A Letter of Inspiration to Incognito
Dear Friend,
I am writing you this letter to share with you some of the lessons that I have learned throughout my journey to the”Outside”, hoping that my experiences and learnings will help you be better prepared for your next move, which will present an infinite change to your life.
CAUTION BUMPS AHEAD!
Let me first start by telling you about the things that will be shaken or lost in this transformation journey and will give you a sense of discomfort in the first period.
Safety and security: will no longer exist, since the “Outside” is a complex place, filled with uncertainty and adversities. You will have to be aware and accept the fact that things will not be stable and might change overnight, causing you a lot of distress and worry.
Staying in your comfort zone: will be a thing of the past, and you will have to constantly step out of it and alter the way you experience things, solve problems, take decisions, and sometimes even the way you behave.
Structure and order: will have a new appearance and meaning, they will no longer be set in advance, and in some cases might be non-existent. You will have to re-assess your understanding of these terms and learn to navigate through chaos and disorganization.
Social and human interaction: will be much different, you will be faced with people who do not understand you, think like you, know what you like, or do not even care.
REALITY CHECK!
Are you ready to give up on these things?
Will you be OK with your life never being the same?
From my personal experience, I can tell you that safety and security are overrated concepts, because even on the “Inside”, no one really knows what will happen tomorrow!
Structure and order are there to keep us in our comfort zone and make us feel like we are doing things the right way, but in reality, they chain us and frame our existence. Only results, accomplishments, achievements, and most importantly the way we feel can determine the rightfulness of our actions.
As for human beings, trust me when I tell you that everybody is the same all over the map, we all have comparable characters and personalities, and we all experience similar feelings. They only way we differ might be our language, culture, religion, skin color, etc., which are things that become obsolete and irrelevant the more you interact and engage with the “Outside”.
BUCKLE UP AND ENJOY THE ADVENTURE!
Now let me tell you about the marvels of the “Outside”and enlighten you about its numerous opportunities and the beauty that awaits you.
Values: your first mission will be to determine your personal vision and values and set them as cornerstones and as a guide for your upcoming adventure – right or wrong are relative!
Self-exploration: you will be faced with various experiences, different challenges, and definitely new people. This will teach you a lot of new things, give you multiple perspectives, let you know more about yourself, and most importantly challenge you to get out of your comfort zone – this is where the magic happens!
Freedom of expression: you will have the power to express yourself in whichever way you find convenient, set your own goals and priorities, and do things your way – trial and error will be your biggest educator!
Creativity and Innovation: once the shackles are taken off and you are no longer framed within pre-set boundaries that control your thoughts and actions, you will be able to unleash your mind towards creative ideas and innovative solutions – imagine the unthinkable!
Ownership: just like “Inside”, you will be responsible and accountable for your mistakes and failures, but the real beauty Outside is that you will be sole owner of your successes and achievements, which will give you a wonderful and inexplicable feeling of pride and satisfaction.
THE TRUTH ABOUT INCOGNITO!
If you are reading my letter of inspiration, you are surely wondering who this Incognito is, and what is it that he is doing?
The truth is that all of us are Incognito.
Irrelevant to the time and place, we all experience moments, situations, or decisions where we feel we need to change but are afraid to take the first step; it could be a new job vacancy, a relocation opportunity, a new business idea, a relationship ending decision, or even just a moment where we want to shout out loud and voice our opinion.
I have been in most of these scenarios, and it was not until few years ago that I decided to take the “Leap of Faith”, and experience this marvelous feeling of being free and in charge of my own present and future – so when will you?
Author
Amine Kallas
L2S – L&D Director