Exploring Once Is Never Enough: My Travel Truth

From every place I take my memories and the feelings associated with them with me. And then I travel on. To somewhere else, to new memories and experiences.

I'm learning that the past, happiness and loss, have just as much a place in my life as what awaits me in the future. I no longer need to hope for new happy times; I believe in them and in myself because I mature with every experience. I learn more about myself and about life. I am the architect of my own happiness, but I'm not always lucky! Or at least, sometimes happiness only comes to me indirectly. Unexpectedly, rather than expected.

Because I'm ready for myself! Sometimes sooner, sometimes a little later.

I am ready to accept whatever comes my way. Now! And based on what I've learned about yesterday, I will be ready tomorrow as well. All doubt is allowed and even welcome, and it protects me—I've learned that too. And if I ever find myself unable to see a way forward, there are people who want to and can help me. They don't even have to be close to me; sometimes it's even better if they don't know me well. Because they shouldn't tell me what to do. They should simply offer me a fresh perspective, a different viewpoint that I haven't yet recognized (sometimes people close to me can't do this because they are biased or think similarly).

I hope you found some connection with my thoughts and insights, perhaps even recognizing yourself in some of them or gaining a different perspective. Or perhaps not. The most important realization for me was that personal development is a lifelong process, constantly evolving. With every experience, emotional reaction, and development of our social skills, we progress toward self-realization and personal growth, ultimately becoming who we want to be. We will always experience highs and lows along the way. And sometimes we have to overcome deep valleys and crises. But without these, growth and further development are impossible. Pain is unavoidable, but suffering is voluntary, because our thoughts alone determine our feelings and influence our actions. We hold the power.

Our external reality is a reflection of our inner states.

Once again: There is no right or wrong, there is only YOUR way of dealing with your feelings. They are there. They are valuable. And they are your guideposts, if you trust yourself. Accept them. Engage with yourself, dive in, explore, and discover in your past, your present, and your future—oh wait, you don't know that yet, but face it calmly! With just a little bit of courage, that's all it takes; the rest usually follows. Believe me!

How situations and challenges affect our lives depends heavily on our personal attitude and thoughts about them. If we avoid taking a new direction out of fear, because we dread change, because the new direction might bring disappointment, we hold ourselves back. We block our growth. Then we allow ourselves too little flexibility or even succumb to self-pity, regret, or bitterness, and unconsciously attract precisely what we are desperately trying to avoid.

Self-fulfilling prophecies

These thoughts can have two effects. Therefore, it's important that your thoughts are proportionate to what's happening. This might mean taking a risk to attract a fulfilling life, contentment, joy, and success. On the other hand, you might pay a high price if you don't pay attention to the disasters you imagine and thereby unconsciously bring them about.

Pay attention to yourself and your thoughts!

This is the best self-protection you can practice. Give yourself a moment to reflect. A short break or a brief interruption to analyze your thoughts, ask yourself a few questions, and reorient yourself. Before you make a decision based on emotion or draw negative conclusions and consequences. Pause for a moment to become aware, to be fully present, to observe your thoughts, to adopt a different perspective, to consider events from another angle. In the long run, this can bring about a positive change that lasts your entire life.