{"id":16380,"date":"2013-09-19T21:49:27","date_gmt":"2013-09-20T05:49:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=16380"},"modified":"2013-09-19T21:49:27","modified_gmt":"2013-09-20T05:49:27","slug":"3-ways-open-opportunity-exploring-possibilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/3-ways-open-opportunity-exploring-possibilities\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Ways to Open Up to Opportunity: Exploring the Possibilities"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

<\/p>\n

What if I told you that you don\u2019t necessarily need to know the end goal in order to start?<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be happy when I lose ten pounds<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be happy when I quit my job.<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be happy when I finish my degree.<\/em><\/p>\n

So many of us suffer from the \u201cI\u2019ll be happy when\u201d syndrome. What if we could squash that bug once and for all? What if we could open our eyes each morning and be grateful for the moment before us?<\/p>\n

What if we could be happy right now?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Three years ago, I started a little blog in a dark corner of the internet. I\u2019m not sure why I did it, but something compelled me to start sharing more of myself, and blogging became the medium for me to do that.<\/p>\n

My first post was nothing more than an image of a Nutella jar. Shortly after that, I started writing about technology news. I got bored of that and moved onto online marketing. And on and on for a few more months… until I hit upon the jackpot.<\/p>\n

For a long time, the blog didn\u2019t do much more than gather dust. I had few readers and even fewer ideas of what I wanted to do with my writing.<\/p>\n

But I wouldn\u2019t change a thing.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some might say I was lost and wasting my time, but I disagree. I was exploring the possibilities, taking my time to bask in the glow of what could be, of what I wanted it to be.<\/p>\n

I say I hit the jackpot when I found self-improvement, but the \u201cjackpot\u201d keeps changing. As time goes on, I continue exploring what I enjoy and what I want to help others with through my writing.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It feels wonderful and freeing, and I wish it for everyone around me.<\/p>\n

The problem is that so many people I run into tell me that they\u2019d love to start something new (painting, writing, seeing someone new) but they can\u2019t yet \u2014 because they\u2019re not quite sure yet what the \u201cplan\u201d is.<\/p>\n

What if there is no plan? What if I told you that living a great life isn\u2019t about plans? What if I told you that you\u2019re much more likely to live your dream life if you\u2019d just open yourself up to exploration?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are three reasons why I love exploration (and the \u201cnon plan\u201d way of going about life) so much:<\/p>\n

1. Focusing On the Process<\/h2>\n

The last three years of my life have been an exploration, and I\u2019m sure that the next three will be just the same. I can\u2019t predict the future, nor do I want to.<\/p>\n

Because everything changes so dynamically, I\u2019ve been forced to enjoy each and every step of my path. Things may or may not make sense at the time, but I\u2019m grounded in each present moment.<\/p>\n

Not having an end goal in sight allows me to enjoy each moment for what it truly is \u2014 beautiful \u2014 and prepares me for the next moment \u2014 a mystery.<\/p>\n

2. Opening Up to Opportunities<\/h2>\n

When I\u2019m in exploration mode, each new moment is a true mystery. Like I mentioned before, I can\u2019t predict what\u2019s next, but I can prepare myself for what\u2019s to come by being open and willing to continue exploring.<\/p>\n

The possibilities are endless.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I recently opened myself up to exploration by following my gut\u2019s desire to travel with my husband to a conference that seemed interesting. Upon landing in my destination, I received an email from someone who wants to fly me out to Europe to speak (all expenses paid!).<\/p>\n

I never expected that in a million years, but I do recognize the beauty in that allowing myself to explore then brought me the opportunity to continue doing that in a few months.<\/p>\n

3. Enjoying Never Arriving<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s a peaceful beauty in \u201cnever arriving.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most people work their entire lives to reach a certain point. I know I\u2019ve been guilty of this in the past. For example, \u201cI\u2019ll think I\u2019ve arrived when Oprah calls!\u201d<\/em> or something of the sort. Like I mentioned at the beginning of the post, most of us suffer from the \u201cI\u2019ll be happy when ___\u201d<\/em> syndrome.<\/p>\n

Instead of working toward a specific goal, I soak up the rays of never arriving at anywhere specific.<\/strong><\/p>\n

My success doesn\u2019t depend on one thing in particular \u2014 it depends on the sum of millions of small things that make me happy and content NOW.<\/p>\n

The biggest gift I ever gave myself was allowing myself to explore my writing without any expectations or plans. I let the blogging medium flow freely over me, changing its course over the past three years. Sure, maybe I haven\u2019t \u201caccomplished\u201d as much as some people say I should have, but that was never my goal in the first place.<\/p>\n

Allowing myself to explore open up entire fields of possibility that I never knew existed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Are you interested in exploring more in your life \u2014 about yourself, your loved ones, and the world? Share your stories in the comments.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d love to hear from you in the comments! I’ve also prepared a free resource to help you explore some more,\u00a0which you can find here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

About the author: When Marcella Chamorro decided to quit her job to\u00a0live a perpetual vacation<\/a>, she created a meaningful and exciting lifestyle (including traveling and speaking at a TEDx event). As an author & entrepreneur based in Nicaragua, Marcella is embarking on a one month challenge to redesign her life to be even more awesome\u00a0\u2014\u00a0follow along here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What if I told you that you don\u2019t necessarily need to know the end goal in order to start? 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