More than a decade ago, when I first decided to move to an unknown place, little did I know what was in store for me – but that was the beauty of it too. The beauty of the unknown – as I had no plans or maps in my head. Even if I did, my sense of direction is too bad that I’d ve followed the wrong path anyway! I believe the secret to your best life is always in the unknown. Unknown places, unknown people, unknown identities of yourself (that you surely discover along the way) and everything that lies in between the unknown pathways.
There were days when I loved the freedom of being on my own, and there were also the days when I was too lost finding my own identity in the unknown places. Despite all the whirlwind of losing and finding myself again and again, I learned a lot traversing the paths ignoring all the possible road signs and just believing in the power of my intuition.
Here’s few lessons that I learned (some a little hard way!) during my journey:
Uncertainty is not really uncertain.
Embracing uncertainty can be daunting (especially if your MBTI ends in J, mine’s a CAPITAL and bold one!), but it’s where most of the growth happens. When I first moved to this place, I didn’t know the language, nor ate the food, (thanks to my vegan-friendly lifestyle) had no goals in my mind. But over time, I learned that uncertainty is just a canvas waiting for your brushstrokes. It’s the place where you discover your resilience and creativity (was always a mix of both for me). I have had the experience of seeing the best and the worst days that I couldn’t have anticipated, teaching me that what feels uncertain is simply unseen paths waiting to be explored. In fact, it’s within these moments of uncertainty that I find my deepest strengths and magical intuition within me.
You have to lose a lot of pieces to find your true self.
Moving away from everything I knew stripped me of my old identity (which I wasn’t really fond of either). But that also meant that I had to build something from the ground up. In the beginning, a lot of it felt like a loss, but it was a necessary shedding. I had to let go of preconceived notions about who I was and what I wanted (I’m still learning every day!). Of course, it was not always a bed of roses but I have also discovered the strongest most beautiful version of myself after suffering the painful losses of my own identity and my surroundings. By losing a lot of (precious) pieces, I made room for new (more precious) experiences, perspectives, and parts of myself I never knew existed. It was through this continual process of letting go and embracing the new that I began to uncover my true self. Trust me, letting go is one of the most liberating feelings.
Life is full of surprises and that’s what I call magic.
There is something extraordinary magical about the unpredictability of life. Every twist and turn in my journey brought with it surprises that enriched my life in ways I never could have imagined. From randomest spontaneous friendships to unforeseen career opportunities, these surprises became the highlights of my life here in Korea. And, believe me, none of this could have ever made my bucket-list and that’s why it’s called MAGIC. Embracing the unexpected allowed me to appreciate the beauty in spontaneity and the joy in unpredictability. (Yes, hear me out: I have been bullied and called out for my standard of happiness being to low. “Raise your bar”, as they said. Little did I know that I would embrace this side of me that I shushed away for more than an year.) All these beautiful experiences have taught me to live with an open heart, beautiful mind and kind soul – that is ready to receive all the magic and miracles that life had to offer.
All storms are equally important too.
Not every moment was filled with joy, magic, love and excitement (My Instagram says otherwise!). There were many many storms – periods of self-doubt, sadness, loneliness, hardship, struggle and all possible depressing emotions that humans can go through. However, now that I look back, I can proudly say that these storms were so soo crucial. Isn’t it incredible that all of it brought me here to – this version of myself?
I would be lying if I say I knew I always had this strength within me. There have been days that I struggled to survive, but there also have been days that I learned to surf beautifully and stand tall facing the waves! Each storm, though challenging, eventually passed, leaving behind a clearer sky and a stronger, more determined version of myself. I have graciously learned to embrace the storms, knowing that they are an important part of our evolution as humans and in our overall journey of life.
Lastly, be daring enough to take that first step!
The first step is always the hardest, but it’s also the 50% of the game. If you can fight the demons of self-doubt and show up – trust me, you are halfway there! When I decided to move to a new place, it was a leap of faith. I had no guarantees, just a belief that this step was necessary for something beautiful ahead. Taking that first step opened up a world of possibilities and set me on a path of continuous discovery and adventure. It taught me that courage isn’t the absence of fear, but the determination to move forward despite it.