THE WANDERLUSTERS MIND PODCAST

Abby Lewtas 28/8/18 Abby Lewtas 28/8/18

Travelling the US in their RV with Sarah and Zach Varnell

Sarah and Zach work from anywhere (remote information security consultants) with their 2-year-old Yorkie. They love all things travel. Their podcast Thinking Liberty seeks ways to encourage others to get out there and explore.

Sarah and Zach lived in an RV travelling the US for 2 years. They spent two months in South America, with their dog, working remotely and then vacationing in Patagonia. Exploring new cities and state parks was a highlight. They believe there is something so freeing about knowing that you could just pick up and move somewhere new at any time.

Instead of buying house Sarah and Zach bought an RV and moved in full time to travel the US

About Sarah and Zach

“Think through your processes and thoughts and dont let them overwhelm you.”

— Sarah Varnell

When coming home...

Emotions and differences Sarah and Zach faced - Realisations of all the family and friend 'life' events that they had missed whilst they were away. Peoples lives had gone on and they had missed part of it.
Biggest stress Sarah and Zach encountered - Fear of missing out on things happening at home but also when returning home what they were missing when not travelling.
How Sarah and Zach supported themselves - They had each other and felt blessed that they will be able to lean on each other during this transition.
How Sarah and Zach's mindset changed after their travels - More mindful of whats really important (physically), what adds value and what will matter to them in years from now.
3 Lessons learned from travel and reverse culture shock

Experience over material things - the more you experience the more you value.
Make the most of your time.
Open to learning new skills such as languages and fixing and maintaining the RV.

Advise to themselves when returning home - Be more open, make the most of your experiances and dont fear missing out.

“Whats really important, what is really going to add value to my life and what is really going to matter to me a couple of years from now.”

— Sarah Varnell

Stop pursuing happiness and start living it now.

So many people lead themselves to believe that happiness (success, joy, love) is in the future and they become addicted to chasing that feeling. How would you know if you're pursuing happiness instead of living it. Think about these questions...

Life is about the journey, not the destination. Cure destination addiction and the PURSUIT of happiness.

“Beware of destination addiction, a preoccupation with the idea that happiness is in the next place, the next job or with the next partner. Until you give up the idea that happiness is somewhere else, it will never be where you are.”

— Robert Holden

Are you PURSUING happiness or are you actually LIVING it?

Is there always a 'pinnacle event' on your calendar that you are looking forward too more so than anything else?
Do you always feel busy?
After a big exciting event in your life, do you fall into a mild sense of depression that you can't shake?
Do you have so many plans, forecasts, projections about what you want for your future, but you're not enjoying the process of bringing them to life?

Falling into these ways of thinking and living can be so easy especially if we are not aware that we are doing so. You must learn to stop placing everything that makes you happy in your future and outside of your control.

How can you cure destination addiction and the PURSUIT of happiness?

I'll be the first person to tell you that I still fall into the destination addiction trap from time to time. As with any addiction, I believe it all begins with regaining control of your mindset. So Here are some actions that I have applied to my life to help me feel happy NOW!

Apply personal daily practices to help get present. E.g. Active stretching routine, meditation, exercise, get into nature.
Think and FEEL about what in your life excites you right NOW?
Tune in to what is actually going on for you in your life right now.
Create awareness around your thoughts and actively choose a positive mindset for yourself. Choose to feel happy for no reason.
Stop placing your happiness in things external to yourself...your relationship, your job or your next exciting holiday. Just create it now - it is a choice.
Consciously set your day up for happiness and success.

Remember you always have a choice on how you show up. Your situation in life may not be picture perfect or your ideal. Let go of that mindset and start focusing in on your life and how you can be and feel happy now.

Drop the idea that happiness and success is something that will come to you at the end of the road, the top of the mountain, when the championship rolls around when you reach that goal, that next holiday or you finally nail that job you wanted.

Live on Facebook - The Wanderlusters Mind

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Abby Lewtas 21/8/18 Abby Lewtas 21/8/18

Trust, focus, an adventure to London and owning her unique magic with Ellie Swift.

Ellie Swift is a Mindset & Marketing Coach, Social Media Strategist, writer and speaker for ambitious women who are ready to share their unique blend of magic with the world and TRULY be seen so that they can connect authentically with their customers online, and grow their heart-centred businesses!

Ellie followed her career and merged it with travel on an extended trip to London. She returned home blindly following her intution to the next steps of her life.

About Ellie

Ellie spent the last decade working in marketing in London, Sydney and Perth, achieving her goal of Head of Marketing Strategy for a private agency in Perth, Western Australia by the age of 28, before making the transition into the coaching world to support service-based business owners in the online space.

Ellie has been described by her clients as “empowering, inspiring and a wealth of marketing knowledge”, and is passionate about encouraging women to cultivate a success mindset and thrive as solopreneurs.

“It’s those worldly experiences and seeing and doing more that really enable us to open our eyes and our hearts and our views and so they are the things that travel has enabled me to do and learn and become.”

— Ellie Swift

When coming home...

Emotions and differences Ellie faced - Immense appreciation for Australia but also a challenge to move back so decided to move to a different city. Lit up with gratitude and joy.
What had changed for Ellie - Saw that 'Australia sparkled.' Ellie started a relationship with her now partner which was 'not part of her plan' but describes it as the best thing that happened to her. Knew life would never look as it did before she went away.
Biggest stress - You are never going to go back to what you have had before so you morn that. Her relationships shifted because she was an evolved version of herself so she had to find her role within her family and friends.
How Ellie supported herself - Not needing to rely on external situations to make decisions. Trusted herself and her choices. Focused on what she wanted and stayed organised. Ellie set goals and went for them.
How Ellie used her mindset - Trust and focus and a mentality that anything is possible. Setting goals and truely believing in her unique magic.
3 Lessons learned from travel and reverse culture shock

Trust yourself and believe in what is true for you - Your environment really shapes who you are.
The power and value of travel of new experiences, adventure and travel.
I am my conscious mind - I can be who I want to be and I can choose again, I can make changes in my life and I dont have to stagnate and be stuck.

Advise to herself for returning home - allow it to be what its going to be, dont fight it, allow it to unfold as its meant to.

“When you stop and really listen to your intuition, you already know the answer.”

— Ellie Swift

The richness of travel, art and culture with Olympian Peter Van Miltenburg.

My very special guest on TWM Podcast today is one of my Coaches mentor and life long friend, Peter Van Miltenburg. Peter is a former Australian sprinter who specialised in the 200 metres. In 1984 he was the Australian 200 metre champion. He also went to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics where he competed in the 100/200 metres.

Travelling the world for athletics, art and fun to foster a global perspective, deep compassion, connection and empathy with culture and people.

About Pete

Peter is a life member of the Anglesea SLSC where he still competes and coaches one of Australia's most successful beach sprinting teams. More recently he has been coaching at Xavier College, Kew, Victoria as the Head Coach of Athletics and Cross Country.

Peter has an intense passion for art and recently completed a Masters in Art Therapy and wrote his thesis “An art enquiry into the experience of loneliness and aloneness.”

“When I came home, I had a reality check. How lucky we are here and also in terms of letting go, I realised it is a big world it is a global world and people live their lives according to how their lives, it’s not right or wrong. Some people are multi billionaires and some people have nothing.”

— Peter Van Miltenburg

When coming home...

The differences Pete faced - Comforts of home were very alluring and he was very appreciative. He felt grounded and conscious of the choices he was making back home. Is not as connected to material things.
What had changed for Pete - Felt far more conscious of his life and and developed deep compassion other peoples lives.
Biggest stress - Now struggles with seeing people who struggle with the basics of life.
3 Lessons learned from travel and reverse culture shock

Humanity and how precious it is - we are so connected, no matter where we come from.
Resilience - I can 'fall over' and I have the ability to 'get up.'
Humour - The one thing that connects people - there are some things that make everyone laugh and laughter is a global language.

Advise to himself for returning home - Whatever the experience is, good or bad, wherever you find happiness and love, wherever you provide happiness and love and share happiness and love that, wherever it is, home, or somewhere in some little country then seek that out and find what it is in life that you truely want and if that is where you are, then you are a very lucky person, if not go and find it.

“We really are connected in so many different ways.”

— Peter Van Miltenburg

“Whatever the experience is, good or bad, wherever you find happiness and love, wherever you provide happiness and love and share happiness and love that, wherever it is, home, or somewhere in some little country then seek that out and find what it is in life that you truely want and if that is where you are, then you are a very lucky person, if not go and find it.”

— Peter Van Miltenburg

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Abby Lewtas 11/8/18 Abby Lewtas 11/8/18

Why you should never stop travelling.

The world has so much to offer...

Travel continually teaches us to grow and evolve. I say continually because sometimes we don't learn the lessons the first time round, or we don't fully pick them up and adopt them, or we lose them.

The world has so much to offer so here are 5 reasons why you should never stop travelling.

“Travelling is the only thing you buy that makes your richer.”

The world has so much to offer...

Travel continually teaches us to grow and evolve. I say continually because sometimes we don't learn the lessons the first time round, or we don't fully pick them up and adopt them, or we lose them.

Common lessons and learnings that people say they have gained from travel are to have an open perspective on life, how to be flexible, adaptable and capable of doing things you thought you couldn't do, how to be resourceful and look within rather than outside yourself to get something done and that travel teaches us that life is to be enjoyed and to choose an adventure.

5 reasons to never stop travelling

Travelling is unknown, NEW and thats exciting….There is always a new place to go, new people to meet and new cultures to experience.
Travelling helps you to continually dive into curiosity and playfulness.
Travelling is fun, rich and creates lasting memories.
Travel disrupts the mundane routine
Finally (might sum up the last 4 points) Travelling offers us an opportunity for growth, learnings, lessons and expansion.

Live on Facebook - The Wanderlusters Mind

Book your complimentary coaching consultation.

Abby Lewtas 7/8/18 Abby Lewtas 7/8/18

Fiona Peters - Following her dreams as a luxury lifestyle photographer.

Fiona is a Luxury Lifestyle Photographer who travels the globe to exotic, tropical island destinations capturing the beauty through her eyes. She is an adventure seeker, ocean lover, yogi and keen surfer. Influenced by her upbringing on a beautiful coastal town of New South Wales, Fiona began surfing at the age of 13. Her interest is in capturing Mother Nature at her best. When she's not riding a wave, you'll find her shooting the many beautiful stories that she feels so privileged to witness.

Fiona dropped everything and moved to Bali to follow her dreams of photography and surfing and the world.

About Fiona

Fiona is a Luxury Lifestyle Photographer who travels the globe to exotic, tropical island destinations capturing the beauty through her eyes. She is an, adventure seeker, ocean lover, yogi and keen surfer. Influenced by her upbringing on a beautiful coastal town of New South Wales, Fiona began surfing at the age of 13. Her interest is in capturing Mother Nature at her best. When she's not riding a wave, you'll find her shooting the many beautiful stories that she feels so privileged to witness.

Her passion started as a teenager, producing her own film and prints in the darkroom during high school and then leading into slide film and digital applications through University. After her studies she traveled the world extensively, exploring the globe to develop her own unique photography style. Traveling gave her the opportunity to engage with people from all walks of life and opened her eyes to amazing architecture, festivals, cultures and much more.

“Its not luck, I’ve created this...I had no life savings. You’ve got to connect with people, connect and be willing to do what it takes but you have to truly beleive in yourself.”

— Fiona Peters

When coming home...

Emotions and differences Fiona faced - things are expensive, how much we consume, Fiona and her partner realised they want to live a minimalistic lifestyle.
What had changed for Fiona - Friends didn't really understand their lives in entrepreneurship.
Biggest stress - Where Fiona moved to is small and she didn't have a big network so she needed to build up her businesses and contacts. Fiona juggled jobs and her business.
How Fiona supported herself - Friends and family helped with finding jobs and places to live until Fiona was able to get set up for herself.
How Fiona used her mindset - Its not about luck its about finding what it is you want and really going for it. You have to truely believe in yourself, connect and network and get yourself out there.
3 Lessons learned from travel and reverse culture shock

Patience and being prepared for anything to happen.
Difference in cultures and to respect and acceptance.
Gratitude for what we have in the western world. Simple things like clean water and everyday things