The Rise of Solo Travel for Personal Development
Solo travel for personal development has been normalized by shows like Nine Perfect Strangers (starring Nicole Kidman), The White Lotus (starring Jennifer Coolidge), and The Goop Lab (hosted by Gwyneth Paltrow). While this may seem like a pop culture trend, the $180 billion retreat industry reflects a collective desire for happiness and peace.
A Crossroads in the Himalayas
In the remote and landlocked ridges of the Himalayas, what do a tech startup owner, an artist, a young mother, and a newly unemployed sales guy have in common? They are all at a crossroads in their lives, seeking inner peace and true happiness. The biohacks and meditation techniques they once relied on are no longer working. They need more than oversaturated band aid wellness advice from social media.
Retreating into Bhutan
What does a person steeped in a Western outlook on life where logical thinking is prioritized over intuition and imagination? What is there to gain by immersing in a seemingly backward way of life where a country’s history is shrouded in fantastical myths of the thunder dragon, and flying Buddhas who vanquished the demons in the land? The answer lies in the profound transformation and peace that Bhutan offers to those willing to open their hearts and minds.
And so, fed up, these ‘perfect strangers’ signed up for a transformation retreat in one of the most spiritual countries in the world. A country where there are no traffic lights and the capital city resembles a frontier town from the 1700s, offers a unique approach to happiness. The fourth King introduced the Gross National Happiness (GNH) index in the late ’70s, prioritizing living standards, health, education, community, time-use, psychological well-being, governance, and culture over GDP.
And perhaps, this holistic approach of balancing personal wellbeing with sustainable economic development was the spiritual bat signal that called all these eager retreat goers from all over the world to meet. Deep within, they all knew that if they continued riding the “attachment-instant-gratification” train, it would break down. More, more, more wasn’t working, and they were longing for some deep inner spring cleaning.
The Weight of Personal Stories
Each of them carried their own unique story; and each story was like a kilogram of weight added to their already heavy luggage. Every memory of a broken heart could be felt through the heaviness of their breath. Every toxic verbal attack from a family member would throb as a non-stop pain in their lower back. Every recollection that deflated their determination and ate at their confidence could be seen through the spiritless posture in their shoulders.
They didn’t know it yet, but once they got through the awkward introductions, they would become each others’ medicine, even if they triggered the hell out of each other. Through all the strange healing workshops they were about to dive into, there would be nowhere to hide; and all their hidden stories were going to make themselves known. They were going to be seen and acknowledged in a way that they never have been before. It is through this constant immersion of leaning into the hidden parts of themselves, that they would eventually turn their Achilles’ heels into superpowers. Like surfers of their consciousness, they were going to get comfortable with the uncomfortable waves of their inner world.
Embracing the Chöd Practice
In the Tantric Buddhism tradition prevalent in Bhutan, there is a practice called Chöd, or feeding your demons. Chöd translates as ‘severance,’ and was a practice developed by Machig Labdrön, an enlightened 11th century Buddhist nun. The modern day inner demon could be the stress and anxiety that you feel on a daily basis. It could be the ADHD/bipolar diagnosis that your psychiatrist labeled you as, which then limits the way in which you perceive what you can and cannot do. In a way, your inner demons are roadblocks that keep you from living a joyful and meaningful life.
Most people try to avoid or even fight these demons. However, the chöd practice teaches you that if you avoid or fight them, you actually make them stronger. Instead, if you nurture your inner demons by confronting them head on through visualization practices, contemplative writing, and to a certain degree, ‘reliving’ your traumatic experiences in a safe way, a true severance of these triggers will naturally happen.
The Body is the Key
The body is like an archive of stories, and each of these stories carry an energy signature. For example, joyful stories can be recorded in the heart and lungs. As a result, they will create more pleasure and expansion when you breathe. Shameful and guilt-ridden stories might get stored as a heaviness in the bowels that can lead to IBS or some other bowel disease if it isn’t addressed.
The Essence of Deep Transformation
Healing happens in two fundamental ways, extraction and replenishment; or emptying your cup in order to fill your cup. In Buddhism, this is the teaching of emptiness and fullness. When you can empty yourself of all the old stories that keep you from living more authentically as you, and then fill yourself with new stories that enable you to find deeper fulfillment in your life, you will be closer towards enlightenment, which epitomizes the height of the Buddhist path.
Retreats are booming with popularity because they help to speed up the healing process. And so, look out for these four main ingredients for a deeply transformative experience before you retreat:
- Peaceful Environments: Retreats are set in tranquil locations, free from daily distractions.
- Holistic Workshops: Integrating body, mind, and emotions for complete healing.
- Pre & Post Retreat Orientation Calls: Ensuring alignment with the retreat’s spiritual intentions and proper integration post retreat.
- Skilled Facilitators: Open-hearted guides who are well versed in consciousness training, somatic exploration, and energy healing.
Embark on a Spiritual Adventure
Over the centuries, the monks and nuns have charged the temple walls with millions of chants for the liberation of human suffering and world peace. And so, there is a tangible force of peace that can be felt by every single person who comes to Bhutan. Even the most left-brained person who is insensitive to energy says there is something special in the land.
So if you’re feeling called to this little Buddhist Kingdom of Happiness of 800,000 people in the sky. And also, if there is a part of you that knows it is time to break free from any internal blocks that are leading to ongoing suffering in your life, a spiritual adventure to Bhutan awaits.
Join the next Bhutan spiritual adventure with SAGE Journey, guided by shaman, TEDx Speaker, and best-selling author Johnson Chong; hypnotherapist and systemic therapist Delphine Berger; and ex-monk/Buddhist scholar Dr. Karma Wangchuk. Visit Bhutan Harmony Retreat for more information.
