In his latest book, mindfulness and performance expert Melo Calarco provides a practical guide to creating a healthier mindset, boosting your wellbeing and preventing overwhelm. In this edited extract he shares some of his incredible life lessons he learnt while cycling and trekking 30,000km around the world…
I spent a year and a half cycling and trekking over 30,000km around the world, and it was an experience that changed my life forever. Cycling is one of the most exhilarating and rewarding experiences that anyone can have and it was a fantastic way to see the world. When you’re cycling you feel part of the environment around you as opposed to viewing from your vehicle and it’s an entirely experience. I learnt many life lessons along the way which continue to serve me well in both my personal and professional life today. Besides learning how to fix flat tyres efficiently, here are some of the things that I learnt on my big adventure.
TRUST
The first most important lesson I learnt was trust; that is, trusting myself and trusting others. Long-distance solo cycling involves relying on a variety of people and resources and trusting that things will work out even when unexpected challenges arise is a key attitude to adopt. You need to have confidence in your physical and mental strength, as well as your ability to navigate new environments and situations. Also, trusting in others is very important, I often needed to rely on the kindness of strangers along the way, whether it’s getting directions, a place to sleep, a meal, or assistance with my bike I put my absolute trust in the people I met on my travels.
The lesson: To trust that no matter what obstacles life throw at you, that you will always have the resources inside of you to deal with anything, no matter how tough!
RESILIENCE
One of the biggest challenges when cycling around the world is having the resilience to deal with unexpected changes in weather, terrain, and other conditions. At times it is physically, mentally and emotionally challenging, but I built the resilience to bounce back from any setbacks, such as mechanical problems, injuries, detours or delays. I also developed the ability to be flexible and adapt to changing circumstances and conditions. This may involve changing the route, altering the schedule, or simply being willing to accept that things don’t always go as planned. I remember having to throw my bike on the back of a truck to cross a landmine area in the Western Sahara in a military convoy which changed my plans and route immensely, but I had to be resilient to the constantly changing conditions around me. Anything is possible if you set your mind to it!
The lesson: When setbacks, challenges or failures happen, to adopt a growth mindset and look for the learnings from that difficult situation so you can grow and develop from that experience. Also, to always be adaptable, pliable and be open to unexpected changes in life.
PATIENCE
There are countless challenges and obstacles that I faced along the way, from many flat tyres, to corrupt border crossings, and language barriers and I quickly learned that patience is the key. For example, at border crossings in Africa, the authorities would often ask for bribes of money, sunglasses, jewellery etc. before they give you a visa stamp to enter their country, but I would often get my playing cards out and play the game of patience with myself until eventually they would give me my visa stamp. I learnt that patience and a sense of humour goes along way when dealing with difficult situations.
The lesson: Patience is a virtue and by taking things one day at a time and focusing on the present moment, you are able to overcome even the most difficult challenges with a degree of patience and perseverance.
DECISION MAKING SKILLS
Cycling around the world inevitably involves encountering a variety of obstacles, both physical and mental which force you to make on-the-spot decisions. One particular ride through Hells Gate National Park in Kenya, my decision to go left instead of right proved to be a good one because I saw fresh lion tracks to the right, so of course I turned left. Whether it’s deciding to go left or right or sheltering from the rain or were to set up camp at a certain place, I was constantly making important decisions and some of them were lifesaving in retrospect. One big decision I needed to make was when I caught a life-threatening strain of malaria in Benin, Africa. I needed to decide whether to go back to Australia and get treated or to stay in Africa and get treated locally. It decided to stay and got treated locally because they knew what was working on that particular strain at that particular time. I believe this decision saved my life!
The lesson: To have the courage and ability to make bold decisions and stick by them. As a high-performer or leader this is an important skill to develop. PS – you might not always get it right but there is always a learning from that experience.
MINDSET
Cycling such long distances alone requires a strong mental attitude and a high level of physical and mental endurance. I would set myself personal goals, such as reaching a certain landmark or completing a particular section of the journey, but I also made sure I enjoyed each moment along the way. I was not obsessed by the number of kilometres I did per day, but I had the positive mindset to take in the scenery, enjoy the interactions with the people I met and just enjoyed the whole journey instead of focusing on the end destination. The people I met, the places I saw, and the experiences I had along the way were what made the trip so special and unforgettable.
The lesson: Adopting a positive and growth mindset helps you view the world with openness and curiosity. Enjoy each moment as it unfolds in front of you and experience life to the fullest with purpose and passion.
KINDNESS
One of the most surprising things I discovered on my journey is how kind and welcoming people can be, regardless of where they come from or what their background is. From remote pygmy villages in the jungles of Africa to hilltop monasteries in the high Himalaya, people were always willing to help and offer me support. I was humbled by the kindness and generosity of strangers who welcomed me into their homes, shared meals with me, and offered me a place to sleep without hesitation.
The lesson: Kindness, compassion and gratitude surround us every day, we just need to tune into it. A great practice to adopt is to write down three things that went well in your day or that you are grateful for. This helps you tune into the good things that are around you every day and notice them more, which in turn releases good chemicals and happy hormones in your body. I personally do this just before bed, because, as they say, “If you want to wake up happy, go to bed grateful”.
Overall, cycling and trekking around the world was a powerful and transformative experience that taught me many valuable lessons about mindset, resilience, trust, patience, kindness, performance and much more. I apply these same lessons every day to other areas of my life, such as my professional career, relationships and my personal life and I am eternally grateful to have experienced such a life changing adventure.
The overall lesson: If you want to do something big or adventurous in your life, just go for it, don’t let anybody tell you otherwise and follow your heart. It will change your life forever!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melo Calarco is a mindfulness and high-performance coach, keynote speaker and corporate programs facilitator. His work has helped many CEO’s, leaders, corporate executives, medical professionals, elite athletes and other high performers to build resilience and perform at their absolute best, without burning out. Find out more www.melocalarco.com
Beating Burnout, Finding Balance (Wiley, $29.95) is available at all good book stores
