The quote from the title comes from an amazing book by Boyd Varty, The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life. I fell instantly in love with the book and the way the author describes his way of being. In both tracking and in life, he’s completely present in the moment. He’s tuned in - listening, watching, feeling where his track is, where life wants to take him next. And by following his track in that way, he is getting a taste of life that feels very, very special.

The absence of planning and wanting to control everything creates space. It leaves way for something new to unfold. Something pure, unpolished and magnificent. Complete unknowingness. Surrender. Flow. And in some ways, a fading of self. Reading this, it seemed a little nerve-racking, but also incredibly beautiful. It touched my heart. So at the end of last year I made a decision…

First in a small way - starting my new podcast in January, I promised myself I wouldn’t let my limiting beliefs or other people’s opinions steer me, for a full year. See it as an experiment to create 100% from the heart. That felt great. Then another idea hit me.

It was so big I instantly felt overwhelmed. Afraid. No, terrified. Like this could unravel all I’ve come to know as the right way to live life. That’s when I knew I had to do it. The idea?

Can I live my whole life like this? Can I truly follow my heart, in everything I do, for a full year?

Let not the mind, but the heart be my guide in life. Feel into what life wants, what my body tells me, where I’m being pulled to. And then act on it. Learn to listen on a deeper level. Quiet the mind. Trust. Surrender.I realized I would regret it forever if I wouldn’t try. The way of the heart. All in.

And it all sounds wonderful. But I gotta be honest - It’s not easy. The mind is strong, and so are my habits. So much is coming up - thoughts, patterns, limiting beliefs. I’ve been falling back into the old way of doing things every day, recovering once I noticed, only to fall back again.

But now, after the first few months, the cracks are starting to show, and I can feel more and more of life opening to me. I’m learning to pick up on the subtle nudges and messages, and care less about the outcome than the process. I’ve already done so many things my mind would lose itself over. But who cares - because at the same time I’m finding my way back to my heart. The controlling part of me is always waiting, ready to sneak back in and take the wheel. But it won’t for long.

I’m awake now. Committed. Devoted. I’m learning to trust. Trust that life will unfold exactly as it needs to - even when it seems like it won’t. Especially when it seems like it won’t. Because one thing has become clear:

It’s way more fun to let myself be surprised by life than to try to control it.

Let’s see where this will take me. Let the experiment continue.