Trust the process

Three simple words, though quite a challenge. These words often come to my mind, not in the least because these words are almost mantra-like in various management books and trainings. Trust the process, jump in, give time, positive change will come.

Again, while travelling, words get a different meaning. Since there’s quite a lot of change going on. As events are a lot harder to control, we have no choice but to put trust in the process. Which means that, at the end of the day we will find a bed, we will be better informed, and we will find some food (nutritious or not…). And, for sure, things will not work out as bad as we sometimes imagine. And, to be honest, trusting the process is a whole lot easier while travelling, as we have a unique opportunity to re-start our process every single day.

Not in every day’s life though. That’s when trusting the process becomes notably harder. That’s when people start to long for more control. For obvious reasons, as most of the times there is a lot more at stake. And when it comes to stakes, fears are often reflected in all sorts of change whatsoever.

Psychologically, travellers seem to be in their own subgroup. They choose to enjoy the change, loosen the stakes, and set most of their worries and fears aside. Or so it seems. More or less the same goes for people who choose to work abroad: they are headstrong and certainly show some guts. Or so it seems. Most of the travellers we meet are pretty good story-tellers. They share their finest hours, and don’t seem worried at all. But in time (after thorough examination and interrogation ;-) it becomes clear to me how ‘trust the process’ can easily become a hollow mantra to hide behind. Because obviously joining the subgroup of travellers doesn’t make you get rid of your own fears and stakes.

Travelling together, we have noticed how important it is to us to be aware of these worries. Forget about the mantra. Once worries are expressed and understood, it’s suddenly a whole lot easier to put actual trust in the process. Yes, I know the song quotes that ‘worrying is as effective as solving an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum’. But sharing worries helps us to understand ourselves, which makes it a lot easier to take on new adventures. Suddenly the mantra is not so hollow anymore…