Why You Should Consider Attending A Wellness Retreat

Vulnerability is a beautiful thing

Over Memorial Day weekend, I attended a wellness retreat on Vashon Island, near Seattle, WA.

I’ve never done anything like this and didn’t really know what to expect. But I knew I wanted to try something different and not just drink my face off over the long weekend…

One of hardest parts of the trip was trying to explain to people what I was doing.

“Is it rehab?” Not quite; it’s a retreat, allowing you to focus on your health, fitness, and performance.

“Is it like a cult?” No, it’s a community of high achievers looking to meet people and grow.

This was a three-day journey where people came from all over the country (and Canada, shoutout Chris) to learn from experts and, most importantly, each other.

The workshops included presentations on nutrition, breathwork, and mental health from experts who have devoted their lives to these fields.

We did yoga, meditation, physical activities like a group run, went for a hike in the Dockton Forest, and cold plunged. At night, we had themed dinners with everyone to relax and reflect.

Many of us explored Vashon, going out to eat and drink.

For me, I love putting myself in uncomfortable environments. That’s how I learn about myself and grow.

I find that we are always on the go. Depending on your lifestyle and career, this can be exhausting.

Going from one project to the next, sprinkling in weddings, vacations, family events, holidays, kids, relationships, social media - it never ends.

This can weigh on us and, as they say, stress is the silent killer.

I know I’m guilty of this. I put a lot of pressure on myself every day to perform and to “bring it”.

Don’t get me wrong, I love to work and get after it. But we all need rest and an opportunity to check in with ourselves.

What are we enjoying?

What is causing pain?

What could we do better?

Within the last six months, what have you done to improve your quality of life?

What do you actually want to do with your life?

Oftentimes, we don’t ask ourselves these questions.

Admittedly, I don’t focus enough on the present. I’m always looking for what’s next.

This was a time to get away, to meet people I didn’t know, to grow and learn, connect, reflect, listen, be vulnerable, and to remind myself we must live with intention.

Ryan Holiday recently tweeted something that hit home for me:

There is a major difference between self-awareness and self-improvement. You may be aware of your problems or tendencies, but are you doing anything to improve yourself or to change bad habits?

I mean, we all have them. I’ve got plenty of things I need to work on.

One of them is that I typically will avoid conflict. Those situations make me uncomfortable, but I know it is 100% necessary to encounter conflict, whether it’s in business, relationships, social settings, etc.

It’s so refreshing to realize that no one has life completely figured out. We are all humans.

But the differentiator for most people is those who actually take action and do things versus those who hide behind a screen and complain.

Despite what you see on social media and how perfect or successful someone’s life looks, there are always cracks.

I’ve been repeating the quote, “Life is only as good as your mindset” to myself over and over recently.

When we become grateful, it takes away your anger, stress, worries, and fears. Focus on what you can do and what you do have rather than what you can’t do and what you don’t have.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, check out my friends company Thrive Map.

Shoutout Michael, Sam, Patrick, Dani, Kaleb, Ana, and the rest of the crew for an unforgettable weekend…

Disclosure: This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.