I recently had the privilege of visiting Niseko, Japan – a powder snow lover’s paradise renowned for its fluffy white bounty. Having been immersed in back-to-back business projects for months, the trip provided much-needed respite to reset, refresh, and refocus on personal development.
My stay at the Kyubi Spirit Lodge was profoundly restorative. While offering all the amenities of a high-end lodge, the Lodge truly stands out through its owner R.D., and manager Darren Lo.
The gracious hospitality and erudite discussions with these two gentlemen imbued my experience with elevated intellectual and spiritual nourishment. We engaged in several thoughtful conversations over dinners. One resonant discussion focused on mindfulness and appreciating the present moment.
As R.D. eloquently described, presence constitutes not a choice but a state of being mastered through focus. The present represents existence between past and future; by anchoring our minds in the present, inner peace emerges. Soundly sleeping multiple nights, myself and fatigued mind found solace.
A highlight of my visit was a treasured outing: tree-runs deep into snow-blanketed woods with D. Lo, my favourite person in Niseko and expert snowboarding instructor. Initially, tightly spaced trunks seemed ominous rather than inviting. However, D. Lo encouraged slowing racing thoughts to simply focus on immediate passage. Taking a calming breath, I pushed off – weaving between trunks exhilaratingly, each successful maneuver boosting confidence to surmount greater challenges.
Snow cascaded off branches melodiously with each carved turn into a soothing soundtrack. Engrossed in that meditative state, fears dissolved while endorphins surged. By embracing unpredictability, hurdles transformed into opportunities. This growth mindset cultivates risk-taking and innovation imperative to progress.
Emerging refreshed physically from exertion and mentally conquering doubts through open experience, I felt profoundly renewed. This crystalline Niseko retreat reminded me of the importance of refreshing body and soul, the power of mindfulness, and friendships. When facilitated with care and wisdom, boundaries dissolve, and potential emerges.
Applying this to work shows how we might thrive through continuously expanding our comfort zone, and keep staying young in spirit, if not age. Success is often found on the other side of fear.
(Republished from LinkedIn & authored by Millie P.)
