Category: travel

Every single day of the week has a different vibe. And when you know how to harness the energy of the days of the week and make them work for you, your entire life changes.

I woke up on Monday bone-tired. Had I been running around as the green fae in a secret treasure hunt and staying up late at a festival all weekend? Yes, I had.

But still… I am also no longer in my 20’s where I can whimsically shirk all responsibilities. Nor do I want to.

(I feel this particular topic is owed an article all of its own as I have a lot of thoughts and opinions about moving away from the cult of youth and flourishing at every age and how we are evolving in this current moment of our collective consciousness where old paradigms and expectations no longer fit, but that’s not for today. I’ll circle back to that another time.)

Then I remembered it was Monday and that I am allowed to rest!

We don’t flailingly and aimlessly live and feel the way we do without reason. There are a whole host of influencers impacting how you feel, and what you do, every day. Your emotions, if you have slept, your last conversation, the sun, moon and stars, and the energy of the days of the week all play an important role too.

One thing that we often overlook is that each day of the week brings with it a unique vibe, atmosphere and energy.

Have you ever wondered why Monday feels like such a drag?

It’s because Monday is influenced by the Moon and the vibe is all about quiet introspection and being alone. But in our world Monday is the first day of the working week and we are expected to feel like we are full of beans (even when we are not).

You know how people get really excited about Friday?

It’s not because everyone hates their job and wants to run around shouting “FRIYAY!” at the top of their lungs. It’s because Friday is influenced by the planet Venus and the vibe is all about excitement, socializing, beauty and romance. It’s an upbeat energy compared to low-key Monday.

Every single day of the week has a different vibe. And when you know how to harness the energy of the days of the week and make them work for you, your entire life changes. Instead of pushing against the current, you’ll flow with it.

Here’s how it works:

DAY: MONDAY 🌙

PLANET: MOON

VIBE: Get in touch with your feelings, be mindful of your moods, purify your surroundings, practice compassion.

Monday is a moon day, and so we are dealing with emotions, moods, intuition and the shadowy side of life. Many people report Monday as the most challenging day of the week. It’s no wonder, as the moon carries with it erratic and sometimes unpredictable energy. If you are not a fan of Monday, there may be some underlying emotional energy that you are struggling to deal with. It helps to spend some time being introspective and journaling about what is coming up for you. This lets our logical mind know “where we stand” in a metaphorical sense.

Best tasks for Mondays: Meditation, dream analysis, planning, quiet time, personal indulgence, rest, relaxation, sleep.

I hold my CEO day on a Monday for both my life and my business.

DAY: TUESDAY 🔥

PLANET: MARS

VIBE: Express your passion, get some exercise, release pent up frustration/energy.

Tuesday is influenced by the planet Mars, which is an aggressive planet. In fact, its namesake in Greek myth was the god of war. Tuesday is a driving force in the workweek and will auger a sense of productivity, competition, effectiveness, determination and completion. With these kinds of energies in the forefront, Tuesday is the perfect day for finishing long overdue tasks. Conversely, Tuesday is also a great day to start new projects.

Best tasks for Tuesdays: Building strategies at work and in career, marketing, acting on new ideas, starting new projects, cleaning out clutter, exercising, finishing to-do lists or catching up.

As the ‘official’ first work day of my week, I use Tuesdays to bite a chunk out of my ‘to-dos’. It’s generally one of my most outward-facing productive days of the week. Projects, emails, and urgent tasks all get piled into this one day. I block-task my days so this creates space in the week for other commitments.

DAY: WEDNESDAY 💬

PLANET: MERCURY

VIBE: Study, travel, research, meditate, teach, talk, write, hold meetings.

Wednesday is ruled by Mercury who is the messenger of the heavens. It facilitates clear communication and carries new information to our awareness in extremely precise and effective ways. Mercury also augers higher perception too. I love the synchronicity of Wednesday landing in the middle of the week because it gives a pervasive sense of connectivity. In a way, Wednesday is the vital communications link to all other days – it’s like the network server of the week (to use computer terms).

Best tasks for Wednesdays: Communication of course! Catch up on emails, thank you notes, letters, phone calls, etc. Wednesday is a good day to sign contracts (that is, if Mercury is not in a retrograde) too. Mercury is also a beneficent energy for short travel, so plan your day trips accordingly.

Wednesdays for me are for meetings, group mentoring calls and private clients. Because I made space on Tuesday and can focus on these solely on this day.

DAY: THURSDAY 🪐

PLANET: JUPITER

VIBE: Make a point to feel gratitude and positivity from the moment you wake up, as this is going to help you leap forward throughout the day.

Thursday belongs to Jupiter, the planet of positivity and expansion, making it the perfect time to learn new things and expand your consciousness. A survey concludes Thursday is the most productive day of the week in business. It’s no wonder, as Jupiter has a way of lighting a fire under us and getting us moving. Jupiter is the planet of enterprise and expansion. It’s also an extremely optimistic planetary energy that can be felt all through the day on Thursdays when we tune into it.

Best tasks for Thursdays: Socializing, networking, marketing. Working with financial tasks such as the stock market or even balancing accounts will lead to positive results in the long term when done on Thursdays while ruminating in Jupiter energy.

Often, I also see private clients on Thursdays as well as carve out time for copywriting, marketing and more of the fun creative aspects of running my business.

DAY: FRIDAY ♥️

PLANET: VENUS

VIBE: Appreciate the people in your life, go on a date, show your love, recognize beauty, make new friends. Enjoy fashion and creative pursuits.

Friday is the day of Venus, the planet of love and creativity, which makes it the perfect day to connect with others and relax. We all know Venus energy, and when it comes to the symbolic meaning of days, Venus is a highly appropriate vibe for Friday, the traditional end-of-the-workweek day. Venus is about love, connection, belonging, comfort, sensuality and passion. If you think about it, most people who have traditional Monday – Friday workweeks tend to let their hair down and celebrate on Fridays (points for kicking off the weekend too). Friday is an all-around feel-good day, replete with the energy of friendliness and kindness. Interestingly, Friday is also the most popular (romantic) date night.

Best tasks for Fridays: Romance, romance, romance! Did I mention romance? Fridays are also perfect for expressing your love amidst friends and family. This is a great day for pleasure and appreciation, so trips to places that make you feel indulged, luxurious or pampered are good too (like a spa, salon, the movies, a jewellery store).

I generally take Fridays off from work and instead plan Venusian things that fill up my cup. Buy flowers, go on a date, go to a gig, get my hair cut (or cut it myself as I have been prone to lately), see friends, go to the beach or on a road trip.

DAY: SATURDAY ⏰

PLANET: SATURN

VIBE: Tackle some big projects that need doing and take time out of your day to get organised for the week ahead.

Saturday is the day of Saturn, the day of taking responsibility and getting organised. Saturn can be a stern energy and a real taskmaster too. This makes Saturday one of the most advantageous days of the week because the opportunity for productivity and completing tasks is optimal. Unlike Thursday/Jupiter however, Saturn isn’t as jovial when working to get the job done. Saturdays are best put to use when we thoroughly plan for prevention. Preparing for the week ahead on Saturday will align our Saturn energies and bring about satisfactory results for each consecutive day in the week.

Best tasks for Saturday: Housework, preparation for upcoming events, academic tasks like studying and homework, catching up on a backlog of work.

On Saturdays, I’m found behind my laptop for the morning. Answering any emails left from the week (I aim for inbox zero when I can) and tying up loose strings from projects, clients and commitments. I’ll look through my love to-do list in my Plannher and make sure everything is ticked off or rearranged before my weekend begins on Saturday afternoon.

DAY: SUNDAY 🌞

PLANET: SUN

VIBE: Make today a day for rest and relaxation. Try not to schedule anything too demanding or high energy on Sunday and instead, take the time to connect to your inner radiance.

Sunday is the day of the Sun, a perfect day for relaxing, unwinding and connecting with your inner self. Sunday is notorious throughout time and cultures as being a day of rest, the sun shines brightly on our Sundays with clarity, vitality and a sense of well-being. This day is optimal for soaking up some social warmth by being with family, friends and neighbours. It’s also a perfect day to catch up on our rest and relaxation. The sun is all about radiance, sharing, expressing, expanding, illumination and growth. The sun is also about provision, as it ensures the continuation of life as we know it.

Best tasks for Sunday: Rest, relaxing, having fun with loved ones, gardening, grocery shopping, cooking and worship for the purpose of illumination.

Sunday, Monday and Friday are my favourite days. Honestly, even though I love my job sometimes I think I wouldn’t work if I did not have to. I’d love to be super floaty and have zero obligations! And on Sunday, I get permission to do exactly that. It’s a ‘me day’ where I limit plans and commitments to only things I absolutely adore.

Before I go…

Remember, these energies are subtle guides, not strict rules. The real magic happens when you tune into your own rhythms and needs.

Why not experiment with aligning your life and tasks to these cosmic vibes? You might just find your week flowing with newfound ease and joy!

What’s your favourite day of the week? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll give you examples of how you can use its energy this week!

I often receive questions about how I process and deal with a lot of moving and changing places. About how I do it with a cat in tow, how I navigate loneliness, what I do with my things, and more…

As I begin this article I am sitting in a London-esque retro-replica cafe in Margate beside a row of freelancers tapping away on their keyboards to the left of me and mums with their toddlers to the right of me.

Six days ago, never having been here before, I drove the two-and-a-half hours from Islington in central London to this coastline lapped up by the North Sea. It holds remanets of Viking violence, poverty and fear.

I won’t stay long because the energy is too murky for me. Every morning I wake up here I find myself completely spaced out and like I am moving through an underwater world. It’s the most geographically, architecturally and energetically disjointed place I’ve ever been to.

Yesterday on a walk it occurred to me that my body keeps trying to dissociate to avoid feeling the dense pain and suffering that has been imbued into this area over centuries.

So I focus on what’s beautiful here.

The wild beaches, the unexpected late summer heatwave, the occasional spontaneous free sauna by the sea, the tiny details that offer beauty.

Some places are for me. Some places are not. I can never know until I’ve spent time in them.

It’s all part of the current journey of discovery I am on to find the ‘perfect’ place to base myself for the next few years here in the UK.

This journey has taken me from Mallorca in late May to a month in Nottinghamshire (not for me!), a month in Ely (adored it but maybe a bit quiet in the winter?), a month in central London (I will always and forever adore London but city life is not the season I’m in right now) to here, on the south-east coast.

So I am looking for the next place and referring to my astrocartography for guidance. Ideally, I want to be between the blue line on the left and the red line on the right.

I often receive questions about how I process and deal with a lot of moving and changing places. I have curated those questions into the following to answer them.

How do you root yourself and deal with the fear of uncertainty?

I have come to the conclusion that life is uncertain. And so, instead of resisting uncertainty, I’ve learned to embrace it. The more I lean into uncertainty — the more I give up my need to ‘know’ — the more opportunities, gifts, and unexpected solutions are revealed to me. Ultimately, giving up on feeling in control, offers me an abundance of life experiences that are far richer and more aligned than I would otherwise be met with.

Having said that, I have spent 20 years cultivating practices that allow me to remain centred and secure or ‘rooted’ as the question poses. They include practising trust and relaxing into what is, getting plenty of rest, and knowing and honouring my boundaries. A non-negotiable is listening to the cues from the intelligence of my body and following them, no matter what. I don’t care much for others’ expectations of me. This allows me to make choices that are honest and in integrity with myself and my truth. Living like this means I never waver or am affected by the external. I’m strongly anchored deep within my being which remains a consistent and safe space.

You might enjoy reading my 6 tips for dealing with uncertainty and this article about navigating uncertainty: so much can change in 20 seconds.

How do you bring your nervous system to a place of arrival and security with frequent moves?

I have little rituals that I begin and end my days with which means that my nervous system is harboured by the external changes within a container of familiarity. They are very simple, nothing exuberant or fancy but because I have done them for years and years they immediately make me feel safe.

In the morning it’s:

• meditate / feel into my body / listen while still in bed
• take my retainers out (I wear one at night to keep my teeth from crowding) and wash them
• wash my face with cold water
• scrape my tongue with a copper ayurvedic tongue scraper
• spray my face with lavender hydrosol
• make a warm drink, often lemon water, lately red ginseng tea
• roll out my mat to do some stretches/intuitive movement/dance

In the evening it’s kind of the reverse:

• wash my face and brush my teeth if I haven’t already
• sometimes I give myself a face massage
• simple skincare routine (lately: lavender hydrosol, FADED by Topicals, Heritage Store Rosewater Moisturiser)
• get into bed, journal and review the day
• write a ‘to-do’ list for the next day
• feel into my body and notice anything that wants to be witnessed and felt before I go to sleep

Having said that, I’m not militant about these. I am not militant about anything but I naturally gravitate back to them which makes me feel really good and grounded.

I write more about these in my love list.

What makes you feel at home in new places?

I go and explore the nearby surroundings to get a lie of the land very quickly. It’s like I need to feel out my new environment to settle in and feel at home in the new place. I like to know where the closest nature is, where I can go for walks, cute cafes I can work in and the easiest place for me to get fresh produce and groceries. I’m a natural explorer so this part of ‘settling in’ is really fun for me. I love discovering new places and meeting new people.

How do you process and handle the transitions of moving frequently without it feeling heard or heavy?

It’s very much about mindset for me. I have chosen this way of life for this season of my life and so I choose it to be a joyful, playful, inquisitive and easeful experience for me. If I decided it felt too heavy or hard, I would stop. Every day we get to make a choice about how we live and perceive our lives. Every day I choose what feels fun, freeing and expansive for me.

Do you ever worry about not having a safe, quiet space for the days that you need to retreat and rest?

I am really sensitive to my environment and feel incredibly uncomfortable in spaces that don’t meet a standard of peace, beauty and calm so I intentionally choose and put out to the universe my standard of living. Therefore I am fortunate enough to always land in places to meet that. If I didn’t, I would very quickly make a new decision. For example, here in Margate, the apartment I am in is a delight and I feel so safe and peaceful and sleep so soundly, but the area itself is not a good fit so I am choosing to leave sooner rather than later.

Do you have storage somewhere for furniture and winter clothes?

Nope! I left a lot of things behind in Mallorca and am currently moving with everything I own: a big bag of winter clothes, a big bag of summer/transitional clothes, my toiletries, my cat and his backpack and litter tray, a 150-year-old morrocan rug that I can’t seem to let go of and 7 baskets filled with shoes and trinkets from my travels.

How do you deal with your books? I find it hard to reduce my collection!

I’ve stopped collecting books. I gave most of my recent collection away, and have 5 that I hold close with me and the rest I read and then pass along as I go. Once you let go of things you begin to realise how little you actually need.

How do you manage loneliness and transient connections?

This reminds me of the opening line of a poem by Brian Chalker. “People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.” I truly believe that the relationships that are meant to stick, will. And the ones that aren’t, don’t. So I don’t worry about transient connections because on some level they’re all transitory.

I have meaningful, intimate relationships with people that span across time and space in the strangest ways, and I am so grateful for every one of them. Some of them are with people I have only met for 5 minutes or a few hours or a couple of days. We leave each other long voice notes and share pieces of our hearts in unexpected moments. Some of them are with people I have shared large potions of places and times with. Any many of them we connect for the moments that we are in each other’s lives and then we let each other go. I find that some of the more toxic relationships are the ones that have lasted a long time based on mutual expectation and fear instead of being grounded in open-hearted integrity.

That doesn’t mean I don’t get lonely. I do.

But I have been far lonelier in a group of people that I felt disconnected from than alone, on my own.

And because of that I have learned how to seek out my people and have discernment around who I spend time with.

How do you build community and new friends in new places?

I heavily rely on connections I have already made and ask them to connect me with others as well as happily and willingly go to events and have experiences that are new to me where I meet new people. I’m fortunate in that I have a worldwide community from travelling all of my life, plus the addition of having an online business that connects me to people everywhere I go which I think makes this piece easier.

I speak to this question in my article 4 tips on how to find your people when you move to a new place and in this podcast interview and this one too.

How do you keep living, like meeting new people, joining classes, etc., when you know you’re not going to stay?

How does ‘not staying’ stop you from living and doing new things? For me, it encourages me to do so because otherwise, I would be floating about the world with nothing and no one to tether my experiences and existence to.

You inspire me so much moving with your cat, Danger Zone! How do you manage to do it with such ease?

It may look easy from the outside but I get a little bit stressed and anxious each time I move with him. He is such an angel of a being, he just accepts everything as it is. He’s such a teacher for me. Fortunately, unlike most cats, he is oriented to being close and connected to me as opposed to his environment, so as long as he gets all the affection and care he needs from me, he settles into every new place just fine. Together we have travelled through and lived in 6 countries now including lots of hotel stays (we lived in a 5-star hotel together for s month once!) aeroplanes, trains and cars.

 
For some reason, the title reminds me of “under God’s eye” from The Handmaids Tale. Besides all the patriarchal domination “blessed be!” should be a daily greeting in my opinion.
 
In this case, however, Ojo de Dios or God’s eye is a ritual tool that is used for protection — a magical object — and an ancient cultural symbol evoking the weaving motif and its spiritual associations for the Huichol and Tepehuan Indians of western Mexico. The Huichol call their God’s Eyes Sikuli, which means “the power to see and understand things unknown.”
 
Ojo de Dios is a spiritual and votive object made by weaving a design out of yarn upon a wooden cross used and made by both Indigenous and Catholic peoples.
 
I was inspired by one of my many visits to Sayulita, always astounded by the many beautiful colours of the Ojo de Dios flapping in the wind against the bright blue skies, that I decided to make some myself and give them away as Christmas presents. Each one holds a precious little mantra that I sing as I weave to protect the receiver from the things he or she cannot see that may harm them.
 

How to have a very spiritual + sustainable Christmas with Ojo de Dios (God’s eye):

1. Collect driftwood from your nearby beach or fallen sticks from a nearby forest.
2. Choose a colour combination you like and purchase wool. Sometimes charity shops have wool leftovers so it’s worth checking there. Being in a developing country means that these sorts of things rarely go to waste so that’s not an option for me.
3. Make a cross with two similarily shaped and long pieces of wood, and then tie then with a cross knot.
4. Wind the wool around the first stick then across to the next one and around, and so on, and so forth until a pattern emerges.
5. Change colours and how you want.
6. Tie them together or keep them separate. It’s up to you!
7. For my gifts, I’ve painted rainbows on watercolour board and folded them in half to serve as cards and tied 3 Ojos de Dios together to make a wall hanging for my friends.
8. Wrap them in any leftover paper, newspaper or put them in fabric bags to give away.

 
Enjoy!
 

 
Two plane rides. A bus. 3 nights in a hotel. 4 Nasi Goreng (rice with veg) 3 thali (Indian curries with rice). 2 pineapples. Another bus. Another plane ride. A short trip in a car. 1 night in a hotel. A breakfast buffet where I stuffed myself with as much melon and coffee as I could. 3 client calls. 47 emails. A long car ride. A small dog vomiting in the back of the car. And I arrived at my current destination.
 
Within moments I was devastated. This was not, absolutely not in any circumstances, what I wanted.
 
Weeks ago, when Julien and I first decided to leave New Zealand 3 months early, we made a compromise. That Julien would arrange for us to spend time at, and work for, various volunteering projects along the way, which would be good for his career and his interest in conservation. I wholeheartedly agreed. Travel is so much more fulfilling and meaningful, when you can channel what you are experiencing and learning into something valuable. I get to do it, every day, with the work that I do.
 
So he went ahead, and arranged for the first volunteer position. An orangutan conservation centre on the Malaysian side of the 3rd biggest island in the world: Borneo. They needed someone to baby-sit a beach resort they are building, a project designed to support the conservation centre, while the main caretaker is on holidays. It sounded idyllic and ideal.
 
Arriving, I was miserable to discover what we had stepped into.
 
The building, floors and rooms we sleep in were covered in concrete dust. The beds are springy, old steel frames covered in sheets that have holes in them. I found a flea in one of them. The bathroom and kitchen were overflowing with filthy water. The beach was covered in plastic rubbish. There was dust and dirt and sand everywhere. Building and construction trash sits in almost every room, and around every single edge of the unfinished concrete buildings.
 
There was no love. There was no beauty. There was no cleanliness. The place was a mess. It felt like a refugee war camp.
 
I hated it.
 
I came out onto the beach. Julien was swimming in the water. “I love it here!” he says. I look at him stunned. “Really?!!!”
 
I explain to him that this is a far cry from the reality I am intentionally creating for myself. I honour myself by holding certain boundaries and standards in place. A few years ago, I learned what it takes for me to feel good, to care for myself and give the best of myself to the world. When I don’t uphold what feels good to me, my energy levels feel depleted, I cannot show up fully, my creativity wanes, and I get frustrated, annoyed and resentful more easily.
 
As an act of self-love I choose to spend time in places that resonate beauty, spaces that are filled with love, projects that are fuelled with grace and abundance. It’s better for me, and for those around me. This place screams lack, limitation and leaves a bitter after-taste of forlornness. It is in no way aligned with the direction I am moving in, in my life.
 
This current life experience is a reflection of several factors.
 

• A partner who doesn’t uphold the same standards that I do. Not all people are as sensitive as I am, to their environment. Not everyone is doing the same kind of deep soul-work that requires a safe, beautiful container to flourish in. Not everyone has learned the powerful impact that choosing to live life at your highest level has. I know and understand this. He attracts experiences that are at a different level of vibration than I do. I’ve seen this happen in the past, and I am aware of it.

• The residue of my boundless enthusiasm to embrace all experiences. I hold such strong boundaries in my life now, in response to not having had any at all in the past. I spent most of my twenties exploring the darkest depths of life. I cared not for taking care of myself. I cared only for adventure. And adventure I got. But it came at a cost. A cost that I now appreciate as life lessons, and have transformed into the magic of upholding boundaries. I see now, however, that there are still some energy leaks in my precious container. I still have things to learn around upholding my values and boundaries. I am grateful for the reminder.

 
This is where ‘going with the flow’ and ‘intentionally creating your life’ find a way to live side by side.
 
Intentionally creating your life is about the vision you hold for yourself now, and into the future. It’s the dreams, the values, the desires, the beliefs and the intentions you have. These elements create the roadmap for how you want life to feel and look like. They invite your manifestations and determine the direction you will move.
 
Flow is the natural movement that your life takes in response to your beliefs, choices, visions, dreams and circumstances. Some may call it karma. Others might call it life lessons. Most of our current experiences are a response to intentions and manifestations that were set, often subconsciously, in the past. Our current life is an indicator of what we once believed was true and possible for ourselves. It is the best compass for showing us, where we need to grow, expand, heal and make new choices.
 
In every moment, you are intentionally creating your life, with your thoughts and focus, and living the flow-on effect of that. The flow then gives us indicators on how we want to adjust our sails to experience the level of life that we desire for ourselves.
 
I believe everything in life is exactly as it is supposed to be. And that sometimes, when life gives you a circumstance that doesn’t align with your vision, the best thing you can do is surrender and open up to the lesson.
 
Returning to the beach that day, with Julien in the water, he asked me if I was going to be miserable. He noted my disappointment and feared that I would resent him for the choices that led us to where we are now.
 
“I’m going to do what I always do.” I replied. “I am going to make it the best experience that I can.”
 
We swept the concrete building that we are living in. Twice. I mopped the floors of our rooms. Three times. We places buckets of water at entry ways to wash away the sand. We cleaned the kitchen and dried out the floors. Julien built me a bamboo cabana to sit on, in the sand. I created a little office space with a space mat and a chair as a desk in an empty room.
 
I get up to watch the sunrise every day, and enjoy the simple stillness. I collect fresh, ripe fallen mangoes from the surrounding trees for breakfast every morning. I swim in the warm, salty blue ocean. I work, as much as I can. And I surrender.
 
This experience wasn’t what I wanted. It is not aligned with my vision and the life I am intentionally creating for myself. If I was on my own, I wouldn’t have chosen it.
 
But I am being given many gifts here.
 
The opportunity to share my vision, beliefs and boundaries with the one I love, at a deeper level. This conflict in interest became an invitation to open up a deeper conversation around self-worth, values and boundaries.
 
Tremendous space and time to simply be in stillness. Nothing inspires my creative mind more than complete and utter acceptance and stillness. And while it’s still at its tender intangible stages, this space that I find myself in, has become fuel for creating something bigger in life and work. It’s exciting.
 
And a reminder to let go, and focus on the little things. Appreciating the little things, is all that really matters.
 
Every experience holds a precious lesson in it. When you find it, you discover that you are always exactly where you are meant to be.
 

 
To travel is to take a journey into yourself. | Danny Kaye
 
Travel acts as a truth serum. I recommend travel as a tangible inquisition into the depths of your soul. There is nothing like travel to accentuate your buried strengths, expose your slight deficiencies and shine a bright light on the unique magic that you bring into the world.
 
As I am sitting here, writing, my love is next to me, planning out the places we might go from Borneo to Myanmar to Vietnam and everywhere in between. In 3 days we will embark on the greatest adventure of our relationship: 6 months in unchartered parts of South East Asia. He’s the planner in our relationship, while I prefer to arrive, and see which way the winds blow me, so I nod and smile, as he points out places we absolutely must visit.
 
While I’m an expert at solo-wanders, traveling in a couple is a whole new world for me. I confess I am equally exhilarated and intrigued. This journey will be an adventure unlike any other.
 
Every week I receive many enthusiastic emails from gorgeous readers wondering things like…
 
“I want to travel the world with my work. How can I do it?”
“I’m about to leave on an indefinite world-wide trip. What do I pack?”
“What are my absolute must-have essentials for travels?”
“Have I missed anything? I’m scared and leaving tomorrow!”
 
Etc, etc, etc.
 
These are the best questions to receive in my email, because if you’re as enthusiastic about travel as I am, then we are bound to be friends. After 13 years of on-going indefinite travel plans I’ve got a pretty clear idea of what is required and included.
 
So I have put together my non-negotiable travel essentials and packing list, for anyone taking their life (and work) on the road for an indefinite period of time. Things like: visas, banking, portable office, emotional and health precautions and what (and what not) to pack. I hope this gives you the confidence to fill your rucksack and take a leap into the atlas, to re-acquaint yourself with the depths of your soul.
 
Enjoy!
 
Booking flights.
 
(Almost) every journey begins with a flight. I keep flight searches simple. I start by going to Google Flights to get a first impression of dates and costs. Often (more often than not) I find the flight I want there, but sometimes I like to check in other places like Momondo and Skyscanner, just to compare. When I find a flight I like, I’ll also check with the airline directly, to see if they have any specials or better deals, which is often the case. I tend to book my flights a few weeks out even though that’s not necessarily the most cost-effective route, simply because my life changes so often and so quickly, that in the end it works out better, as I save in flight change fees.
 
Hot tip: Mondays and Tuesdays tend to be the cheapest days to fly.
 
 
Emotional preparations.
 
The emotional rollercoaster that escorts travel, especially the kind that is unplanned and open-ended, the kind that leads to adventure and spirited inner growth, often arrives unannounced and in the most unexpected ways. There are family members to console, who think you are leaving them (no matter how often you tell them you love them forever); friends who are terrified you will change (and you will); and your own fears and anxieties to quell. Remember that these emotions are part of the experience, and choose to find your zen throughout it all by practicing patience, compassion, openness, courage and acceptance.
 
Hot tip: 3 days before your departure, you will likely encounter “the freak-out”. It includes completely questioning your plans, feeling that you are absolutely not ready, and wanting to cancel everything. This is normal. Breathe through it. The moment you step onto that plane all this tension will dissolve and will be replaced by heartfelt excitement and joy.
 
 
Travel insurance, banking and visas.
 
I always get travel insurance through World Nomads. They are simply the most competitive and best that I have found. I try to have $100 USD in a hidden pocket, just in case of emergencies, and beyond that, pull out local currency in lots of $400 or $500 (depending on what the maximum of the ATM is) when I arrive. It tends to be the cheapest and simplest way that I have found. In first world countries like Europe, the UK, North America, Australia and NZ, I open up accounts so I can transfer money from my PayPal account into them without having currency costs and fees to deal with. I always work and travel on tourist visas. It’s easy, inexpensive and hassle free. Except for in Europe because I was born there, and Australia because I’m a permanent resident there.
 
Hot tip: If you have a freelance or online business like I do, talk to your accountant about how to make your travels work for you. All my travels are tax-deductible for me, because they are part of my “education business”. I pay taxes every year in Australia, because that’s where my business is registered, but my accountant is awesome, and I’ve not literally had to pay anything, yet.
 
 
Places to stay.
 
The next thing you will want to organise is where to stay. I like to reach out to my global online community first and foremost, to see who is out there, in the places I am going. Sometimes they have a spare room to rent, or recommendations or friends I can stay with, which is awesome. I love connecting and staying with real people, rather than outsourcing places to stay. Second to that, I also like to use AirBnB, Booking.com and WorkAway, as options and solutions.
 
Hot tip: WorkAway is different, as it allows you to exchange your time for food and accommodation, and give you really authentic experience, plus covering your basic expenses, as you learn about the new culture you are exploring. This is perfect for slow travels, especially for those still growing their business, and wanting to save some money while giving back to the local community.
 
 
Portable office.
 
I’m a fan of sweet and simple. My entire portable office includes: My Filofax, Mac Air laptop, Olympus Pen 1 camera and an assorted ziplock bag of pens. Everything else is organised digitally, some of which I outline in my Love List. I pack it all into my small canvas duffel bag which goes with me practical everywhere, so I can stop and work whenever and wherever I go.
 
Hot tip: Create systems and processes that mean you don’t have to print anything. Printing on paper kills trees and is a serious waste.
 
 
Packing essentials.
 
Unless you’re going to Australia or New Zealand everything you could possibly want or need is going to be cheaper at your destination. Which means that I recommend not buying anything extra for your trip, using what you have, and buying what you need upon arrival. This goes for: electronics, beauty and personal products, clothes and so on. Literally everything.
 
Beauty: I keep it simple. I use Dr. Bronner’s Sandalwood and Jasmine liquid soup; virgin coconut oil for my body (and face as a makeup removes and even moisturizer sometimes); Sukin Restoring Night Cream, Kiehl’s Skin Tone Correcting BB Cream + Sunscreen in Medium; Buxom Lash Mascara in Black; a no-brand black kohl eyeliner and a liquid eyeliner I picked up somewhere along the way for sultry nights; an eyebrow power kit I bought in a supermarket once and a cherry lip and cheek tint by Glory Boon. I usually get all the important places waxed, but always have a razor and tweezers handy for emergencies, and carry around loofah gloves because sometimes you just need a good scrubbing.
 
Health: I travel with Spirulina powder; Magnesium tablets; and Melatonin to help with relaxation and adjusting to time zones quickly and easily.
 
Clothes: Since my travels are always open-ended, and I never know what seasons I will encounter, I always, always pack clothes that can carry me from hot, sweltering summers (my personal preference) to mild winter, and will purchase any additional clothes and jackets that I might require upon arrival. In an attempt to give you an idea what that looks like, I am spilling the current contents of my bag.
 

For cooler weather: 3 pairs of jeans; 2 warm weather dresses; 3 knitted sweaters; 2 long-sleeved tops; 1 hooded sweater; 1 flannel; 1 leather jacket; and a scarf that doubles as a blanket on cold flights and bus rides. These are all optimal layering clothes where almost everything can work together in some way.

For warmer weather: 2 pairs of denim shorts; 2 muscle t’s; 3 t-shirts, 2 playsuits; 6 dresses, 1 kimono, 1 light jacket.

Everything else: 2 pairs of leggings that double as pyjamas / lounge-around-the-house clothes; a pair of yoga leggings; 4 bras; 1 sports bra; 9 pairs of panties; 3 sets of bikinis; 5 pairs of socks and my current favourite 5 rings, 2 necklaces and 1 pair of earrings.

Footwear: 1 pair of ankle boots; 1 pair of runners; and 1 pair of leather sandals.

 
Hot tip: When at tropical, warm beaches, go find a bit of beach with privacy, grab a handful of wet sand, and scrub your body with it. It feels amazing, and is the best natural exfoliation you could ask for, leaving your skin baby-soft, as soon as you dip into the water to wash it off. Nature is the best beautifier! (Don’t forget to follow it up with coconut oil when you get back to your abode.)
 
 
Luggage: I absolutely adore and recommend using duffel roller bags. They’re easy to manage, can fit a surprising amount in them and are hardy. I’ve taken mine across the scariest borders and through glamorous hotels, and they stand the test of time, no matter what. I used to have one from Dakine that looked a bit like this, and now I have a Quicksilver one that’s similar to this.
 
Hot tip: I like compartmentalising my bag so one area is filled with things that I rarely use (i.e. winter clothes during summer), and the other is one that I access often, so I don’t have to rummage around everything to find what I am looking for.
 
 
Carry-on: My carry-on essentially doubles as my portable office. So it includes everything outlined above, plus some nuts to snack on in emergencies, my Brita filtered water bottle, my scarf / blanket in case I get cold, Yes to Cucumbers facial wipes, my Medicine Mama’s Bee Magic Wand for dry face, lips and skin from airport transfers and some essential lavender oil for relaxation and to rescue me from any surrounding stink.
 
Hot tip: Keep your passport and important documents in your handbag or purse rather than your carry-on bag to keep them easy to access and always carry a pen. It will come handy when you least expect it, and will help you make friends.
 
 
Healthy transit.
 
This section could really have an article all of its own. I’m very sensitive to travel and my environment, and so I try to keep things as easy and stress-free as possible. I arrive at airports early, especially because I love prowling through the duty-free for unusual deals. I usually fast during flights, and just drink teas and lots of water, because flying messes with my stomach, and pack nuts to nibble on in case I can’t get a healthy meal upon landing. How much effect lasts in time, I had it for 12 hours, but for a pleasant evening in a couple of visits, I have enough. In the morning there is no trace of cork. Yes, another small secret: so that the face does not blush much, you can start taking the medicine in small portions. For example, a third, after 20 minutes a third and then another third. Then, as I noticed, the side effects described at https://summitps.org/buy-levitra-vardenafil-online/ (facial flushing and others) are not so pronounced. I take my makeup off, if I’m wearing any, before take-off to let my skin breathe, and spritz it with water and moisturize it during the flight to keep it hydrated because the airplanes suck everything out of you. And I take Melatonin during the flight to relax and sleep as much as possible.
 
Hot tip: Staying hydrated is the kindest thing you can do for your body. Make sure you bring a big bottle with you, that you can fill up at the water stations in the airport (they all have them). The tiny cups they give you en route are simply not enough. 
 
 
Older travel articles you might enjoy on this topic.
 
I want to help people, and travel, and I don’t know how to start.
Travel-hack your way into free first-class flights.
The modern-day gypsies travel essentials guide.
10 tips on keeping healthy while traveling.
8 gypset travel tips for keeping it simple.
The dark side of travel.
 
 

 
Did you know that, according to Forbes, only 8% of people actually do what they say they want to do, and follow their dreams, per year?
 
Social psychologists say that it’s because just saying things like “This year I’m going to travel.” or “This year I’m going to get out of the cubicle and create a lifestyle that make me feel happy, excited and whole!” is too vague, and doesn’t include achievable metrics, necessary for people to take action.
 
When I first started dreaming of having a lifestyle that included getting paid well for doing work that I love, lots of travel, devotion to my inner and outer growth, and spending time around genuine people who were enthusiastic and brilliant at what they were doing, what I really knew was what I didn’t want.
 
I knew, in a very roughly estimated way, how I wanted life to look like. I wanted to be free from the social obligations and limited paradigms that included working long hours for little money, suffocating your own soulful creative expressions, and getting drunk on the weekends to still the sullen heart that was crying out to be heard. But I had no idea what steps to take to actually get there. On top of that, I didn’t have people around me who were living examples of the life I wanted to create for myself. Nor did I have any support from those around me to go for those big dreams.
 
Without a fundamental example to guide me in the direction that I wanted to lean, I felt like I was making it all up.
 
I was always the one with my head in the sky, and big, lofty intentions and desires. I spent most of my early 20’s hanging out with troubadours, gypsies and misfits, because in those places I discovered a sense of limitlessness, that I couldn’t detect in conventional society. Even though most of these people were poor, they had a similar dreams to mine. Freedom. The kind of freedom that allows you to explore your own psyche, to actually get to know yourself, so your choices stem from an inner urging; a spirited uprising, rather than an external expectation.
 
By the time I reached 26, I fell out of love with the reckless lifestyles of the misfits. While they were free in their day-to-day, they’re were just as stuck as the rest of society, chained by the beliefs that they were victims, and the world was against them, and that being a creative artist or gentle dreaming soul meant that you would never find you place in the world and could never enjoy wealth and abundance. They were the outsiders, and firmly placed themselves there.
 
I went on a personal mission to find my own way.
 
A way where I was free to be myself, and to have a life that included beautiful, affluent experiences, and made a positive impact in the world, while allowing me to be the greatest expression of my purpose that I could possibly be. It seemed so impossible and far-fetched to begin with. I had so many beliefs that my dreams were not designed for me, but for other people, who had the opportunities and support systems that I didn’t have.
 
Given, there are many people who have advantages that you may not have. And yet there is something deliciously rebellious about, despite any disadvantages that may be holding you back, to prove yourself and the world, wrong. Sometimes, the mere fact that what you want is almost untouchable, is exactly what makes it achievable. Because you are willing to go places, no-one else has.
 
In my search I read books about manifesting, about living your purpose, about money mindset, about breaking through limitations, about astrology and moon cycles, about spirituality and about setting goals. I travelled in northern parts of Africa, in India, Asia and the Middle East. I tasted foods from the spoons of princes, and from the hands of beggars. And I lost myself, and found myself many times over.
 
Here’s what I learned that put me in the 8% of all people.
 
 
Living your purpose is a moment to moment practice.
 
I used to think that I had to figure out what my thing is first, and then passionately throw myself at it, until it was complete. While that approach does work for some people, it doesn’t for me. As it turns out, my thing is ever-evolving. And the living my purpose part? It’s showing up as my best self in every single moment.
 
My purpose is literally showing up, as myself, in the very best way that I can. Some days it means writing that scary email, article or post; creating something new; or speaking to that person that I admire beyond words. On other days it means building a nest in my bed, and holding down the fort with cups of tea, and words of anguish, and tears. Because some days my purpose is being in the beautiful flow of life, and other days it’s being in the messy wildness of it. Living my purpose simply requires me stepping up to what the day holds and being the human container of it.
 
 
No one has it all figured out, and no one can give you the answers. You really do get to make it all up.
 
For most of my life, I was under the impression that, somewhere out there, someone would hold all the answers for me. The answers to how to do the things I wanted to do, how to ask for the things I desired, how to approach the people who I admired, how to make that first $million. And while there are many incredible people doing many amazing things, they are stumbling forward blindly just as much as you are. Some of them have just stumbled forward blindly a bit further than you.
 
You can learn from others, their successes and their mistakes, but what works (or doesn’t work) for them, will be different for you. There is only one way to find out, and that is to try it. Every time you take step forward, you will learn what works for you and what doesn’t. You literally get to make up how to design your life, using your imagination, trusting your intuition, and following what feels right.
 
 
Setting goals and intentions, and planning ahead isn’t the antichrist.
 
I used to be terrified of setting goals and intentions. I would say that I didn’t want to limit myself in this way, because it took away my freedom. But there was something deeper than my fear of losing my freedom running the show. I was terrified of failing. I was paralysed by the thought that I might not be able to achieve what I dreamed to have, do and be. So I saved myself from feeling the pain of failure, but not having anything to fail. Isn’t that clever.
 
I thought goals were rigid markers in my path of life, and that I couldn’t adjust them, to match my ever-changing reality. But I was wrong. Learning to set goals and intentions, gave me tangible and achievable metrics, that motivated me to take action. And when I “failed” I learned what wasn’t working, so I could do more of what was working.
 
 
Want to know the magic formula? = Get clear on what it is. Break it down. Start doing it.
 
The easiest and fastest route to actually doing what you say you want to do, and living your dreams, isn’t knowing how to do it. It’s getting clear on what is it is that you want to be, do and have, and then breaking it down into tiny micro-actions that you can do every day. Those micro-actions are grounded in your current reality, and simultaneously leaning towards the reality you are designing for yourself. The question you want to be asking yourself is What can I do right now, that leads me closer to being where I want to be?. And then do that.
 
For me, one of the things I wanted to be is an eloquent, proficient and perhaps even mesmerizing writer. I wrote down what that would look like. I made a plan of how I could show up, every day. And then I started doing it. I had been writing for many years, but no-one saw my writing. In order for my writing to evolve and ameliorate, it had to engage with real people, and be breathed in by souls who would (or would not) connect with it. So I started a blog. The first 6 months of writing on that blog was awful. But I needed to be awful to become better. Otherwise I would have hidden in a closet forever. And from those first 6 painful months, an entire universe opened up for me, beyond my wildest dreams.
 
This is possible for anything. It’s a simple formula. Anyone can do it.
 
 
Everything in life is a reflection of you. You want to see change? Get committed and consistent.
 
One of my biggest fears in life, has always been loss of freedom. And in my mind, I merged feeling bored, with feeling stuck. Which meant that things like commitment, consistency and routine, were adamantly avoided. It wasn’t until one day in a Bikram Yoga class, where every single sequence is always the same, when I noticed that I had become stronger and more flexible, improvements that had only occurred because I committed myself to showing up for class consistently. I had one of the weird aha moments, when I realised that the same concept could be applied to anything else in life. In order for me to experience a positive change in any area of my life I had to commit and show up for myself consistently. For some people this is a no-brainer. For me, it was huge. If there’s one thing that I say to every single one of my clients, it’s that consistency is key
 
 
When you position your life with personal values and self-worth being top priorities everything changes.
 
I used to think this was very selfish. In fact many people believe this is selfish. Even my mother once told me that the choices I was making were selfish. But the caveat is that you are not living for other people. You are living for yourself. People who put their self-worth and personal values first, admire other people who do the same. It’s like joining an elite club of people who actually do what they say they want to do, and are living their dreams. Crazy, right? While this is an area I’m personally still working on, it feels good to have boundaries, and be able to say no with grace and ease, because my personal values and self-worth are my top priorities. If you take anything away with you from this article, I hope it’s this.
 
 
You won’t believe it when you see it, you’ll see it when you believe it. You have to prove yourself to yourself.
 
So many people are waiting to feel worthy, waiting for permission, waiting for the education, waiting to believe in themselves, before they actually do what they say they want to do, and live their dreams. That’s a lot of waiting. I get it. I spent many years waiting for those things too. When I feel confident, I’ll write an article for a big magazine. When I believe in myself, I’ll start a business. When I have my qualification, I’ll start teaching what I know. 
 
But that feeling that you’re searching for, it never arrives. That person is never going to give you permission, and you will never be more ready than you are right now. There’s another way to approach it. You have to believe that you have the courage and hunger to prove yourself. You have to believe that even of you don’t know the way (and most of us don’t) you will figure it out as you go. And most of all you have to believe that the unknown is your friend, and that everything that is meant for you is on its way.
 
 
Experts say that if you can’t measure it you won’t do it. I say, when you know what it is you want, and you ardently focus on it, you will find your way. When you infuse your dreams with practical steps, that you start taking right now, anything is possible.
 
I also have another dream. A dream to make the dreams of people who are stuck, easier to achieve. By giving them the support and tangible steps to do what they say they want to do. I’ve started doing that in my monthly membership program the Free-Spirited Collective. It might be just the right amount of hand-holding and thrust in the right direction, that you are looking for. I’d love to see you join us, if you feel called.
 
 
Photography by Jessica Shirley.
 

 
I noticed — many years ago — that when I read and learn a lot, I feel empowered, alive and vibrant. And I like to feel empowered, alive and vibrant. Which is also why I love to read and learn.
 
And most of the resources that I’ve come to love and cherish have been passed on to me from friends, colleagues and loved ones. We can all share knowledge freely, instead of hoarding it.
 
This is how we make life-changing introductions of all sorts for each other, instead of letting each of us “connect the dots” on our own.
 
Behold my list of 8 ridiculously awesome + useful books + resources you will love. Please, enjoy them as much as I have.
 
 

 
Blue Truth. A Spiritual Guide to Life & Death and Love & Sex.
I discovered this book in one of those serendipitous moments: I had just had an extremely intense couple of months with my business, and things were starting to beautifully unwind. Except that I wasn’t. I was still coiled up tight in response to making bigger strides and leaps and decisions than I have been used to.
 
And the one morning I walked over to the bookshelf and suddenly this dark blue book just shone out at me. I had never seen it in my bookcase investigation before, but there it was, calling me. And as I started to read page after page, I could feel my body relax. Uncoil. Breathe. And remember. It was exactly what I needed.
 
Blue Truth is a beautifully written sample of how to feel our way through life, without letting the rigours of our analytical mind taking over control. David Deida teaches how to expand and open, as opposed to contract and close, especially during challenging times, in order to experience our lives from a space of love, relaxation and almost from a higher realm or perspective. This read is perfect for those of us who are sensitive, easily stressed out, and ready to unfurl our hearts and spirits. All it takes is a little bit of practice and understanding how. Get it from Amazon.
 
 

 
Louise Hay Affirmation Apps.
On Facebook, I asked you what you wanted to know more about and you replied “Any particular sites/books you use for meditations or affirmations.”
 
These days I tend to come up with and create my own affirmations that I use to transform my thinking, when it out of alignment with where I want to go, or the kind of person I want to be. But it took practice to get to this point. About 5 years ago, I was going through a really challenging time in my life. I was in a relationship that made me feel stuck, joyless and unenthusiastic, the work I was doing wasn’t totally lighting me up, and I had a tonne of fears holding me back.
 
I’ve always been a fan of Louise Hay, especially her book You Can Heal Your Life, so when I discovered that she had some affirmation apps, I bought them and would listen to them non-stop. Every morning and evening I would do the meditation. And during the day I listened to the affirmations, even at work. Sometimes I played the subliminal meditations, so all my co-workers would be infected by the positive thoughts too. They helped me believe in myself, and find the inner strength to turn my situation around. I still listen to them every now and then when I feel like it. These are ones I use personally:
 
101 Power Thoughts Audio App
Morning and Evening Meditations Audio App
Feeling Fine Affirmations Audio App
 
 

 
Women’s Bodies Women’s Wisdom
If you’re a lady, and you have body, then this book is for you. It is so incredibly important that we learn to care and nurture our bodies, and its unfortunate but true, that our medical and health system just doesn’t cut it. So we have to educate ourselves on what is best for us. And then do that.
 
I bought this book on Kindle years ago, but only recently picked it back up, to look something up about women’s reproductive organs. It’s so refreshing to hear a Doctor speak about how all of our physical pains are reflections of the emotions that we carry within us, and that, often in order to cure and heal, we have to not only remove the physical symptoms but also the emotional conditions and beliefs connected to the particular issue. Dr Christiane Northrup touches on how every different part of a woman is connected to a specific part of her emotions and behaviours, giving us clues and tools in healing ourselves and having healthy, whole and fulfilling lives, always and forever. Get it from Amazon.
 
 

 
Self-Made Man
I am fascinated by men, and how wildly different they can be, from us women-folk. While we do have many similarities, I’ve come to the conclusion that we are very different creatures, and a bit of a mystery that I find entertaining to learn more about. So when I heard about a woman, and reporter, who completely disguised herself as a man, and lived like man for a whole year, through several male-dominant scenarios and environments, I was hooked.
 
Norah Vincent takes us through her journey as a woman, pretending to be a man, for an entire year, and reveals the hidden secrets of gentlemen-only bowling clubs; strip-clubs; dating; a high-level testosterone-fuelled sales job; and finally a monastery. She gives us an intriguing insight into the world, minds and emotions of men, which left me feeling more compassionate than ever for our sweet men-folk. They don’t have it easy, and I love them a little bit more, for, on the most part, trying so hard to get it right.
 
It also leaves me with feeling that the society we live in currently, as best as we are doing, still isn’t particularly supportive, of any of us. We have created such strange, twisted, unhealthy expectations and beliefs about each other, no wonder things have been so imbalanced. This read is quite captivating on so many different levels! Get it from Amazon.
 
 

#Girlboss
If you need a swift kick in your pants to finally go out and start doing things with your life, this book will do it for you. Sophia Amoruso is an eBay seller who went from totally broke to CEO in eight years. That eBay seller is Nasty Gal.
 
“The world loves to tell you how difficult things are, and the world’s not exaggerating. But difficult doesn’t mean impossible, and out of the bajillions of things in this universe that you can’t control, what you can control is how hard you try, and if or when to pack it in.”
 
Though she has a bit of a masculine, American approach to her life and business (she’s a tough lady!) her words are super inspiring and have the intended effect: getting you all bridled up and excited about taking risks, flying by the seed of your pants and just doing it, whatever it may be, without too much attachment for the outcome. Get it from Amazon. 
 

 
The Big Leap
Each one of us carries ingrained, unconscious ideas of just how happy and successful we can be.
 
Celebrated psychologist and author Gay Hendricks coined the term “Upper Limits’ to describe how we limit our ability to reach our full potential in all areas of life. He explains that by learning to identify and transcend these self-imposed “Upper Limits,” we can expand our potential for happiness and abundance in extraordinary ways.
 
The understanding is that, when we reach our Upper Limit of how much positive feeling we can handle, we self-sabotage by creating a series of unpleasant thoughts and experiences to deflate ourselves. The thoughts and experiences that we subconsciously manufacture in response to hitting our Upper Limits in happiness and success, guarantee to return us to a state that we are more familiar with: not feeling so good.
 
In The Big Leap, we learn how to recognise and overcome those Upper Limits, so we can continue to expand, grow and enjoy more and more success, abundance and love. This book has been a game-changer for me. Get it from Amazon.
 
 

 
Overcoming Underearning
I recommend this book to most of my clients with money issues. And if we are honest, all of us have some kind of money beliefs that are holding us in situations that we don’t want to be in. In this day and age, debt is rife, and even people who earn above-average wages are often broke, with no savings to their name.
 
I passionately believe that it is imperative that women learn to feel deserving of, earn, keep and invest large sums of money. The reason is that women tend to make good decisions; nurturing, kind, community-minded decisions, that support everyone. And if we want the world to change, then we have to change. And starts by empowering ourselves to such a degree, that we can make a positive impact.
 
And money is one incredibly powerful way to do so.
 
But if we can’t even begin to own our worth and value, how can we make the money to have a positive impact in our own lives and the lives of all those around us? Read this book if you’re ready to overcome underrating. Get it from Amazon.
 
 

 
Turning Pro
Short, sweet, fast-to-read, and an incredible jolt of inspiration to step up your game and show up as a pro, in everything you do. Years ago I would have despised the concept of ‘turning pro’ because I thought that’s just something that wanky business-people spoke of. But in reality, it’s about mindfulness, presence and truly giving your unique gift to the world.
Even when it feels really, really hard. Because that’s where your live’s work comes from. And where everything starts to feel meaningful. Get it from Amazon.
 

I was recently interviewed by the Australian Natural Health Magazine for an article on the benefits of travel on self-development, and wanted to share these answers with you too, because, if you’re anything like me, you might not get a chance to read the magazine.
 
Please introduce yourself.
I am a lifestyle coach who helps creative professionals create a semi-nomadic, unconventional life that is both soulfully and financially fulfilling.
 
1) Can you briefly describe your professional background?
I have a background in psychology matched with an intense curiosity on how we create our lives through the beliefs we have, and therefore also the limitations we create for ourselves. I then started travelling around the world, and had first-hand experience in how transformational travel can be, in not only expanding your horizons, but also getting to know yourself, and your life purpose in the process.
 
2) And your travelling background? Where have you been? What have you seen? What inspired you to travel the first time? What inspires you to travel now?
I have essentially travelled for most of my life. I was born in Austria, my father is Italian, I lived in both those countries as well as Portugal and the Canary Islands as a small child. Then, when my mum married and immigrated to Australia, I was travelling between my parents in Europe and Australia. So to continue travelling as an adult was somewhat a natural progression. I originally went travelling on my own to discover the differences between people and cultures, but what I actually learnt, was about what truly unites us as a species. Its such a beautiful thing. Now, I travel to keep being reminded and inspired by the beauty of the world, and to fulfil my natural tendency to live a semi-nomadic lifestyle.
 
3) Is travelling beneficial and why (would be great to have a psychology-skewed answer here)?
The most powerful benefit of travel is that it helps open up your interpretation and understanding of the world, giving you a wider range of choices and pleasures in life. The experience of other cultures helps loosen the chains of cognition, making it easier to see things in a new light. Whether it’s your own life, or other experiences, we stop be so judgemental of ourselves or others and recognise that there is an unlimited wealth of possibilities and opportunities in each and every experience.
Because of this, we are able to organise our lives and what we want to do with them, with much more clarity and optimism. So essentially, travel is a really good way to get to know yourself and learn about how you do, and how you want to, show up in all areas of your life. You finally get to see what’s truly important because the constricted thought processes are gone. There is something intellectually liberating about travel.
 
4) Do you know of any studies that back this up?
There are quite a few, but the one that comes to mind is Lile Jia at Indiana University. He randomly divided a few dozen under-grads into two groups, both of which were asked to list as many different modes of transportation as possible.
Jia found a striking difference between the two groups: when students were told that the task was imported from Greece, they came up with significantly more transportation possibilities. They didn’t just list buses, trains, and planes; they cited horses, triremes, spaceships, bicycles, and even Segway scooters. Because the source of the problem was far away, the subjects felt less constrained by their local transport options; they didn’t just think about getting around in Indiana, they thought about getting around all over the world, and even in deep space.
In a second study, Jia found that people were much better at solving a series of insight puzzles when told that the puzzlescame all the way from California, and not from down the hall. These subjects considered a far wider range of alternatives, whichmade them more likely to solve the challenging brain teasers. There is something intellectually liberating about distance.
 
5) Would you recommend travelling alone, with a partner, as a group or do all of these travelling arrangements have different benefits?
I personally would recommend travelling on your own to really have that experience of self-discovery. Certainly, all travel arrangements have different benefits, but if you want to grow as an individual, you have to get comfortable with being by yourself. Learning to like yourself and even love yourself by spending time alone is invaluable. You see the world through your own personal filters without being influenced by others and get to see who and how you really are. It’s a truly beautiful life journey.
 
6) Travelling to a non-English country can be tough. Do you have any tips? What can one learn from such an experience?
I know that people say that travelling in non-English speaking countries can be challenging, but its really about being resourceful. In the end we all have the same needs, and communication is only 40% verbal. You’d be surprised at just how much you can communicate through body language, sign language and generally just smiling and connecting with one another. Human beings are naturally driven to help each other and share their world with one another, making being a traveller in a foreign, exotic place such a heart-warming, inspiring and fulfilling experience.
As long as you are willing to be friendly, open and curious, other cultures will welcome you with open arms and share a special kind of hospitality that is rare to encounter in your own town or city.
 
7) Is there anything we can do to approach travel as self-discovery or is simply travelling enough?
From my experience, and working with clients, the inclination to travel usually happens at an exquisite juncture of one’s life. Be it a break-up, a death or changing career, the impulse to travel often comes at a time when there’s already tremendous change. Because of this, the introspective self-discovery elements that occur with travel generally happen quite naturally. However, simply by setting an intention for one’s journey is enough. We always attract what we focus on, so if you have decided that you would like to travel to explore yourself, that’s exactly what you’re going to get.
 
8) Do you recommend people incorporate travel into their lifestyle for learning purposes? How can people make this a reality?
I think that learning is a naturally occurring side effect to travel. Unless of course, you lock yourself up in a private resort and don’t interact with the local culture! All it takes is a little bit of curiosity and willingness to be inspired and learn new things about the world. Human beings are predisposed to want to learn and understand about the world around them so it just becomes a part of travel.
 
9) What are your top cities to visit for a self-discovery experience and why?
1. Hampi in Karnataka, India: This city is purely magical! It’s the original capital of India 500 years ago, which now lies in ruins. It’s one of the most magical, resonant places I’ve ever been to. This place just does things to a person!
2. Prague in the Ceck Republick: A visual fairy-land, Prague is the perfect place for self-discovery and introspection. Doing all the spectacular walks, while rediscovering yourself is such a powerful soul journey. I particularly recommend going there in Autumn when all the leaves are turning golden. It’s a visual feast, and so enriching for every part of your being.
3. Tulum in Mexico: This part of the world is essentially setup for the self-discovering traveller. Yoga retreats, shamanic ceremonies and detoxes on every corner, plus the beauty of the Caribbean beach-side, its such a wonderful time for reflection, learning, healing and growing.
Having said that, your experience of every place is also dependant of where you’re at in that moment. Whatever you’re feeling, travel tends to amplify.
 
10) What are some of the lessons one might learn while travelling (acceptance of other cultures, religions etc)
Travel is like a truth serum. It is the best cure for being self-centred and close-minded. Through travel we step beyond those limitations created by living in your own bubble and experience the wealth of possibilities in the world. Our approach moves away from being culturally defined to being universal. It’s an opening of the heart. Non-travellers are more susceptible to being stuck in their monotonous patterns. Travelling jolts us awake. So we learn to see ourselves and others in such a different light, and thereby expand out mindsets and the possibilities available to us in life.
 
11) Do you remember a key experience that you had while travelling that you learnt something valuable from. Can you please tell me about it?
Having spent some time in Muslim cultures in both Morocco and Turkey, I always had the impression that a woman travelling on her own would be quite dangerous. Yet’ I was so beautifully surprised that many men would feel protective of you, and take you under their wing as a sister, because of their culture rather than in spite of it. I felt very safe and taken care which completely opposed the perception I had of Muslim culture up to that point. In that time I learnt that many of the views we are fed through the media are entirely untrue, and never to believe these stories. Have you own experiences, make up your own mind. The world will surprise you.
 
12) Anything else you want to add, particularly pulling from your psychology knowledge?
Travel not only invites us to see the world anew, it gives us a fresh look at ourselves. The greatest benefit of travelling is the unique view it give us of who we are a human being in this world. By placing us outside of ourselves, travel provides us an objective view of what we have been habitually doing, as well as the anonymity to risk new ways of being in the world.
We cannot travel to get away from ourselves. As the adage goes “Wherever you go, there you are.” Travel fails as an escape but it succeeds as confrontation. Confrontation with ourselves that is. Which challenges us to rise up and become someone far more in alignment with ones dreams and values.