When I’m traveling, I love to stop along the way and explore new things.  No matter how busy my itinerary, I make time for fun little detours to check out museums, shops, and restaurants. I find the most unexpected places are often the most memorable and truly reflect the unique personality of an area. On a side note – these little excursions make great social media posts too. I hope you’re following me on Facebook so you can see them!

This summer I have a few events and workshops scheduled around the country – but when I’m home, I plan on doing some exploring of another kind. I’ll be exploring myself, searching the deepest recesses of my soul looking for new outlets for my creativity.

Last year, I started working on a musical. I love music, theatre, and writing – so this was a great way to incorporate those interests into one neat project. The topic of my musical? Destiny, the soul and the afterlife. Hello!

That project is nearly done, so it’s time to come up with a new way to exercise my creativity.

If you’re like me, your life is full of tasks and responsibilities. Family, work, exercise, maintaining your home – the list is endless! But just like the unexpected side trips I love to take when traveling, fitting in new hobbies and activities is worth it! They can be so rewarding and reveal so much about who you really are.

If you’re looking for a fulfilling way to spend your free time, let me share my process for tapping into your passion:

• Make a list of things that interest you. Dig deep and look for themes. What are your favorite books, movies, and television shows? What did you love to do as a child? What were your favorite classes in school?
• Ask yourself what you’d do if you won the lottery or if time and money were no object.
• Think of how you react when other people talk about their hobbies and interests. Are there any that you find especially intriguing?
• Once you’ve pinpointed some ideas for areas you’d like to explore, make a list. Don’t judge yourself, just jot everything down. Your list will probably include some diverse things – maybe things like working with horses, astronomy, vegetable gardening, water painting, restoring old furniture, bird watching, stand up paddle boarding. Don’t limit yourself! When your list is finished, put it somewhere where you can see it often.
• As you go about your day, glance at your list. Let the items percolate in your mind, and see which ones rise to the top. Don’t force it. You’ll notice that some ideas start to take on a life of their own. That means the universe is giving you a nudge and making things happen. Here’s what I mean. Take the list example I just gave you. Maybe you wrote “restoring old furniture” down impulsively but didn’t give it much priority. But suddenly, you start noticing shows on television about fixing up garage sale finds; then you start noticing garage sale signs in your neighborhood. Finally, your local hardware store has a huge display of wood finishing materials – and offers free classes. As the days go on, your furniture restoration project starts to take form, and you get excited about exploring this new hobby!
• Let go of old, limiting beliefs. Let’s go back to my furniture restoration example. You might have written that idea on your list, and suddenly start noticing signs that this is something you want to pursue. But you don’t listen to what the universe is telling you, because you have convinced yourself that you’re not good with tools, or not creative enough to take on a painting project. Don’t do that! The art of self-discovery works best if you take a leap, and don’t put limits on yourself. You’ll never know what you can do till you try.
• Finally, give yourself permission to have fun. My detours don’t always lead me to a hidden gem or a life-changing experience – but there’s always something new to see, learn or do.

Don’t be afraid to try something new. The summer months are the perfect time to follow my steps and progress down your personal path to self-discovery!