THE UNKNOWN
We do not have a fear of the unknown. What we fear is giving up the known.
-Anthony De Mello
No one knows what will happen in the unknown, so why are we so afraid of it?
Side Note: We are biologically programmed to adapt to fear. If a tiger is chasing us, our body triggers fight or flight, so don’t worry about fear; your body knows what to do if faced with a REAL fear situation.
We already know everything that is happening in the known, but that can get stagnant and boring if done day in and day out—choosing the known leads to regrets. But, in the unknown, that’s where I’ve noticed that all great things happen. In the unknown, there are endless possibilities; in the known, we believe we know all the possibilities.
The unknown forces you to use all of your internal operating systems; it erases your calendar and sense of time, forces you to be present and adaptable at any given moment. You are forcing yourself to listen to your gut feelings to make quick decisions instead of overthinking. That’s why whenever I have a choice to make, I always choose the unknown because it will incur the most growth. I’ll give you an example.
During the epidemic of 2020, I was furloughed and was able to re-evaluate my life. I realized that my job was leading me to a very stressful and unhappy life. When given the opportunity to come back full-time, I chose the unknown and declined, saying I wanted to switch to per diem, working when I want to. It has been the best choice for my body and mind to reset from the chaotic lifestyle that society is teaching us as the correct lifestyle.
My boss called me and said they have someone going on vacation and need me to come work for two weeks. I accepted and started looking at places to stay since I don’t live in that city anymore. I was looking at the cheapest options and found a hostel.
Bonus: If you ever have the chance to stay at a hostel, I highly recommend it. There will be some nice ones you stay at and some bad ones. Just do your research beforehand.
I had stayed at some hostels in Lisbon, Portugal, and they were a favorite part of my trip, aside from the pastels de natas, which my taste buds still profoundly miss.
I’m at the hostel, and I just got off work. I’m talking on the phone with my buddy in the parking lot. As I’m talking to him, I notice this group of girls getting a hostel tour, which meant they had just checked in. One of them pointed in my direction, so I instinctively looked behind me to see what she was pointing at, revealing nothing but a garbage can. I turned back around and realized that she was a girl I had met last year, wait for it, at a hostel in Portugal!
That encounter was probably the best use of the phrase “what a small world we live in” that I have ever experienced. Who knows what will transpire out of that crazy occurrence, but this shows the power of choosing the unknown. If I had stuck with the known, then I would still be full-time at my job, miserable, and never found out about this hostel where I made many new friends! And those friends love to travel, which creates more traveling opportunities for you!
THE SHOURT GUIDE TO 30