Written by: Veerle Beelen, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
You have (finally) moved abroad and you wonder what's next. Somehow you are afraid that you are not embracing this new adventure to the fullest. You feel like there is much more out there, but you are not sure what or even where to get it. Before you know, you feel stuck but you don't really know what you can change or which step to take next.
Do you recognise any of this?
Let me tell you: Moving abroad is the perfect opportunity to reinvent yourself.
When everything around you changes, it is inevitable that you will change too.
In this article, I share how you can embrace changes when moving countries and benefit from this transformation in the best way possible.
Let’s dive right in!
Reinventing yourself may sound like a cool buzzword, but what does it really mean? In the context of moving abroad, it means really figuring out who you are in your new surroundings. What you want is to look back without regrets and without feeling that you missed out or did not live your life to the fullest potential.
Let me share 5 things you should focus on to reinvent yourself when moving abroad:
1. Mindset
When you move abroad, things do not always go as planned. Obstacles and unexpected scenarios will show up and it is up to you how to handle them. Do you see obstacles as problems or do you see them as challenges? Does a situation create new opportunities?
Choosing a more empowered state of thinking is the key to reinventing yourself. You can choose to shift your thoughts whenever negative patterns come up. Whenever you feel stuck or overwhelmed, remember that you can change this perspective by focusing on your mindset.
The more positive your outlook on life is the easier it will be to find solutions and to spark your creativity in unfamiliar situations.
Also, when you adopt the approach that there is no such thing as failure, but only feedback, you can lift the pressure you put on yourself that everything needs to be perfect. Instead, whenever something that does not go as planned happens, view it as a valuable lesson and an opportunity for growth.
2. Lifestyle
Have you taken a look at your life and asked yourself whether you are living a lifestyle that really aligns with who you are and with what you want? If not, I invite you to do so.
Sometimes we can get so caught up in the rat race and in ways of living that society has invented for us, that we do not even ask ourselves if that is the life we really want to live. We just follow what everyone else around us is doing.
Moving countries is a perfect opportunity to re-evaluate your life and to consider whether you want to make any changes in order to feel happier and more fulfilled.
Stepping out of your normal surroundings can really become a boost to figure out which habits you want to change and will also make it easier to adopt new habits. Use your new surroundings as inspiration to upgrade your life. Whether this means creating healthier habits in terms of exercise or nutrition, changing your daily or weekly work schedule or even setting more boundaries in your personal and/or professional life.
Embrace the change of moving countries to implement other positive changes in your life.
3. Presence
It is almost inevitable to feel lost or overwhelmed when everything changes around you. In the beginning, you may be fuelled by adrenaline but when the spark of the first moments abroad wears off, you may realise that you do not really know how to enjoy this new life abroad in the long term.
One of the most important things to do whenever you feel out of balance is to work on becoming more present. Being present will allow you to fully enjoy your new experiences and reflect on everything that has been going on in your life. It also gives you the opportunity to stand still for a moment, be grateful for what you have and stop living in the past or worrying about the future.
Once you cultivate a deep feeling of presence, you will find more ease and joy in your life. It allows you to just BE for a moment, instead of having to DO something all the time.
4. Connection
Connectedness comes in different levels but in this article, I would like to focus on connecting with yourself and connecting with others.
First of all, connecting with yourself is one of the key elements to reinventing yourself when moving countries, because it opens the door to creating a feeling of home from within. When you build a strong foundation within yourself based on self-trust and self-love, it will become so much easier to fully enjoy your life abroad. For example, feelings of homesickness or guilt for living far away from your family or friends will move to the background when you stand in your own power and are in full connection with yourself.
When you move away from your usual support system and close circle of friends that you may have had for a long time, it is an opportunity to meet new people. When you connect with others in an intentional way, you can create new and stronger friendships than ever before. Also, you can use this opportunity of moving somewhere new to introduce yourself in a way that suits you best, because no one knows you yet. Not to pretend like you are someone else, that is not what I mean, but quite the opposite: to be your authentic self without any assumptions and without any expectations from others. To look at this as a fresh start in which you define the 2.0 version of yourself that you want to become.
5. Vision & Goal Setting
Finally, whenever you feel stuck, low in energy, overwhelmed, disconnected, lost or any other lower vibes, it is helpful to take a step back and ask yourself WHY you moved. Asking yourself this question will take you back to the moment that you took the decision to move countries and can get you back into the excitement you felt at the time. It can lead you back to your intention.
Besides that, reinventing yourself also means looking at the bigger picture and daring to dream. If everything goes well, what does your dream life abroad look like? What is the ideal scenario you are aiming for?
Once you have defined a clear vision for yourself, you can create an action plan towards making that happen. A vision without a plan is just a dream. However, a clear and well-defined goal setting strategy can support you with taking the steps you need in the right direction.
Setting goals and regularly reflecting on where you stand and where you would like to go from here is very helpful. It can re-confirm your sense of purpose and your understanding of what your next steps will be. When setting goals and defining your vision, always remember to start from a place of wholeness and contentment with where you are at right now, instead of from a place of lack or scarcity. This will ensure that you make plans from an empowered state of thinking and that you look at all the possibilities that are out there for you.
I hope this article sparked your motivation and inspired you to take yourself to the next level in your life abroad. To embrace all the changes and to use this momentum to empower yourself and to create the life you want.
If this resonated with you, my customised coaching programs are the perfect fit to make the most out of your time abroad.
If you feel ready to take action, I invite you to schedule a free Discovery Call with me today. We can discuss how we can work together and what action steps you need to take to make your dream life abroad happen.
Veerle Beelen, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Veerle Beelen is an Internationally recognized Certified Travel Coach. As a Travel Coach, she empowers travelers to have transformative travel experiences and focus on their “Travel Mindset.” Her goal is to help expats, and other travelers transform their personal lives and careers through their travel experiences, guide them through the preparation process of moving abroad and coach them through the transition process of living in a new country. Besides that, Veerle inspires people to use travel as a tool for personal growth, self-awareness, reflection, and to boost their overall wellbeing. She has been featured in various online media publications and guides her clients during their journey through her eBook, blog, online videos, articles, and personalized coaching sessions.
