BECOME AN EXPLORER.

When was the last time you got curious—really curious—about your life? About who you are, why you do what you do, or even about the world outside your usual routine? If it’s been a while, that’s okay. But here’s the truth: curiosity is your way out of the prison you’ve built.

Becoming an explorer isn’t about some grand, life-altering trip (although it could be). It’s about letting curiosity guide you. It’s about stepping beyond the lies you’ve told yourself, dropping the image you’ve been clinging to, and getting to know the real you.

Exploration is the spark that reignites wonder in your life. And if you can rekindle your sense of wonder, you’ll start to see what’s possible.

Step 1: Explore Within

You think you know yourself, right? Wrong. The version of you standing in front of the mirror is layered with years of assumptions, habits, and lies. It’s time to strip all that away. To become an explorer, you’ve got to start inside.

Another exercise: Find Your Hidden Gems

Grab a notepad.

Write down a list of questions you’ve probably never asked yourself:

• What do I actually love doing, even if I’m bad at it?

• When do I feel the most alive?

• What’s one thing I’ve always wanted to do but never have?

Sit with those questions. Be honest. The answers don’t have to make sense to anyone else. They just have to be yours.

Why do this? Because there’s gold buried inside you—talents, dreams, and parts of yourself that have been ignored for years. Dig them up!!!

I'm big on EXPLORATION so let me give you a couple more exercises, just to make sure we're really focused on something other than "lies."

Step 2: Explore the World Around You

When you’re stuck in lies, your world shrinks. Your routines take over, and life becomes this monotonous, colorless blur. But here’s the thing—there’s more out there. You’ve just stopped looking.

Exercise:The “One New Thing” Rule

1. Commit to doing one new thing every week. That’s it—just one.

• Walk a different route.

• Try a new restaurant.

• Talk to someone you wouldn’t normally talk to.

• Learn a skill you’ve always been curious about (hello, YouTube tutorials!).

1. Write down how it made you feel. Even if it felt weird or uncomfortable, that’s okay. That’s where growth happens.

Exploring doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need a plane ticket or a five-year plan. You just need to do something that breaks you out of the same old cycle.

Step 3: Redefine Fear as Adventure

Let’s get real—exploration can feel scary. Fear will try to keep you in your box, whispering lies like, “You’ll fail,” or, “You’re not good enough.” Here’s how you beat it: you stop seeing fear as the enemy and start seeing it as part of the adventure.

Every explorer feels fear. It’s what tells you you’re onto something worth pursuing.

Reframe Fear:

• Failure isn’t failure—it’s just feedback.

• Rejection isn’t personal—it’s redirection.

• Uncertainty isn’t dangerous—it’s where the magic happens.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to take one step, then another, and keep moving.

Why Exploration Matters

Exploration isn’t just about discovering new things—it’s about rediscovering yourself. It’s about stepping out of the prison you’ve built and realizing that the world is bigger, brighter, and more full of possibility than you’ve let yourself believe.

When you explore, you’re telling yourself:“I’m not done yet. There’s more out there for me. There’s more in me.”

And you’re right—there is.

Want to check out the video version of this newsletter? I’d love for you to give it a watch here and let me know what you think when you have a moment:

Your Next Step:

1. Make a list of 10 things you’ve always wanted to try but never have.

2. Pick one. Start there.

3. Let curiosity take the lead.

Exploration is the key to freedom. And freedom? That’s what lets you create, love, and live with authenticity.

You were made for more. It’s time to go find it.

In my research, I discovered some fascinating psychological effects of exploration that I wanted to share with you. Because exploration and experimentation are pretty closely linked, I wanted to highlight some of the different things that exploration specifically enhances:

Increased Curiosity and Intrinsic Motivation: It fuels curiosity, driving intrinsic motivation to learn and understand the world. This can lead to a positive feedback loop where the more we explore, the more we want to learn.

Cognitive Flexibility: Encountering and adapting to new situations enhances cognitive flexibility, the ability to shift thinking and adapt to changing circumstances. This skill is crucial for problem-solving and decision-making.

Strengthened Memory: Exploration often involves learning and experiencing new things, which engages the hippocampus, a region of the brain essential for forming and retrieving memories.

Reduced Fear and Anxiety: Stepping into unfamiliar situations can initially increase anxiety, but repeated exposure often diminishes fear responses, helping build confidence and a sense of control.

Sense of Purpose and Fulfillment: Exploration often aligns with seeking meaning and purpose. Engaging in exploratory behaviors can provide a sense of achievement and fulfillment, contributing to overall well-being and life satisfaction.

AND SO, BECOME AN EXPLORER.

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This is your invitation to become curious again. To put down your distorted self-perception and the image you've created for yourself -OR- the image given to you from outside sources, and begin to see the true identity of what you were made to be.

You were made for SO MUCH more than to be trapped in a prison of lies. It's time to break free with this simple equation:

ENCOURAGEMENT + EXPERIMENTATION + EXPLORATION = FREEDOM

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Watch the Video Now

Stay inspired everyone!
Josh Schroeder
Founder, Thousand Echoes