As I’m starting to prepare for my annual trip home to South Africa in two weeks I’m already considering what I will need to pack and I’m reminding myself of how wonderful it feels to travel light – like the many trips where I’ve managed to travel with no checked baggage.
I felt light and free, with a sense of security that came from knowing that all I needed was right with me, within my reach and I had the freedom to move about unencumbered. I’d been intentional and practical and it made all the difference.
This got me thinking once again about how so often in life we continue to carry all types of excess baggage that we do not need – emotional, material, physical, mental. And all it does is slow us down, inevitably limit our experiences of life and most often, does not make us any happier.
What are you still carrying in your life that is no longer serving you and that was most likely packed by others? I’m going to encourage to consider what you need to unpack and leave behind so that you can repack your bags with what you want and need and know to be true for the journey your authentic self wants to embark on.
The greatest pieces of baggage that I left behind decades ago were the need to fit in, to be like everyone else, and live up to others expectations of me regardless of my desires and passions and dreams.
So maybe it is time for you to unpack your bag, to decide on where you want to go and then reflect on what you will need to re-pack for this next leg of your journey, so that it can be positive, happy and open to opportunities of growth and new experiences.
Decide where you want to start. Maybe you need to unpack those old beliefs that in your heart you know not to be true for you anymore…maybe it’s the material things that are cluttering up your home or your office…maybe it’s relationships or people that you know are holding you back.
Whatever they are, with thanks and gratitude for what these things have taught you, unpack them now.
As you get rid of the old you will symbolically and energetically create the space for new and wonderful experiences to enter your life beyond what you can possibly even imagine—so that you can move on to live a different and more fulfilling life.
But before you begin to repack, make sure to take the time to reflect on what you most want and will need for this next leg of your journey. What will make you truly happy and serve you in the next phase of your life? What are the memories, the lessons, the things you do want to keep? What is true and meaningful and important to you now at this time in your life that you want to hold onto?
Pack all those up and then ask yourself: What do I now want and need to fill this bag, my life with? Who do I want to share my life with, what do I want to do, how do I want to contribute to the world, where do I want to live?
And probably the most important question to ask is how can I now live a life that matters, a life that has meaning and connection? Because at the end of the day, I believe this is something we all yearn for.
And when you’ve answered these soul-searching questions, then step into the courage to leave behind what you need to and begin packing into your life all that you want – good physical and mental health, meaningful relationships, a sense of purpose and belonging, an openness to learning new things, financial security, family and friends…and then figure out the best route to take you there.
Know that there will be security stops along the way that will require you to regularly unpack and repack your bags, but all with the intention of making sure every leg of your journey is meaningful and fulfilling, happy, and taking you exactly where you want to be.
And as in life there will also always be lifejackets, oxygen masks and crew on board to support and help you when you need it – you just need to be wiling to ask and open to receiving the support.
So if you are ready, share below what you plan to unpack and pack for your journey. Then, fasten your seat-belt, look straight ahead and get ready to soar!
Until next week – embrace your inner truth, live your purpose and make your contribution in the world today.
With gratitude and appreciation,
Lauren
