Have the words “Eat, Pray, Love” crossed your mind whilst you sit at your computer fighting off emails, avoiding phone calls and hiding from the executives…? It would seem that Elizabeth Gilbert has inspired us to some extent.
Call me crazy, but I am noticing more and more people around me feeling the urge to leave the stress and long hours of their job to set off on a life-changing journey, all with the same intention in mind – to find themselves. I have friends doing just this in Mexico, Bali, India, Thailand and Europe, experiencing culture, religion and a simpler working life in its true form.
It takes great courage to step aside form the things that have been important to us for many years – to separate what is generally expected in society, and to then re-evaluate your life and make drastic changes. Although it takes courage to buy a one way ticket and head off on your O.E (a term we kiwis have coined to refer to “Overseas Experience”) whilst in your 20’s, this is not what I am referring to. I’m talking about the mature hearted who have built up years of habits, savings and even relationships, where there is more at stake, but also perhaps more to be gained.
Although the ‘Eat Pray Love’ book and the movie got mixed reviews, I personally fell in love with the idea of packing it all in and taking some time to discover who you are and experience a totally different lifestyle. It would be a definite step out of most comfort zones. My friends who took this giant leap of faith have inspired me. Whether it pays off, only time will tell.
This concept made me wonder how do adventurous eating, practicing prayer and meditation and finding new love contribute to the discovery of one’s true self and capability? After all, it’s clear that food and an exciting new love makes anyone happy, but meditation and prayer on the other hand are subjects that I find to be a little more intriguing. Meditation is a self-induced practice that helps to heal both the body and the mind. It helps to reduce blood pressure and increase airflow to the lungs and through using quiet contemplation and reflection, meditation also reduces stress levels in the body, contributing to an ultimate goal of a quieter mind.
Whilst we can find Buddhist centres, meditation classes and resources available locally – whether this stacks up to practising in a country that lives and breathes the practice is disputable. Even with the small amount of travelling I have done to intrepid places in the world, I have learnt that the experience you have at home will always be second to what you experience in a different culture. The smells, the heat, the language, climate, sounds – it’s every sense in your body that is stimulated and makes for a cleansing and memorable journey. And as lucky as we are in New Zealand to have amazing eateries, scenery and beautiful people, the same applies.
Whether you decide to take two weeks, a year or even a lifetime, I think that Elizabeth Gilbert had it right. It’s vital to take some time experiencing other cultures, practices and ways of life as doing so will encourage self-reflection and evaluation, leading to an overall improvement in your quality of life.