Adventures to North India…and lessons in leadership (and life)
Travel is a hugely important part of my life…and recently I have realised my work.
In April I spent time travelling through North India - starting in the ashrams of Rishikesh absorbing the magic of the sacred Ganges, trekking through the mountains of Darjeeling in West Bengal and finally moving over to Sikkim, a state sprinkled with Buddhist prayer flags, to find serenity within the Himalayas.
Travel is one of the great loves of my life! It is like that wonderful friend who can feel challenging at times - gently encouraging you towards your growth edge and the places you are scared of going - BUT who absolutely has your best interests at heart! Your biggest inspiration and is your greatest catalyst for expansion. The one where hanging out in your comfort zone is not an option! You know the one!
As I neared the end of my trip I was curled up on a hammock in my homestay in the mountains with a fresh mint tea (picked from the garden) and I tried to capture all of the gifts that travelling in this way (and in particular to India at this time) offers to me…and why I bloody love it so very very very much.
The gifts of travelling to India
UNDERSTANDING VERY DIFFERENT LIVED EXPERIENCES - this trip I have been guided by local Indian guides, stayed in the homes of Indian families and connected to many many people from different walks of life. It has pulled me out of my small world in the UK and my very specific worries and problems. My mind has been opened beyond measure.
SOLITUDE - I am not scared of solitude, never have been! But in my life that is beautifully full of friends, family, work and community…I deeply cherish the feeling of being very far away and alone with my thoughts and my heart. To allow space for the truth to emerge. For deep contemplation. For me to chew on some of life’s big questions!
NATURE - BIG nature is my jam. I have climbed mountains 4 x bigger than the biggest ‘hill’ in the uk! And along the way I hugged trees, walked alongside many creatures, absorbed the colour and scent of different flowers and plants and marvelled at the magnificence of it all! My heart is full of awe and gratitude.
CONNECTION - in many situations, I have been unable to communicate via language. I do not speak Nepali / Hindi and some of my new friends have no more than 5 words of English. And yet we have shelled peas together, eaten together around a table, walked in quiet contentment and sent big smiles from heart to heart. I have felt an abundance of love and connection with these people.
DEEP PLEASURE - the food…oh my the food! The colour! The vibrancy! The music! The singing! The mountains! The pleasure in this very simple way of living has given me a reverence for life that has sunk deep into my soul.
It is easy to feel holidays / travelling are JUST a break away from work. And they absolutely are a break. A chance to break the cycle of the 5-days-a-week grind and fill up my cup!
AND it is an investment in my work…one that may not be immediately measurable but one that has provided me with lessons and inspiration that will create a return for decades to come.
My 5 inspiring lessons from India that can be applied to leadership
REMEBER WHAT IS IMPORTANT - whether this is travel, adventure, music, family, learning or creativity? Make space for this regularly and continue to organise life and work around things that feel deep and meaningful to you.
STAY OPEN MINDED AND CURIOUS - never ever believe that your way is the “right” way. Invite in all perspectives, listen to what is really being said and stay flexible with your thoughts and ways of being.
DON’T BE SCARED OF NOTHINGNESS - we operate in a world that is constantly encouraging us to fill our time with more but I know in the deepest part of myself that space is an essential ingredient of a fulfilling life. Solitude in nature is essential for me for ideas to emerge on how to connect with people through my work. How can you create that space for yourself to just ‘be’?
YOU DO NOT NEED TO PUSH - despite how the world makes you feel, you can stop pushing and let things unfold a little more. By staying open and connected to yourself and taking action aligned to what feels good, life will find a way to work through you. AND it feels so much less jarring to your nervous system!
PUTTING YOURSELF IN NEW ENVIRONMENTS IS ESSENTIAL TO DOING YOUR BEST WORK - whatever that looks like for you, inspiring yourself and exposing yourself to newness is a sure fire way to invite in new ways of thinking, working and being.
I am now back in my office, sat behind my laptop and it feels gorgeous to relive the feelings and sensations of this magical trip…that are honestly still very present and resonant. And it is reconnecting me to the lessons and wisdom that unfolded. And so I would love to offer you a moment to pause and absorb some of the juiciness too!
Contemplation questions
What is important to you and your values system that you are not making time for? How could you organise your life this week to make even a small bit of room for the thing(s) that feel meaningful to you?
Can you carve out some time this week to expose yourself to a new environment? It might be working one morning in a new environment? Taking yourself on a date at the weekend somewhere new? Planning a mini-trip with your family to somewhere you have never been?
I’d love to hear what emerges for you and, as always, would love to connect with you either via email (laura@thevibrancyhub.com) or on LinkedIn or Instagram.
Lots of love,
Laura xxx