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Going Solo: My Monthly Adventure's for the Soul

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This year I've committed a day a month of time out for solo adventures in the wild.

What I’ve named in my journal as ‘SOUL’O Adventuring days’ 🙂


On Friday 31st Jan I embarked on my first of the year. Travelling just over an hour away to find a new place to explore. And after a 7+ mile walk my heart and mind felt totally enriched. 




Why adventuring SOLO can be good for the soul.


In my life, there have been two clear motivators for solo (SOUL'O) adventuring.


Breaks on your own away from everyday life. Immersed and connected with Nature.


This - for me at least- has usually been when:


a) something difficult or distressing has happened and I need some processing time. An example is, dealing with loss. Pondering over big decisions or navigating significant life changes or choices. 


Or


b) A space in which to embrace a proactive growth zone and expand my horizons (quite literally) through physical and mental adventuring and exploring of new spaces.


I don't see the former as 'escapism' when done with intention and recognition of just how healing time alone in Nature can be for our inner emotional world.


I do however emphasise that this type of solo activity -in a sad or over-whelmed headspace- should always be done with an emotional support wrap-around. Especially where you are worried about what time alone will open up for you.


Whilst connection is a crucial factor of wellness, it can be quite easy to overlook a connection to self. Something a solo adventure can give us in bucket-loads.


Over my years as a coach and in rewilding my own life and business. 


I’ve come to learn and witness that ‘time for self’ - deep, connected ‘knowing yourself as you are now’ time is actually quite vital to being a grounded human and feeling a sense of inner integrity to who you are as a human, being.


Yes, it can be hard to find comfort in that from a place of loneliness.


Yet when we can see time for self, as healthy solitude we’ll find riches in the time we spend in our bodies and minds, processing the world and - most importantly of all in an adventure- connecting ourselves with our natural wild surrounds - inside & out. 


It makes business sense

Whilst I’ve marked these solo adventures in my diary as ‘time off’


In all honesty, I see them as part of a very important business strategy too. 

These wild spaces allow me time to replenish, reflect and show an active commitment to myself and heart-led leadership at Where the Mind Grows. 


This space helps me grow, and take a clear perspective on things I might have been too close to explore or understand and it ignites creativity - which often helps bring deeper, wilder offerings to clients and teams. 


Making meaning - makes meaning in business. 


But I find that it needs space, no fixed agenda, movement and inspiring awe-filled natural space to truly cultivate. 


In other words, many of your insights come when you least expect it.


By being more deeply connected with myself, my coaching and facilitating are also enriched too. 


See - it makes total business sense!




Listening to your inner ecosystem.


One of the reasons I decided to go on Soul'o adventures this year is because I factored in plenty of pause and reflection time into my life and work last year.


Gaining essential insights for the year ahead.


I sensed into an awareness that I'd been putting this soul'o adventuring part of myself away in a metaphorical box.


Whilst I did plenty of adventures with family and friends (including a wild camp of The Great Glen Way in Spring 2024) and my adventures with work too.


I hadn't really given myself solu'o adventure time.

Yes, I walk a lot in the local area. Or sit in the woods at Little Seed Field pondering.


But the sense of an adventure for myself has different layers in my heart and gut and it also helps me develop skills and confidence in my own ability. Which I easily delegate in company.


Our bodies are ageing & adapting and our lives constantly adapting and I love the feeling of achievement an adventure can connect us with.


Side Note: An adventure can be big or small and its self-defined. I've got some wilder experiences planned for later in the year. My core aim is always to step myself into my stretch zone somehow. Whilst understanding my own limits to an enjoyable and safe experience. I recommend you work from your own skills and stretch zone too when planning an adventure.


Going prepared


You can see a summary of my kit list on my post-adventure Instagram post here


Going prepared isn't just about health and safety.


It comfort and confidence too. [and a little bit of feeling like an adventurer too!]


As busy humans, we have a tendency not to pause and consider ourselves and our basic needs.


Walking in the wild, especially alone. This is important to factor in.


Planning and preparedness of equipment and routes, help the whole experience run with ease. 


After the walk, I also took a little review of what I did take and really didn't need to. So I can travel a little lighter next time - this was after all a few Yorkshire Moors not an Arctic expedition. 


I also pondered over things I, could have taken to enhance my needs. For the last mile most of my thoughts were on a ‘sugary tea’ and I wished I had had a flask of tea at the end of the walk, So I'll be equipping myself with that next time.




What Nature is calling you?


I tapped into a short meditation a few days before. Because I could feel this sense in my gut. A need for 'specific' types of Nature.


I've come to trust this, as part of an internal emotional landscape and connection with the wilderness.


Its something the practice and embodiment of Ecopsychology and Eco-Somatics speaks to, often and is a known language and framing in many indigenous communities connect with land and place.


It may sound a little woo-woo in our modern frameworks - however, I am yet to discover a client who doesn't find this conversation useful. Helping you lean into intuition and emotional awareness as well as deepened nature connection and self-compelling well-being strategies.


On this occasion, I felt drawn to be alongside some water.

I also had a desire to be at a peak view and be able to look out onto a wider vista.

This is quite a different desire to my usual pull towards a deep forest or woodland immersion.

So I was clear I needed to listen to this.


I went with i, and found the connections in both places.


My tip here is always listen to that inner feeling, the compass that guides you to the 'types' of Nature you need for now. Be curious and open and some sort of shifts or connection happen in harmony with the landscapes.


Also, be prepared to connect with parts of Nature - like a tree or a bird- that perhaps you hadn't considered - whilst you are there.


This is biophilia. This is Awe.

This does amazing things in our bodies responses, to help us physically and mentally restore!


Allowing for minimalism 


During the walk there were times when I pondered, whether should I create some content, or record some videos. Share this with the world. 


But in the end, I embraced the context of the still and roaming environment and reminded myself these days are ‘soulful’ solos.


Food for my own mind and heart. 


Whilst I’ll be happy to share a few of my photo highlights, I rested on nourishing my inner world and just being present. 


I talked out loud from time to time.

Made a song about a sheep on a rock.

Sat with the dog.

Got curious about lichen. 


Sometimes I just stood and stared.


At the end of the day I felt snoozy and lush in front of the fire. 

Full heart 

Ever-so-slightly stiff legs

Simple pleasures. 

Priceless 


Until next time ....


  • Would you take yourself on a ‘soul’o’ adventure?

  • What part of Nature calls you right now?

  • Have you invited any wilder intentions into your life this year - to support your vitality?





 


Looking for a deeper connection to yourself. Need time and space to help make sense of your world. Or looking for confidence to begin your own life or work adventures?


One-to-One coaching in Nature with me JK, to support you in making your wild aims and intentions a reality. BOOK A DISCOVERY CALL FREE TODAY!


Rewild your soul with our nature-inspired or connected events. Explore here.




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