5 things that will change you
The fastest way to level up? Do the hard things.
We talk a lot about “getting better” but when was the last time you actually changed? I mean really changed.
Grew in a way that left the old you behind.
The truth? Growth isn’t a byproduct of comfort.
It’s a result of stepping into the unknown.
Most of us chase comfort and routine. But if you want a different life, you have to do something different. You need moments that shake up your perspective and force you to level up.
Here are five things that have done exactly that for me:
1. Travel alone
Leaving for Australia alone was, at the time, super scary.
Now that I think about it… It makes me laugh.
But back then, I was young and it scared the sh*t out of me.
No friends. No familiar faces.
My first few weeks were a blur of jet lag, awkward hellos, and “What am I even doing here?”
Starting a new job? That was free-fall mode. Every day felt uncomfortable.
New culture, new routines, new people.
I had to figure things out, make mistakes and learn how to sit with the loneliness.
But here’s the thing: That discomfort is the magic. It cracks you open. It forces growth, fast. You learn who you are when no one else is around to remind you.
So if you’re feeling stuck, restless, or just bored of yourself… Book the ticket. Move somewhere new, even just for a season. You’ll come back bigger, bolder, more you.
2. Do something hard (on purpose)
A few years ago, I walked 400 km across Switzerland. Not for fun. Not because I love blisters. I did it to raise money for GreenLamp, to challenge myself and to do something worth telling my kids about one day.
The first two days were brutal.
13 to 14 hours of walking, non-stop. I was alone, nervous, and unsure if I could actually pull it off.
By day three, I found my rhythm: walk, eat, sleep, repeat. My legs ached, my feet were toast, but eventually, the pain faded. Friends joined for a stretch, my brother for the final push and after 13 days, we made it.
393 km. 23,180 meters up. 23,170 meters down. (Almost) cried once. Laughed (alone) twice.
It was long and somehow too short. Painful, but worth every step.
The point isn’t the distance. It’s about picking something that scares you. Something that feels impossible until you do it. That’s where you find out what you’re made of.
3. Psychedelics
Let’s rewind to the 1960s. Before psychedelics were labeled as dangerous, they were a real clinical tool. LSD for alcoholism, psilocybin for depression. Then, the panic hit, the laws changed and decades of promising research vanished.
But now? The tide is turning. Studies are coming back, with real clinics, real researchers and real results.
I’ve done guided psilocybin retreats. Not for fun, but for deep, uncomfortable, beautiful work. It changed my life. Helped me see the stories I’d been telling myself about success, fear and who I needed to be.
Not overnight. But it opened the door.
Curious? Start by reading How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan.
4. Meditation
Start with one minute. That’s it. Don’t overthink it.
You don’t need a retreat or a robe. Just an app or a timer and a willingness to sit with yourself. Even if it feels awkward or pointless (spoiler : it will).
My first attempts were… rough. No clarity, just restless thoughts. But over time, I found something: a little space between stimulus and response.
That’s the muscle you’re building. Start where you are, with what you’ve got. That’s the point.
5. Gratitude
This one always sounds cheesy. But it works.
Grab your phone. Write down three things you’re grateful for. Not big stuff. The coffee in your mug, the friend who texted back, the fact you woke up today.
Tony Robbins says, “Trade your expectations for appreciation and your whole life changes.” He’s right.
I started a gratitude journal during a complicated time in my life and it rewired my days. Problems shrank. Joys got bigger.
Try it tonight. See what shifts.
Your move now…
None of these are easy. Most are uncomfortable.
You don’t need to do all five. Just pick one. Go deep. See what happens.
Already on your own journey? Hit reply and tell me about it. I read every story.
Keep rocking 🤟
Alex