Adopting an Adventurous Mindset

Throughout the month of February, I have been intentionally adopting a more adventurous mindset and each day having a micro-adventure; it is one of my purposeful undertakings. But what are the benefits of thinking adventurously on a daily basis? And what is a micro-adventure? 

I found this word recently as an extension of my word for 2024; if you have read January’s blog or are following me on Instagram or LinkedIn, you will be aware that my chosen word for this year is ‘adventurous’. As I found myself unearthing and engaging in new ways to be adventurous in my everyday life, as a way of weaving adventure into my patterns and routines, I discovered that even small, seemingly unimportant things that might otherwise go unnoticed, are sometimes the source of a tiny, bite-size adventure - a micro-adventure. 

Since discovering and incorporating them into actions that I do everyday, I have found the joy, and excitement in things that I may have once seen as routine or even mundane. There is so much delight to be found in the minutiae of life, if we make the time to look for it and add it into our everyday actions and behaviours. But is having an adventure every single day truly beneficial? Or is it yet another thing to try to do, on to-do lists that are so long already for so many? 

Is Having an Adventure Every Day Beneficial?

A boost of intentional excitement or adventure can have a powerful impact on how we view a task or action that we do every single day. When things become patterns or part of a routine, they can often become or feel burdensome and weighty - just simply another thing that we must do. However, by creating a space in which we can view the individual properties and components of a task, we can begin to perhaps see it in a new light. Taking a task or activity apart and looking at its individual parts can offer a new perspective.  With this new, inquisitive mindset, I might begin to register my task as something simple and therefore easy to get done, taking up less time in the day, and freeing up time for other things. I may find that the task is something new and unknown but approaching it with an adventurous mindset rather than worry or concern can transform a challenging activity into an exciting one. An adventurous way of thinking can hold the power to alter perspectives.  

I have had the wonderful circumstances, this past month, of practicing my idea of having more adventures and nurturing an adventurous mindset through partaking in a few particular events. Each occasion called and allowed for a certain kind of adventurous thinking and activity. The differences between the occasions gives an idea of how different adventure can look, even in the engaged activities of one, singular person.

Sparking an Adventure: Finding the Adventure in New Things

At the beginning of the month at The Grain Store in Lewes, I hosted a mini workshop to coincide with the Celtic festival of Imbolc which celebrates the earth’s awakening and transition from winter into spring. It was a first of its kind for both my guests and me. Together, we shared a warming meal of root vegetable soup, homemade bread, and a traditional healthy pudding, partook in conversations, and reflected upon our own transitions from dormant to awakened. I asked three key questions of those who joined me in the workshop:

1. What has lain dormant over the winter months that is awakening now in your life and leadership?

2. What are you tending to, or want to tend to, in order to prepare yourself for new growth, possibilities and opportunities?

3. What, if anything, do you need to let go of, to clear, to 'spring clean' in order for new growth and developments to emerge?

I invite you to embrace your own adventurous mindset and think about and reflect upon your answers to these questions; you may find that it often takes a healthy sense of adventure to be honest in your reflections. The entire workshop was photographed by Mike Will, whose talent and eye for capturing truly incredible moments shared between human beings was very welcome. Thank you, Mike!

A Different Kind of Adventure: Accepting New Invitations

It is one thing to think about being more adventurous and adopting a more open, mindset. It is another thing entirely to have the courage to accept and partake in more adventurous activities. To put into mindful practice that which I am trying to awaken, more adventure, I have accepted an invitation to speak about key insights I have gathered through the hosting of my podcast Leaders in Conversation with Anni Townend. 

The invitation came from alumni of Brand Learning, with whom I used to work and have created strong, lasting connections. I was delighted to be asked and was excited to accept.   I spoke about my three key insights. Firstly, leadership really does start with awareness of self in relation to others; secondly, that everyone has a story; and thirdly, conversations really do matter. The larger group broke into smaller groups to respond to the questions I ask guests on the podcast:

• Who are you?

• Who are the people, places and experiences that have shaped you, your values and beliefs, and made you the leader you are today?

• What is your purpose, your 'Why you are here'?

The question that most grabbed everyone’s attention was my invitation to say something about ‘who you are’ through your name.

You are invited to listen to my podcast guests sharing their stories here.

Finding Adventure While Taking a Pause

For many, February is half term time which means a natural break and a moment of pause. At this time, I also take a short break to coincide with my not doing Executive Team work which allows me to focus energy on other projects and undertakings. This moment of pause provides a time to reflect in which I can actively seek out little moments of adventure that lead to new interests, activities, and ways of working. One of the collaborations on which I focused during this time was my work with my dear friend and colleague, Lucy Kidd.

Together, we have co-created Collaboration EquationTM which offers leaders and their teams a simple and effective way of finding their Collaborative Edge. Creating psychological safety, practising inclusive dialogue, encouraging diversity of thought and feeling, all of which lead to greater innovation and creativity, driving results through Collaborative Edge. One of the most adventurous things we will be embracing this year with Collaboration Equation is our exhibiting at the Diversity and Inclusion Forum in May where we will be networking, showcasing, and speaking with fantastic leadership professionals and inviting people to adopt an adventurous mindset to find their own Collaborative Edge. 

Being adventurous can come in numerous forms and will be an individual endeavour for each of us; what is commonplace for one person may require a courageous and adventurous mindset to partake in for another. The benefits of being adventurous can be manifold if we adopt it with intention and actively seek it out in our daily activities and lives.