For years, my “goal” was to get to conversational Spanish. And for years, I went without learning or speaking much of it. This year, I decided it was time to buckle down and learn Spanish already! After doing some research, I decided to go to Medellín, Colombia to learn Spanish and escape winter😊 So, I made a plan and was determined to stick to it!

After one week of private, in-person Spanish lessons, I quickly realized that the time restrictions of my lessons were getting in the way of me enjoying this beautiful new city. In week two, I got an Airbnb in a “local” Colombian neighborhood, and traded my in-person lessons for online lessons. The online lessons were CHEAPER and MORE FLEXIBLE!

After two weeks of private, online lessons, my Spanish was improving, and I had a lot more time to explore and enjoy Medellín! Things were going well, but I missed being around other travelers. One friend recommended a co-living hotel in a neighborhood where more foreigners lived. I was hesitant at first, because I knew this move would result in me speaking more English (and a lot less Spanish ).

The idea of giving up on my initial goal of getting to conversational Spanish before leaving Colombia was a hard pill to swallow, but I decided to LISTEN TO MY HEART. And just like that, I canceled my Airbnb and booked a room at the co-living hotel!

Moving to the co-living hotel enhanced my experience to a level I did not expect! And it was A LOT cheaper😉 This move gave me the perfect balance between having my own space and having community. The move also allowed me to meet so many AMAZING people; and TOGETHER we went to cafes, restaurants, language exchanges, fútbol games, and parties. Like me, these people:

(1) Worked remotely, (2) Enjoyed traveling, (3) Were learning Spanish, (4) and/or Wanted to learn more about Colombia, its culture and all the beautiful things it had to offer.

Getting to a point where I could acknowledge that I no longer wanted to live in an Airbnb in a “local” Colombian neighborhood, was a huge step! My Spanish had improved since Day One in Medellín, but it was still challenging to communicate in Spanish alone. If I had not turned inward to evaluate what could make my experience better, I would have missed out on SO much! This abandonment of (or shift in) my goal is what I now recognize as LISTENING TO MY HEART and PIVOTING!

This is only one example of many times where I had to turn inward, listen to my heart, and decide if a pivot was necessary. Sometimes I needed to pivot more than once, until it felt right😊

These pivots often happened after I’d romanticized an idea or been so focused on a goal, only to find that when I’d gotten a taste of it, I no longer wanted or desired it.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

Over the years, I have learned the importance of LISTENING TO MY HEART and giving myself space to ask:

• Why am I pursuing this goal? Am I doing it for myself? To please others? Or to prove something (to myself or others)?
• Is it still something I really want or desire? Or have I grown to a place where I no longer desire it?
• Are there other ways to achieve this goal? That are less painful? Easier? Or require less energy or time?
• Will the goal be more or less fulfilling than I’d originally anticipated?

We are all unique and should listen to what OUR HEARTS are telling us! After all, God created each of us in His image, and I believe it’s only right for us to pursue the things He’s placed in our hearts 🙂

Maybe you desired one thing in the past, but it no longer fits who you are or what you desire, today. It’s okay to pivot (and change your mind)!

CHALLENGE

I encourage you to embrace where you are right now, then take a moment to reflect (without judgement).

• Is there something that is making you feel uneasy?
• Is there some area of your life that used to spark joy, but no longer does?
• Do you want more joy (or happiness) in a particular area of your life?

Make space, turn inward, and listen to YOUR HEART. Is your heart telling you to:

• Stay where you are?,
• Turn around?,
• Pivot?,
• Or something else?

Can you continue on the same path, but with a different outlook? Are there other ways to achieve your goal? Should you abandon your goal all together?

Only YOU can do this and decide for YOURSELF. You may get advice and ideas from others with more experience who can help you brainstorm or strategize, but you have to LISTEN TO YOUR HEART, because it belongs to YOU, and nobody else 😊

Trust yourself and the power you have to (1) shift your perspective, (2) pivot, and (3) change your circumstance (and eventually your reality). If it worked for me, I am hopeful it can work for you too!

Thank you so much for reading this post! As always, if you have any tips, suggestions, questions and/or comments, please leave a comment below.

Sending lots of love & light your way ❤

Until next post😉

Xx,
Raina B ❤