When I envisioned the creation of my transformational travel company, Pivot Trip, I built the company combining two things: 1) travel to remotes parts of the world and 2) a purposeful itinerary designed to help others begin living their best lives. I’ve learned over the past two years that it is my higher purpose to help people who feel they have been struggling in life, or to help those people who feel in their gut there is different path for them but just aren’t sure how to get on that path. And the one thing that I underestimated the most about building this new company (because I am a very organized planner wanting the itinerary and overall experience to be flawless for the participants) was how I would be transformed by the bravery, strength, courage and beauty of the trip’s participants.
I think it is difficult for many of us to admit to ourselves that we need a life boost. It is hard to admit that something in our lives may need more attention than we are giving at the current time. And by signing up for a life-changing retreat, we are admitting that something isn’t quite right and that some difficult work lies ahead for ourselves. But isn’t this a good thing?
Because let’s admit it, doing what we are comfortable doing – the same things every day without thinking about them (auto-pilot as I like to call it) – is much easier than facing our challenges and putting in the hard work to make changes towards a new path. It’s just easier to sweep our issues under the rug for now thinking “one day” that we will deal with it, or perhaps that we will never have to deal with it ever again.
The challenge remains that our issues and challenges don’t just mysteriously disappear over time. The challenges are there and they will be there until we directly face them (or we die with them). But if you can guarantee that life will be better for you and those around you if you did face the challenges, then why wouldn’t you put in the hard work to do so? Why do people fear the outcome of facing their issues?
Building Lifelong Tools
My focus with the inaugural Pivot Trip to Bali was to test the concept of transformational travel. To work out any kinks in the concept I have created to then build more trips. One of the unique elements of Pivot Trip that sets this experience apart from other life-changing experiences is the coaching element woven throughout the entire program.
Pivot Trip experiences are not just one week spent together in an exotic global destination. However, the full Pivot Trip experience spans two months beginning one month before the actual trip commences and ending one month after each person arrives back home from the weeklong travel experience
Most retreats often create such a transformative experience only to release the vulnerable participants back to their reality without the tools to continue the transformation. The participants don’t have any type of accountability follow ups to take action steps toward achieving what they discussed during the precious time during the retreat.
With the Pivot Trip experience, each person will come together during the weeklong trip building strong bonds to last into the future. Each group, each trip will become cohorts. And each future Pivot Trip cohort will be part of a transformed community to continue sharing their experiences and lessons with each other online, well after the Pivot Trip has formally ended.
Transformation Has Begun
The inaugural trip begins on Sunday in Bali. Five brave people arrive in the town of Ubud, the heart of Bali, to continue this life-changing journey. Of course no one likes to be the first to try out something new. Which is why I am even more blown away by these individuals making the commitment to themselves. By believing in the experience, the concept and the overall outcome for themselves. There are no previous trips to look at and see what they will experience. Each person took the leap of faith knowing this was the right time to embark on a new journey of self-discovery.
I have met with each of the five participants individually on three separate occasions for a total of four hours per person. For those that were in close proximity, I have met them in person. For others who were more than 30 miles away, I met with each on video conversations online.
And as a result, I have seen the personal transformation beginning to occur. Each person has begun to take the time to take themselves off of life auto-pilot. They have begun to look at themselves in the mirror and ask themselves the very difficult questions that we all like to avoid asking. And they are taking it a step further and writing down their answers to these tough questions. They are beginning to face their fears and their reality.
Forever Changed
However the power of these fierce conversations has not only positively impacted each participant, but the conversations have also empowered me more than I ever expected. I underestimated the positive impact that these interactions would have on me as a result of helping others.
I certainly don’t claim to be a therapist, nor do I want to be a therapist. But what I do have is unique life experiences centered around overcoming adversity, building mental toughness, focusing a life plan centered around discipline, understanding the power of personal transformation, leveraging strong interpersonal communication, overcoming conflict, implementing organization in every aspect of my life, using my personal talents to the best of my ability, building strategies that create success, and most importantly, discovering my higher passion and living it each day. While therapy focuses and deals with the past, my experiences help others focus on the future. To help others begin asking themselves “what is possible?” instead of saying “why I can’t/won’t/don’t”.
We have to remember that none of us are perfect. We never will be. And we have to realize that everyone is dealing with something in their lives. Even I am still overcoming the loss of my mother, my best friend, my rock that occurred just eight months ago to this day. But this is an event that I am unable to go back and change. The facts are out of my control. But what is in my control is how I manage my life each day knowing the facts.
Living My Best Life
The Pivot Trip experience has already exceeded my expectations. I am grateful for the opportunity to meet and work with such beautiful souls. Individuals who are going through great adversity and facing their fears head on. Working on being present every moment and trying to eliminate worrying about things they can’t change in their lives. Learning to stand on their own two feet, without relying on others to hold them up. Finding ways to become more balanced as a human being and not let others control their lives. Building confidence in themselves. Facing difficult events that have occurred in the past to learn from and take down the walls that have prevented them from moving forward.
I have laughed. I have cried. I have felt each person deep within my heart. I am honored to have the opportunity to be a part of their lives. To be able to help each person begin to see what is possible in their lives and to begin moving forward with a new outlook and plan. The opportunity to help others is exactly why I created Pivot Trip in the first place. I can’t wait to see the ongoing impact for each participant during the experience in Bali as well as into the future. This only motivates me more to plan new experiences that are even better than the first. I am thrilled to be able to live my best life each day, to live my dream and to have the opportunity to help others live their best lives.
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