One great thing about my past year as an independent entrepreneur is that I’ve had the time and space to explore new things—meeting new people, trying out different activities, studying topics I knew little about, and reflecting on the new version of myself. It’s been an eye-opening experience, offering me the opportunity to ask, "Who am I if I’m not just the hard-working, typical “achiever”type?" 🤔
To be honest, I haven’t changed that much, but I do see things more clearly these days—both within myself and in others. When I meet people now, I notice something I might have missed before. I take professional life as an example; I see a lot of people trying to convince themselves that the benefits of their jobs outweigh the downsides. But with my “fresh ears and eyes”,👀 they don’t look or sound that happy..
On the other hand, there are those who genuinely share that they are happy with their job or with a specific decision they have taken. In my experience, these content individuals often have one thing in common: they’ve tried different things, or at least reflected & investigated on alternatives🪄.
The truth is, one type of job or contract isn’t universally better than another. For some, one option is perfect every day of the week, while for others, it’s the complete opposite. There are always pros and cons with various alternatives. But the key point I want to make is this: you don’t really know until you’ve tried something different.
Curiosity is a natural trait most of us are born with. From the first moment we open our eyes, we begin to explore, question, and seek to understand the world around us. Curiosity drives us to learn, discover new things, and expand our horizons.
It’s a trait that can spark creativity, fuel passions, and lead us on unexpected adventures. But as we grow older, societal norms, schools, and even our own fears can dampen this curiosity.
We might find ourselves sticking to what we know , to what is comfortable and safe 🦥, rather than taking a small (or big) step into the unknown. This is where courage comes into play.
I’ve learned that courage isn’t about being fearless. It’s about feeling the fear and doing it anyway. It’s about recognizing the risks, acknowledging the possibility of failure, and still choosing to move forward.
I found a description of courage that I like:
“Courage is the well-praised but little-researched virtue of voluntarily facing personal risk to pursue worthy goals.”
For me, "worthy goals" are those that make me happy and make me feel alive (“Vivante” 😊) .
As I’ve read more about courage, I’ve found that it’s influenced by many factors: our genetic setup🧬, early life experiences, motivation, and social influences.
Clearly, some of us have personalities that are naturally more courageous than others. I think being extremely courageous might make life hard at times, but being too constrained by fear might be even worse.
I vote for all of us being just a bit more courageous🙋 !
I used to be more “naturally” courageous when I was younger. These days, I sometimes have to push myself. For me, it doesn’t necessarily mean taking risks where my life is at stake (😶), but maybe it’s about making that call to someone who inspires me, trying a sport that I know I won’t master with grace, or allowing myself to be vulnerable.
When you allow your curiosity to lead you, it might take you to very exciting places. As you arrive there, courage becomes more important. Without it, you might make a quick U-turn and shy away from exploring that new place.
In my own experience, it’s been the combination of these two qualities that has made life fun & interesting.
I believe that everyone (who wants) has the potential to be courageous, even if it doesn’t come naturally. It’s about taking small steps every day, pushing yourself just a liiiiittle bit further than you did the day before.
If you’re looking to cultivate more curiosity and courage in your life, here are a few practical tips that have helped me along the way:
1. Ask Questions: Ask questions about everything and to everyone around you about things that interest you. Ask what, why, and how, and you’ll learn and get inspired.
2. Manage uncertainty:Try not to get stressed about uncertainty. It’s a natural part of life! When faced with an uncertain situation, remind yourself that this is where real learning and growth happen.
3. Take Small Risks: You don’t have to take huge risks to be courageous. Start small and gradually work your way up. This could be as simple as trying a new hobby, speaking to someone new, or stepping outside your comfort zone in a minor way.
4. Surround Yourself with Inspiring and Supportive People: Surround yourself with people who encourage you, inspire you, and believe in your potential.
5. Learn from Failure: Failure is also a natural part of life. Instead of seeing it as a setback, view it as a learning opportunity!
6. Set Goals: Having clear goals can help you stay focused and motivated as you start your curiosity and courage journey.
7. Celebrate Your Wins: Finally, don’t forget to celebrate your successes. When you step out of your comfort zone and take a risk, acknowledge the effort and reward yourself for being brave.
My next adventure is already cooking in my mind. It’s not risky from a physical standpoint, but it’s somewhat challenging for me as it involves stepping out of my comfort zone. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes.
Until then, I wish you a lovely kick-start to your "Vivante life" after the summer break!
