Issue 04: Leap of Faith – Begin Again Anytime, Anywhere

Whole Wide World – Mindy Gledhill

I’m gonna walk a hundred miles
I’m gonna whistle all the while
If that’s what it takes to make me smile
I’m gonna walk a hundred miles

I’m gonna run right up this hill
Summer sky or winter chill
If I gotta take a break I will
But I’m gonna run right up this hill

I wanna hold the whole wide world
Right here in my open hands

Maybe I’m just a little girl
A little girl with great big plans

I’m gonna go and take a chance
I’m gonna learn to ballet dance
Learn a little something ’bout romance
I’m gonna go and take a chance

I’m gonna live a crazy dream
Impossible as it may seem
Doesn’t matter what the future brings
I’m gonna live a crazy dream

You tell me, “don’t try it”
I’m warning you that I won’t buy it

All failure is fleeting
I trust it always has its meaning

Leap of Faith – Begin Again Anytime, Anywhere

Sitting in the park, I was listening to my 2014 Spotify playlist, when the song Whole Wide World brought back all the memories of my early 20s. I’d always felt unsettled in my 20s and couldn’t seem to find anyone who truly understood me. People told me that was the sad truth of adult life, that I’d get used to it, and that I’d be fine.

But I wondered if I’d ever really get used to it. I truly believed there must be other ways to live life – a happier, more meaningful way! With 195 counties, 7 billion people, and gazillion perspectives in the world, shouldn’t we be able to find someone like us, someone who didn’t want to settle for sadness and frustration, brainwashed into believing our fate was set, and that it was going to be miserable…?

It took me years to find my tribe – after meeting thousands of people from different backgrounds and generations. My very first “explore myself project” didn’t happen the way I thought it might (meditating in the Amazon jungle to find my path!). Instead, it was through connecting to people outside of my family and friends. I found that I was not alone – a lot of people I spoke to were indeed, just like me, and they were traveling, living in other countries, trying out different jobs and giving themselves plenty of space to explore, express, and connect to the world in their own way.

Nothing is set in stone, nothing!

The worst thing that can happen to you is not failure, but knowing that you have other options that align with your values and that you could live a happier life, but choosing not to take those options. Your reasons may be self-doubt, family expectations, insecurity… you’d know them far better than anyone, but they are limiting you from personal fulfilment.

I would like to share with you my own belief framework which has supported me through the biggest leap of faith in my life. From quitting my job within finance, moving from Hong Kong to London, setting up my own company, to writing my very first book. It has helped me channel my fear into a spirit of adventure and planning.

Prioritize Your Value and Purpose

The “Minimum Viable Life” (MVL) concept changed how I made decisions. How much money do you need to live your best life? Once you figure that out, you realise that the balance is luxury and value-added features in your life. Understanding this immediately frees up head space to take on adventure and make better decisions that truly speak to your heart, instead of clinging onto your “miserable success”.

“Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost”

-J.R.R. Tolkien

When you start getting some clues on what life you would like live and what brings joy and meaning to you, make an effort to dive deeper and explore your options by experiencing it – it can be through world travelling, speaking to people who are living/lived the life you would like to live or volunteering.

Walk the Extra Mile

Once you pin down one or two paths to take, make plans, and work hard to pursue them. In Maye Musk’s book “A Woman Makes a Plan”, she admits that she was never the smartest person around, but that she was always conscious about what made her happy, and then made plans to do it. For me, the best thing I have going for me isn’t a bright career or material possessions; it’s my curiosity, growth mind–set and openness to opportunities.

Ready to Begin Again

If you’d like to live your life to the fullest, it would be very useful for you to have the “Ready to Begin Again” mind–set. With curiosity, resiliency, and hard work, you will be ready to begin again and take a leap of faith anytime, anywhere.

I created a “Women Taking a Leap of Faith” campaign for International Woman’s day which was on March 9th, 2021. Nine inspirational women shared their stories of taking the biggest leap of faith in their life – moving countries, writing a book, becoming an entrepreneur, etc.

Follow my Instagram to get more inspiration @hellobeautifulminds

Remember, life is short, always choose happiness!