. For the first time, my consciousness was opened to new dimensions of my life experience.
The idea of working 9-5 became depressing as I developed a thirst for something more from life. Surely thereโs more to this, I thought. I just couldnโt see the joy in living a life that may be comfortable but hollow.ย
That idea set me off on a very different life journey.ย So, with the scaffolding of a plan, I set off to travel the world indefinitely.
Jump forward many years, I have now lived in eight countries, boasting a treasure chest of incredible memories. Amongst many odd jobs, I have worked alongside shamans, as a teacher, a coach, a tour guide, a bartender, and a writer. I have met so many amazing people, have had lives with others.
If thereโs one thing Iโve done well in life, it is to live life to its fullest, and thatโs something Iโm very proud of. Not just because it has been an incredible experience, but because Iโve learned so much throughout this adventure in consciousness.
What Makes Life Adventurous?
Everyone has a different idea of what having an adventurous life means, but I see it as the quality and quantity of diverse experiences that you have.
I say this because some people might occasionally have incredible experiences, but they donโt happen often. For the most part, life is pretty much the same thing, and thereโs not a whole lot of spice to it.
Other people might have lots of smaller experiences such as going out, meeting new people, and doing different activities. But none of these experiences are necessarilyย life-changing. So, even though they may have busy, eventful lives, nothing stands out.
To have the adventurous life you want, you need to be having different experiences regularly, and memorable experiences as much as you can. To live an adventurous life, you should always be on the lookout for exciting new experiences to mix things up so that your life never feels stagnant.
Before we move on, I need to address something important. People tend to think that an adventurous life just means getting out and doing lots of interesting things. But youโre missing a whole dimension of adventure if you approach it from this angle.
Living an adventurous life is as much of an internal process as it is an external process. Iโve experienced more of a thrill in deep states of meditation than climbing active volcanos. My search to understand whatโs underneath these layers of flesh and bone has been as much of an adventure as traveling the world.
Start by Reevaluating Whatโs Important to You
I wasnโt always an adventurous person. Throughout my journey of self-realization, I had to critically look at my life, and reevaluate whatโs important to me.
I concluded that having a life rich in experience is more important than having a life rich in possessions. I would rather live a life that Iโm proud of, rather than one that other people are proud of. And because of these decisions, I certainly had to make some sacrifices.
With that said, it all starts with your values.
This is the main barrier people have because if you want an adventurous life, you need to understand that there is a sacrifice. Let me explain.
- Prioritizing security comes at the cost of taking chances
- Prioritizing comfort will muscle out new uncomfortable experiences
- Valuing wealth will lock you into a career, while valuing life experience will help you chase new adventures
Therefore, you need to think about your values, and if they’re serving you. Do your values facilitate an adventurous life, and are you willing to make some sacrifices if they’re not? Putting your priorities straight is probably the most important step to live a more adventurous life, because if you don’t value adventure, then you’re not going to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve it.
Itโs important to acknowledge that your values set the coursework for your life. If you value things like wealth and stability, youโre going to sacrifice things like adventure and spontaneity.
Imagine youโre a character in a game, and you have a certain amount of points to allot to certain areas of your life. If you use up all your energy points on wealth generation, it comes at the sacrifice of exploration, adventure, and diverse experiences.
In a perfect world, we would have it all. But we only have so much time and energy to give, so you need to be a little selective about what you spend it on. Iโve spent many years traveling the world and indulging in life, but it has come at the sacrifice of having a stable, comfortable life. If I decided to pursue a career in Landscape Architecture (what I studied at University), I could have a cushy life by now. But I decided to travel instead.
So hereโs a perspective I want you to look at.
Life experience is more valuable than book smarts. You can theoretically learn about everything, but unless you experience those concepts in real life, it doesnโt mean a whole lot.
With that said, I see an adventurous life as study. By having this lifestyle, Iโm gaining so much more knowledge and wisdom about life, than if I were to spend my life experience on a single career.
Now, I consider myself fairly weathered. Iโve had a few experiences in this world, and my perception of life has changed dramatically, resulting in new beliefs, mindsets, attitudes, and life in general.
Especially if youโre on a personal growth journey, living an adventurous life is synonymous with it. So do it for your growth, not just to make your life fun, but as an investment for self-betterment.
Stop Conforming to the Majority
Letโs face it. The majority is boring. Thatโs because most people value stability, comfort, andย social status over rich experiences.
Therefore, the baseline is to shoot for a life thatโs rooted in these particular values. Thatโs society for you. If youโre trying to fit in, aiming for a respectable career, buying a nice house, and setting up your future is the way to go. Youโre not going to be an outlier in this sense.
But if you donโt fit into this large box, you need to resist the urge to follow whatโs consideredย normal. This means you will need to reject what society tells you is a good life. You may need to reject your parentโs desires for you. Youโre probably going to feel like aย black sheep, and thatโs okay.
What matters is that you stick to your values and donโt be swayed by what other people expect of you.
What Makes Someone Adventurous?
Now, how can you tell if you’re an adventurous person? Many people who are adventurous share some common characteristics. You don’t necessarily need these characteristics to live an adventurous life, but they help!
Some signs that you’re an adventurous person include:
- You value life experience very highly
- You’re a YES person and enjoy doing new things
- You seek out new opportunities and pursue them
- You tend to do things even if they’re a little scary
- You tend to get bored of the routine and like to change things up
- You enjoy getting out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself
- You recognize when you’re making excuses and act
- You tend to enjoy a bit of thrill, whether it’s traveling, extreme sports, or meeting new people
How to Live a More Adventurous Life
Your ability toย see new opportunitiesย in whatever form theyโre presented is a game-changer when it comes to living an adventurous life. After all, opportunities are gateways to new experiences. When you pay attention to all of these windows that appear in your life, then youโll always have a path to take.
If you shut down every opportunity that shows up in your life, youโre life is probably not going to change a great deal. This is why itโs important to develop a mindset where you perceive all the myriad opportunities in your life, at every moment. Therefore, there will always be an abundance of potential adventures to embark on.
Be Curious to Know More
Curiosity is the root of an adventurous spirit. If youโre not curious to explore your reality, itโs very easy to be complacent with the life you have.
To develop curiosity, you need to constantly question your life and seek answers to those questions. Look at it in a way where the more answers you discover, the happier you can potentially become. Each piece of knowledge is like adding another piece to the puzzle of life.
Ask yourself if you could be happier. What are some things you could try to become happier? Could you have more fun in life? Do you think thereโs anything out there that youโre missing out on? What is it, and how can you experience it?
By constantly asking questions, youโre going to create more clarity on what you need to do moving forward. By cultivating curiosity, you begin seeking out new experiences because youโre eager to know whatโs waiting out there for you.
Keep an Open Mind
Any adventurous soul needs anย open mind. Itโs a prerequisite. If you donโt have an open mind, youโre going to bar out different experiences and opportunities because youโre not willing to try them.
You donโt know whatโs outside the box if youโve lived your life in it. This is a problem, and if you want to have an adventurous life, you need to start trying things before forming an opinion about them. You need to hear all perspectives and opinions before jumping to conclusions.
Some things might not initially appeal to you, but when you consider all the possibilities, it makes the world a much more exciting place to live in.
Donโt Be Afraid of Things Going Wrong
Let me tell you, the best experiences happen when things go wrong. I have had many situations where things went wrong, including:
- Being robbed three times, once was violent
- Being thrown in jail in Mexico
- Being attacked by a pack of stray dogs
- Motorbike breaking down in the middle of nowhere (many times) when riding through Vietnam
- Being swept out to sea
- Being homeless in the US
Okay, so maybe some of these things could potentially be a little dangerous. Donโt put yourself in danger, but acknowledge that sometimes you canโt avoid it. Sometimes, danger will find you, and thatโs often when youโll have the most exhilarating experiences, no matter how terrifying they were at the time.
But donโt be avoidant because there is always potential for something to go wrong. As long as you see things going wrong as a deterrent, youโre going to avoid a lot of great experiences in life.
Part of having an adventure is to acknowledge it, take precautions, and do it anyway. After all, itโs usually the experiences that went wrong that are the most memorable.
Be Spontaneous and Say Yes!
Spontaneity is a key for anyone whoโs seeking a more adventurous life. In other words, go with the flow, because good adventures canโt be predicted, they just happen.
Thereโs a saying that the best adventures in life are the ones that werenโt expected. I believe this is very true because the experiences that I remember the most are not when everything went to plan. Theyโre when things didnโt go to plan at all, and I had to improvise.
Sometimes, opportunities will come into your life on a whim, and if you donโt jump on it, itโs going to be gone forever. You wonโt always be prepared or expect situations to unfold as they do. But you need to always be ready to embrace the unexpected, knowing that life runs on its own timeline, not yours.
Iโm not saying itโs bad to plan, but overplanning can take the adventure away. So prepare, but accept that things might not turn out as you planned. Learn to welcome the unexpected, knowing that itโs usually unexpected situations that lead to the best adventures in life.
Expose Yourself to New Things
Donโt welcome painful experiences, but recognize that theyโre experiences nonetheless. I see an adventurous life as constantly having new experiences, of course, the more you expose yourself to new things, the more adventurous your life becomes.
With that said, donโt be afraid to try new things. Even if you feel like you might not like those things, itโs good to make a habit of giving them a go, even if itโs just once. In the worst-case scenario, it was a waste of time. In the best-case scenario, youโve added another exciting experience to your belt.
Live for the experience. As long as you want to have more experiences, naturally, youโre going to expose yourself to more people, places, and situations and have a more lively life.
Take Calculated Risks
One thing you need to acknowledge is that fear is always going to be there when youโre doing something new. Itโs natural to have some fear. But when you decide not to give something a try due to that fear, youโre the ultimate loser.
Living an adventurous life becomes an act ofย managing your fearย and knowing when itโs serving you and when itโs deceiving you. Of course, donโt be stupid, but donโt be avoidant of difficult situations either, because theyโre what make the entire adventure.
With that said, you need to challenge yourself. The best adventures usually involve some sort of risk, and unless youโre willing to put something on the line, itโs all too easy to back out.
Seek Change in Your Life
Change is a constant in life. You might be comfortable in your life situation and be a little hesitant to change it out of fear ofย sabotaging what you have. But this pursuit will only lead to a dead end because change is inevitable.
By acknowledging that life change is inevitable, you might change your perspective a little. Therefore, allow yourself toย change things up. Whether it comes to your line of work, the people you associate with, or the things you do, life will change sooner or later anyway, so get it before it gets you.
Start Learning a New Hobby
What is your typical daily routine? I bet you work, relax, spend time with family, maybe work on an avocation, or partake in a hobby a little, then go to bed. But what if there were things you could do daily that would make you feel much better than you do right now?
Thereโs a whole goldmine out there of things that you might enjoy but simply donโt know because you havenโt tried them. Have you tried giving music a go? Writing? Making videos? Taking courses? Building something? Gardening? Reading? Walking in a park? Exercising? I bet there are many things you could do right this moment, but youโre just going to mindlessly scroll on Instagram instead.
Think about different hobbies that you want to give a shot and commit to them. Look for new ways to change up your daily routine that ignites a spark, and just put in the effort.
Explore Your Surroundings
In most cases, you donโt need to travel far to find some hidden gems. There are amazing spots in every city Iโve lived in, and the best ones arenโt on a map.
So you need to go out and explore a little. Explore different spots in nature and just see whatโs around. Check out different neighborhoods, stores, plazas, parks, or whatever appeals to you. I can guarantee you that there are plenty of places worth checking out that arenโt listed in an article or tourism video. And theyโre the places you want to find.
I love to get out and explore nature. What I do is look at Google Maps or Google Earth for green spots within distance, drive there, and see whatโs around. Sometimes itโs a miss, but more often than not, Iโm pleasantly surprised.
Whether itโs a park Iโve never heard about, a reserve, some woods, a small lake, or an opening, itโs always worth checking out and just getting to know your home area a bit better. If you do this often, youโll likely find some hidden gems that become your go-to spots. But you wonโt know unless you explore your surroundings.
Network Within Your Local Community
People are gateways to new opportunities, and theyโre a surefire way to spice up your life a little. By making more of an effort to meet people (and maintain connections) in your day-to-day life, you never know where some of these connections are going to take you.
Many of us feel that we donโt have the energy to go out of our way to meet people. But youโre always coming into contact with people. Networking is about seeing each person as a potential friend, and just being genuinely curious about whatโs happening in their life. Whether itโs a work associate, a shop clerk, or a stranger, engage the people you bump into, especially the ones you see regularly.
As long as you engage people, doors will start flying open. Of course, most conversations wonโt lead anywhere, but by engaging people more on a day-to-day basis, youโre opening up your doorways.
Go to New Events
If you live in a city, Iโm sure there are plenty of interesting things you could be going to, regardless of what your interests are.
Especially if youโre in (or near) a big city, there are always talks, networking events, meetups, language exchanges, and different things you could be doing. But Iโm guessing you never really go to these things, and I know why.
For the most part, itโs not about money. There are plenty of free options out there. Itโs not about availability because even if youโre not in a city, there are a million things you can partake in online.ย Itโs because youโre nervous, and I understand that.
It can be daunting going to unfamiliar events by yourself. You donโt know if youโll just be an awkward mess, and usually, that thought is enough of a deterrent to banish the idea completely.
But what if you tried? You put yourself out there. You risked enduring a boring event that was a waste of time (and potentially money). Think about what you could potentially gain. Who you could potentially meet? What experiences could you potentially have?
So try out different events, whether theyโre in person or online. Check out whatโs available by searching Google and social media, and see what pops up. I highly recommend giving some things a go, and just seeing what you think of them.