If You Love Life, Life Loves You Back — A 2023 Recap
“If the energy of your past year could be encapsulated by one word, what would it be?” It would be LOVE. And here’s why…
If You Love Life, Life Loves You Back
I think one of my biggest learnings in 2023 was that anything is possible once you start believing in it. That this life has endless possibilities, and that each of us deserves to find what’s meant for us. This was honestly a BIG mindset shift. Why is that? I used to be a very resentful and envious person, thinking that “good” things were not meant to come into my life because someone else was more talented or better than me. And the more I held these limiting beliefs about myself, the more I was holding myself back. But I guess I always had a part of me that knew there was something bigger out there, and if it was attainable for others, why shouldn’t it be attainable for me? Until I started believing in myself and in my dreams — but not only that. Once I started LIVING and owning my truth, the rest came to me. People, places, opportunities. Joy. I read a quote the other day that said:
“If you love life, life will love you back”
— and I couldn’t agree more. Life is beautiful and there are endless possibilities. I know that most people don’t believe in their potential, because most of the time, we are taught to focus on what is easy and comfortable. The question is not whether it’s easy or hard — it’s not meant to be easy. The question is whether we unleash that potential (which can be anything) or whether we choose to continue to hold ourselves down.
You Are Your Own Best Brand
I mentioned this in a previous blog post, but I need to mention it here again because it’s one of my biggest takeaways from 2023: You are your own best brand! Whoever you want to be or whatever you want to do, it’s possible. In fact, you already are. But opportunities don’t just come to you — you create them by creating yourself. The better you get at reinventing yourself, adjusting your path, and crafting your skills and identity, the more likely you are to be who you admire. Whatever makes you happy is your choice. It is dynamic and fluid. And sometimes you just don’t know. So dare to change and reintroduce yourself to this world. And it will not be easy. But it’s not about being easy, it’s about deciding which challenges are worth overcoming, which challenges are worth fighting for. You will know.
Lead With Why, and Not How
This year has probably been one of the most exciting and challenging years of my life. I don’t want to judge it as good or bad, it’s just the way it is. I think I was so focused on achieving certain things that I sometimes lost track of my “why”. So much so that in the midst of it all, I forgot to really enjoy or acknowledge my victories because the next worry was already waiting for me. The thing is, when we get too focused on the goal and the “how” of getting there, and we lose sight of the “why,” we lose touch with what’s deep inside of us. And I found myself in that very spiral, doubting myself more than ever when I should have been asking myself:
“Who am I doing this for?”
Because I am doing this for myself. I do it to be connected to people, to a world that is bigger than I. I do this because I believe in my vision of how self-love can heal so much that has been broken in our relationships with each other, and that this will create healthier and happier societies. I am doing this because this is what I have always wanted to do. As I close this year, I remember this more than ever, because my why is my most important thing.
All that matters is NOW
One of the best books I’ve read this year was “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. I think it is related in some way to the above, that sometimes when we are too focused on goals or things we “haven’t accomplished yet”, we forget about the now and all the great power we already have within us. Adopting this perspective has helped me to be more grateful for the present moment I’m sharing in my present place with present people, instead of always overthinking the future. I won’t lie: I still struggle with that sometimes. But as I actively practice presence, I’m becoming more at peace, and grateful. I used to think that I had to achieve x,y,z before I could be happy. But happiness is already within me. The question is not what you are trying “to get”. The real power lies in trusting that all you need, and desire, is already with you.
Trust The Unknown
Trust that the unknown is on your side! I have always tried to control things or thought I needed to know everything; but I have started to let go of those things (not easy either). But here’s the thing: you can know something, but life will still go its way, in its unpredictable way. The unknown can be scary, but it is where our greatest potential lies. Sometimes we have to let go of control in order to strive. Sometimes we have to let go of a plan in order to grow. Sometimes all we can do is move with intuition. And sometimes all we can do is trust that the unknown is on our side. Because it is when we begin to believe in its potential.
When The Going Gets Tough: Keep On Going
This year has made me learn a lot about resilience and self-reliance, especially by spending time alone in difficult moments and still moving forward. I think that helped me get through it. Sometimes giving up seems like the easy and comfortable option. But I always say: I don’t want easy. So it was never really an option for me. Reminding myself again and again why I’m doing what I’m doing, knowing that it’s all worth it, while moving with my intuition. Better to try than to never know, to keep moving in spite of doubt. I firmly believe that this is what has brought me here today. And it will get me somewhere else.
You Can Be Many in One
This year was marked by many beautiful travels. I always say that I travel for love, that connecting with different places and people make me the person that I am. The more I travel and the more I’m exposed to all kinds of environments, the more I realize how I’m able to relate to different people and adapt to my surroundings, and I think that’s really cool. Every place has its ups and downs, and it’s not so much about perfection as it is about what place fits your priorities. And also allowing that to change and seeing it as something fluid. This year, I’ve found that there’s freedom in deciding which beliefs you want to hold on to and which you want to let go of, and also accepting that you can experience a place without having to support all of its aspects or adapt to all of its facets. Like a chameleon, I can move between countries, cultures, languages and beliefs while keeping an open mind. And I am grateful for all the people who have helped me become that way by sharing their authentic selves with me and challenging my perspective.
Change Is Just A Decision Away
Change is just a decision away — and that might be 1% one day, or 90% the next. There’s beauty in realizing that change is possible for you right now. In fact, I believe that we are always changing and evolving. And those choices are in our hands. While change can be scary, realizing that change is possible has freed me from being stuck. It made me realize again that I hold the key to my life. And sometimes that’s standing still, sometimes it’s moving forward, sometimes it’s going all in, and sometimes it’s waiting things out. But whatever it is, change is only a choice away.
Doing it For Love
As I mentioned above: I do what I do for love. To connect with amazing people, nature and this world. To challenge my perspective. And if there’s anything I’m grateful for, it’s the people I’ve met along the way. The beautiful connections I’ve been able to make, especially with other amazing female solo travellers, with whom I’ll forever have a special bond. But also the little interactions with strangers, the moments that flew by and were not meant to stay. I’m grateful for heartbreak, sadness, and tears — lessons learned, as well as relationships, love, and hope. Solo travel is great, but community is equally important to me, and I can now say that I’m proud of the global family I’m creating. And I can’t wait to grow it even further in 2024.
If you love life, life loves you back. Thank you 2023 for showing me how beautiful, and challenging this world is. We grow with challenges, and I’m growing with all the challenges that this year has brought me. I’m grateful for everything that’s happened, and proud that I allowed myself to get lost, to change, to give things time. For taking the days as they come, and for believing in my vision. I truly wish that more people can do the same, and most of all I wish that there would be more love for this world, because that is what makes us. Have a great start to 2024!
