Below you can see some of my mini adventures in nature in 2019. The aim of these mini adventures is to help me get perspective and reset what I value. If you asked me what matters at the end of a busy week, after being caught in traffic and discovering smoke coming from the oven and people just glued to netflix “we wondered what that burning smell was”, then you’d get a different answer to the one I’d give you after a long walk or swim. Even if the mini adventure doesn’t go to plan (many of them dont) I return home with a refreshed outlook on life.
Hold in mind that whatever it is you want to do, just start really small. This recommendation is not my idea, it originates in classic philosophy and stretches all the way to the most recent behavioural science. Our brain is hardwired to find solutions to threats. It has not evolved to just ‘be happy’, it has evolved to get the greatest depth of fulfilment from surviving difficult events and coming through challenging situations. If your aim is to be happy, it’s likely you will be disappointed. If your aim is to go towards things that fill you with a sense of purpose, you will suffer a little (maybe a lot) on the way, but ultimately you will reach a point where you feel a deeper sense of meaning, find it easier to get perspective and feel more grateful. You dont need the whole solution, all you need is a next step. Choose one thing and start really small. What tiny action could you take today to bring you one step closer towards something that fills you with a sense of purpose?
I actually wanted to climb Ben Nevis but nobody I wanted to go with was free the weekend I wanted to go, so I went on my own. I was really lucky with the weather and discovered a new love of Scotland.
Schiehallion mountain Scotland - taken 20 mins from summit.
