Life Mapping

As an avid traveller, and a lover of exploring, poring over maps always feels exciting, the smell of adventure coming and a way to plan out a route - and leave leeway for going off the plan and into the unknown when opportunity and intrigue catch my eye.

What if we could borrow from this and apply it to how we navigate life?

A fun, adventurous, fulfilling life with joy and purpose.

Not linear, dull and rigid, nor recklessly chaotic and unpleasantly unhinged.

A combination of a planned, well designed route, with capacity, expectation and desire to take, or be taken off the trail, and onto who knows yet, what new directions or detours.

We don’t plan out whole life’s trips and adventures in one go. Rather, we grow excited at the prospect of a new pathway or adventure, great or small, and we start mapping. We research, talk to experts, get tips and advice from trusted people we know, and others online or in books. Then we decide where we’re off to, when and what we need on the journey.

It would be impossible, and ludicrous, to map out, plan and pack for a life time of journeys. And that’s just the planned parts - let alone the spontaneous off-piste parts!

That would also cause a great deal of stress and leave you blind to other opportunities that present themselves along the way.

However, it is great to jot down, sketch out and draft-map a future adventure plan.

Perhaps you write a list of 10 countries you want to visit before a certain date. Or people you’d like to meet, places an landmarks you’d love to explore and experience.

Some like a holiday or trip planned in detail. Some prefer the bones mapped - flights, essential landing points, meet ups and more.

A combination of planning and space for new ventures and adventures gives the balance that feels right - and remember, we’re all different in the way we plan our adventures - and our lives.

And that's a great thing!

What's next for you - in life and career, and the magical combination?