A month ago, I was on the phone with one of my best friends, Kavita J. Patel (pictured above, center). She asked, “What do you want to do for your birthday? Should I fly to San Francisco?” “Aw, thanks, love,” I said, “but I don’t know if I want to be in San Francisco and if I know you’re coming, I won’t have the flexibility to make travel plans.” “So, where do you actually want to be for your birthday?” she asked. PARIS, I thought. “Paris?” she asked. Yeah. So we called our girlfriend Kristen Domingue (above, right) and one month later, here we are.
I’ve wanted to travel since I was a little girl. I dreamed of aqua blue water, played teatime with imaginary Geishas and drew pictures of the Eiffel Tower. But by the time I was 30, I’d barely traveled.
…In my early 20’s, I was working a 9-5 job and had 2 weeks of vacation per year and a 401K to pay into. I spent to the very edge of my ability, packing my closets with heaps of cheap clothes and shoes. By the time my time and money were spent, there was nothing left for adventure.
…A few years later, I left my cushy paycheck, got rid of 75% of my uncomfortable shoes, and moved to NYC in pursuit of a new career as a Health Coach. Compared to my comfortable life in Vancouver, life on the east coast was tough. I scrounged for subway fare and figured out how to make $10 stretch 4 days. My travel ambitions felt miles away.
…As my business grew, I was faced with an unending To Do list and a zillion expenses. I kept saying “When _______, then I’ll travel.”
Travel was always something to do later, but it was the thing I most wanted to do.
I finally hit a breaking point. I realized that in many ways, life was passing me by. My vision boards were always painting pictures of the future, and I was always striving for The Next Big Thing. The striving made life feel dismal and tough, and there was never enough time or money, no matter how much I had. I knew I could no longer wait to travel, and that circumstances were never going to be perfect.
The key to creating the life you want is making the decision to live it. {tweet it}
In the past 5 years, I’ve spent nearly as much time traveling the world as I’ve spent at home, and I’m loving it. This pace is not for everyone, but many of us would like at least a bit more travel our lives, and I know from my own experience and from clients’ that it’s often in closer reach than we think. Use my Manifestation Equation™ (Intention + Appreciation + Aligned Action = Manifestation) as a roadmap for creating anything you want…
How to make your travel dreams come true:
1. Remember the future. (INTENTION)
When I teach my clients to hold intentions, I describe them as “future memories”. See yourself at that sidewalk cafe in Paris, tango dancing in Buenos Aires, or ziplining in Costa Rica. Experience your vision as being multi-sensory – see, hear, smell, taste and feel the experience. Now, make the decision to live into that memory of the future.
2. Get grateful. (APPRECIATION)
Hating what we have doesn’t support us in having what we want. It seems counterintuitive, but start by being grateful for everything you do have right now, in beautiful detail. Thank the parts that are working, and trust that life is guiding you in the places where things feel tough. Thank the people and circumstances in your life that you haven’t shown gratitude to in a while.
3. Begin. (ALIGNED ACTION)
This is where things get grounded. Put the trip on your calendar right away, crunch the numbers, start making plans. Don’t delay or you’ll find yourself saying someday for far too long. Get creative about finding the ways to make it happen.
—> In the comments below, share where you’re headed and when, and feel free to ask any questions you have about how to make your dreams a reality. I’d love to celebrate and support your decision to take your soul’s journey.
What a lovely post. We (my family and I) are taking the train to Glacier National Park this summer.
Thank you, Sara. Have a blast on your trip!
With love,
Nisha
It’s funny that you wrote this post today…a couple of days ago, when the sun was shining bright, I started a blog post about how–many lifetimes ago, I believed myself an adventurer..then as the lifetimes came and went, and I was influenced to believe that I wasn’t strong enough, smart enough, or confident enough to live those adventures–I forgot my adventure-self. Yet, as I stepped through my life and my memory returned, my passion for adventure renewed and I remembered those dreams of faraway places–then I actually realized that my lifetimes did contain some adventures!! In 2011 I traveled to Paris–by myself–for my birthday–which I spent on top of the Eiffel tower–as a treat to myself!! Among my travel experiences in Germany, Italy, Australia, I believe that Paris is the brightest light I’ve experienced and my heart yearns to be there again!! ASAP!! Happy Birthday!!
Gayle, I love that you went to Paris by yourself! Some of my favourite trips have been by myself. People think I’m crazy to travel alone, especially customs officers. I spent a long time trying to convince my husband to go to Hawaii and after a while I realized he wasn’t going to go happily, so I went myself! Someday doesn’t live in this house!
“Someday doesn’t live in this house!” <--- Love it!
Thank you, Gayle! So happy you’ve been
rediscovering your adventurous self.
Where to next?
Much love,
Nisha
I love the manifestation formula Nisha. It’s nice to set intention; take inspired action. Decide and believe that you can make it happen 🙂
Yes yes, Sophia! Thanks for reading 🙂
THIS is why today is my last day of work and I leave with a one way flight to Costa Rica on August 5th :). When will you be taking on more 1:1 clients?
Yeah, Carly! So great, sister.
My new site launches in the next
3 weeks – stay tuned and thanks
for asking!
Much love,
Nisha
Hi Faboulous Nisha!
How touched i felt with this post.
Love that you are in Paris, or wherever makes you happy.
We often forget that travelling is the only thing we buy, that makes us richer in so many ways. I get to conect more with me and with what I want when I travel, so I feel that I will not pospone any more my world knowing, for money, boyfriends or life. That’s what im doing in the past 2 years and has been great.
You have a place to stay for free in Argentina to come and dance Tango! Love from here and peace for you. Carol
Thank you so much, Caro. What a generous offer 🙂
You are so right – we connect so much more deeply
with ourselves when we travel. It’s such a gift.
Sending so much love,
Nisha
I LOVE this! What a tremendous way to celebrate your 35th…in Paris with girlfriends!!
I’m heading to Bali in September for a retreat with Jacob Sokol/Sensophy. I am at the very beginning of honoring my soul’s desires and it’s both exciting and terrifying! I don’t have a specific question, but I love that there are other women a few steps ahead of me on the journey to light the way and give me hope. So keep it up! 🙂 And thanks! xo
Beautiful, Mairead! Tell Jacob I say hi 🙂
Much love,
Nisha
Hi Nisha,
I absolutely love this post. There are a ton of places that I want to travel to – a few especially. I’d also love to attend your Live Free Retreat with Sarah Jenks but don’t think its a possibility for this year but I do hope you’ll offer it again next year and I can put it on my calendar as a goal for then!
A big question I have of making these travel dreams a reality is how to afford it? I’d love to know how you are able to afford travelling as much as you do while you still have your housing in SF to pay for back home and if you have any tips about this so I can start thinking about ways to make this a reality for me as well! Thanks Nisha – so inspired by all you do and being a role model for women’s freedom!
Thanks for the love, Julia!
This is an awesome question.
The way I afforded travel in the beginning
(when I couldn’t technically afford it) was
by renting out my place (AirBnb is great) and
traveling to places that are less expensive.
For my first trip, I actually saved $400
because that was the difference between what
I made from renting out my place and the cost
of my month of travels! Pretty awesome.
Hope this helps, love. There are other great
ideas, too. Check this post out:
http://fourhourworkweek.com/2013/08/05/cheap-travel-in-paris-new-york-hong-kong/
Much love,
Nisha
Nisha, this is a beautiful inspiring post. You made me re commit to my travel plans, I totally resonated with Paris! As a little girl I studied French for that time when I get to visit there, even before English! So cute, I have to get in touch with that little girl again. And BTW, loved the tango dancing in Buenos Aires. I’d happily show you that gorgeous city and take you to milongas. Oh, you are going to get crazy all these porteños! Much love and happy Birthday!!! May all the blessings in the world be your travel buddies in this turn around the sun 😉
Thank you so much, Fernanda!
I am such a big yes to you getting
in touch with that little French girl
within. What would she have you do?
Much love,
Nisha
Hi Nisha! I hope you’re having a magical time in “Par-ee” with your sisters. What a beautiful way to celebrate your born day. Thank you for sharing your Manifestation Equation with us – it totally works!!! I am working on manifesting my next trip but know it includes meditation, journaling, yoga, birds chirping, the ocean, lots of trees, clarity, self-discovery.. and a new stamp on my passport.
Safe travels xo
Mia
Awesome, Mia 🙂
Thanks so much for reading and for your comment.
Where do you think your next trip will take you?
Much love,
Nisha
Happy Birthday
Hi Nisha I absolutely loved this post and a very happy birthday to you, I turn 40 in a few days so I know what you mean about really thinking about how you want to spend your birthday, setting your intention and heading off on a grand adventure. For my birthday this year I always wanted to head out into outback Australia so I have just came back from a wonderful week in the Kimberley region of Australia. For my actual birthday I am having a massage and going out to our farm to do a ritual burning for all the “stuff” that has been cluttering up my life and I can’t wait to clear all that old stuff out.
Recently I wrote a blog pertaining to Paris which is a bit different to yours but could be mildly entertaining all the same. Enjoy the rest of your birthday celebrations because they should go on for at least a couple of weeks!
http://myredboots.com.au/paris-heart/
Au Revoir!
Fiona
Merci, Fiona, and thanks for the birthday love.
Happy Birthday to you, too!
I love that you had a ritual for your bday.
Such a beautiful and valuable experience.
Sending love!
Nisha
Hi Nisha,
Thanks for this post! I’ve been dreaming of a Hawaii vacation for a few years now. I can relate to having a million things to do and invest in “before” i can take the vacation… but for the first time I am reaching my income goals and feel its time to look ahead and book the trip. I’ve been talking with my boyfriend about it for the Fall…so you inspired me to look at plane tickets right now!
Yes yes! Did you do it, Meredith?
I love this post and can totally relate! I LOVE adventure and traveling, but always just dreamed about it instead of actually making it happen. Finally in February, fed up with the snow and my 9-5, I planned a last minute vaca to California for the very first time! We booked the flight on a Friday and left 7 days later! Ever since taking this leap, I know it’s possible to make my travel plans come true. Thank you for sharing! It reminds me to keep exploring. 🙂
Awesome, Devan. I love spontaneous travel.
Where will you head next? Put in on your cal 😉
Much love,
Nisha
I love this post.
“…making the decision to live it” – YES!
I have decided to do at least one outdoor adventure per week this summer, because spending time in nature with friends feeds me more than anything, and gives me the inspiration and fire to bring my best to my life and my community.
I’ve started a small “adventure club” with a few girlfriends where we schedule time to explore where we live. We take a thermos of tea in a our backpacks, along with some little teacups, and take photos wearing silly hats in gorgeous natural places. Southern Oregon is a treasure trove of natural beauty, and I intend to experience as much of it as I can. It’s a priority to be happy and free and fed! Thanks for the inspiration.
Happy Birthday, and enjoy Paris!
Ah, this is amazing, Jasmine!
I love your adventure club.
What an awesome idea. I want one!
Thank YOU for the inspiration.
Much love,
Nisha
Hmm… Really trying to figure out WHERE I’m headed.
I know I want to be running my business and not just my clients’ businesses by the end of August, so living into that and taking action every day to ensure that can and will happen.
I know I want to be in an amazing relationship, so letting go of the old one and moving into the new.
And I know I want to travel – to France again, to Italy, to Costa Rica and New Zealand, to Australia… Really seeing myself traveling and living free.
Thanks for the inspiration, Nisha, to really look at my life in the future, not just in the past and present, to think about what I want and what I’m doing to create it. <3
Thank you so much for sharing this, Shannon.
YOU, my dear, are an inspiration.
If you were to zoom out just one year from today,
where would you like to be? Start there.
Then, put a trip or two on the calendar.
Make the important decisions in your partnership.
Choose Shannon.
Love you,
Nisha
Wow, the timing on this could not be more perfect. This morning before work I sat on the couch and started to cry. Out of nowhere, the tears just came. My husband came in the room and asked what was wrong. I told him that I was overwhelmed with sadness because I felt like my purpose in life was to travel and see the world, and I wasn’t living my purpose. I felt as though my life was passing me by, and that we would never be able to afford international. I’m glad to know that there is still hope.
Gosh! Always such a gift To read you! Life paSses me by more often than not but your post REMINDED me that when i actually intuitively follow those steps i always manage to make things i set my mind to happen (at least to some degree)!Thanks for the reminder! Love and light! Genevieve
I went to Paris for my birthday last year! I had a phenomenal time by myself and it remains my crowning glory! I’m so happy you went with your gilfriends and rocked it!