It was August 18, 2018. A sunny and beautiful sky shined in the little German town of 2,000 inhabitants. We were setting up the final details and moving the last furniture away from our apartment.

Neighbors were coming to take the last things we couldn’t get rid of. Some other stuff we were simply either throwing away or giving to the German Red Cross.

This was not a random nor regular move. This was the day we decided to renounce our labels of ordinary citizens of the Matrix. This was the day that there was no turning back.

We delivered the keys to the new tenant. An empty apartment, only 2 backpacks left and a one-way ticket to a world trip.

No attachments, no fear, no doubt. The only certainty that a new life was waiting for  me. A life of freedom.

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Wtf are you doing? Was the expression of at least 80% of my friends when we said we sold or gave away everything we had. Then, when we explained that we decided to quit everything to travel the world, they would change their faces to Wow that’s awesome, I wish I could do the same shit!

I’m used to be the black sheep of the family. I left my mom’s house when I was 18 to go to College. When I was 24, I left Brazil and went to Ireland for an exchange. One year later I moved to Germany. At 28, I left for a world-trip. With an open ending.

Being a free spirit like mom likes to call me, enables me to go after my dreams. To pursue them without the biggest feeling that prevents most people from doing the same: fear.

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Society is driven by fear. Since I always tended to go after whatever I wanted, I never understood why people prefer to live an unhappy, unfulfilled and frustrated life rather than going after the heck they want.

The uncertainty of what future holds makes them remain, bear and even (in some cases) dwell a miserable state of living for a long period of time.

And sometimes, for a lifetime.

Because sticking with a miserable program that runs automatically in their brains equals stability. And for those folks, that’s the only answer. That’s the only way to go through life.

By just paying bills. And surviving.

Instead of living.

Whereas those who dare to dream big and take action towards their dreams are the crazy ones. The irresponsible. Rambling. You name it.

Don’t get me wrong. I know people who are happy with their 9-5 life, living happily for the weekends and holidays. That’s great. But they are like the minority of the population. A recent Gallup Poll found that 85% of the population hate their jobs. That’s right. And that’s worldwide.

The 15% happy folks have, in my opinion, a completely different mindset. Towards money, work, their abilities, skills and gifts, their connection with their own selves and time.

If you’re part of this selected group, that’s awesome. Congrats! Keep on doing what you’re doing.

Otherwise, you should start questioning some decisions you’ve been taken and where they’re leading you to.

Big changes take time

If it turns out, you need a 360-degree change in your life, take a step at a time.

Write down a plan on how this new life would look like and how you’ll to get there.

Even if it’s the craziest idea ever and makes you shit your pants to think about it, that’s a good sign! It’s also a sign that you desperately need some changes!

And don’t use them as an excuse to prevent you from starting your plan. Even for the most difficult ones, you can plan ahead of the worst-case scenario. Tim Ferris talked about how facing fears it’s what you should be doing.

Embrace and accept what will come

I’m not gonna lie. Whatever decision you make, whether it is quitting your job, traveling the world, starting your own business will be hard. Especially in the beginning.

You’re entering an unknown zone and your brain will likely try to protect you to enter there and might say to you it’s safer to stay in your comfort zone.

If fear, doubt, discourage knock on your day, say thank you for your presence, but you no longer serve me.

Observe and ask yourself why you’re feeling like this. Embrace whatever comes, accept them but do not engage with them.

How?

Let’s say you want to start your own business and some thoughts like what if everything goes wrong? Who am I to set up a business? I’m not sure if I can handle this, etc, ask why are you doubting your capacity of things going right. Taking risks is part of the entrepreneurial game and you need to make some mistakes to learn some shit. And if all goes wrong, you start again.

Do you know how many times Walt Disney was turned down before being able to finance his dreams? 302 times.

I’ll repeat that: 302 f*cking times!

So, my dear friend, if you fail once, you still have 301 more times to try again.

“Remember your dreams and fight for them. You must know what you want from life. There is just one thing that makes your dream become impossible: the fear of failure” Paulo Coelho.