There is one thing that I must take with me on this journey I’m planning, as I will be doomed for failure without it: An adventure mindset. That lies at the heart of this whole journey and is the cornerstone for the character Strange, who inspired the name of this blog. Today, I want to go over exactly what the adventure mindset is and why it’s so important.
What is an Adventure Mindset?
Simply put, an adventure mindset is a way of looking at the world through a lens of curiosity and openness to new experiences. It’s approaching life as an adventure to be had and enjoyed, rather than a series of tasks or problems to solve.
Mary touched on this in Choosing a Travel Rig, and it dawned on me how integral it is to all my plans. This is not just a trip around the country, but a journey to seek out new and interesting things. It’s an adventure, and that requires an adventure mindset to match.
Why is an Adventure Mindset Important?
So why is this so important? Can’t you treat full-time travel like any other situation and go about your day? You absolutely could, if you enjoy being miserable. Not only is that true for full-time travel, but also for everyday life.
The Nomad Life
Being on the road comes with an endless source of discomfort. I don’t care who you are, showering in a tent, sleeping in a car, and pooping in a bucket is not comfortable. That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to a nomadic life.
If you let it, those discomforts can drown you. It’s one of the big reasons most people don’t travel a lot, much less full-time. Living in a house or apartment eliminates that tidal wave of challenges, and people pay big money to enjoy it. Not judging, I fully understand the lure there.
An adventure mindset, however, inoculates you from those discomforts. With that lens in place, showering in a tent isn’t a chore to be suffered, but an experience to savor. It becomes part of the larger journey.
Everyday Life
The adventure mindset is not just for a nomadic life, but something that can be applied to any situation. I’m assuming there are unpleasant parts of your own life. Perhaps there are parts of your job that suck or you hate washing dishes.
I have worked in many fields and have had some crazy travels already. One thing I have learned over and over is that life tends to give you what you expect. If you view things as tasks or chores, they will feel like it. If you view them as an experience to be studied or enjoyed, they will feel like that instead. Yes, washing dishes is mundane, but you can elect to focus on the feeling of the water on your hands or the satisfaction of a newly clean dish that was dirty only moments before.
You don’t have to travel the world or climb a mountain to find adventure; you find it in yourself first. It starts with expectations and openness. I don’t need to travel the country to find adventure; that is merely the path I choose to take. Yours will most definitely be different, and that’s fine. That’s how it’s supposed to be.
The Adventure Mindset Wrap Up
I believe having the right mindset is a key to being happy and enjoying one’s life, so I have, of course, sat down and examined my own. Traveling the country is going to be challenging, and honestly, I’m a little scared that I won’t be up for it. Risk and fear also come with an adventure, though.
Next post, I’d like to tackle a more technical, Rubik’s Cube area of nomad life: Interior Layouts. Figuring out where to put everything in a vehicle build is surprisingly complicated, so we’re gonna take a look at how to figure that out. Until then, I’ll be busy adjusting my mindset for finding Austrasia.
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