Episode 68- Kristina Liu, Kristina Liu International LLC

Travel

Mar 16

Something that I learned over years is I knew that travel is one of the best ways for you to learn, grow, and transform. I learned to just surrender or to be open to new things that come your way, it is beyond your wildest imagination of what could happen and how you could grow or transform. - Kristina Liu

Christine’s guest is one of those people who is magically trapped in her life like so many of her amazing guests. A mutual friend connected them and we have learned we have a lot of things in common.

Kristina Liu is a traveler, learner, and wine-enthusiast.

Kristina is a Professional Certified Coach and a Mental Fitness Coach who helps entrepreneurs and corporate leaders maximize their potential at work while experiencing more happiness and fulfillment in life. Kristina is also the owner and director of Selva Vida Lodge & Retreat Center, where she conducts her life transformation programs and hosts travelers who want to explore the Peruvian Amazon.

Her holistic retreats address one’s body, mind, heart, and spirit, and use a combination of workshops, medicinal plants, yoga, meditation, mindfulness, connecting with nature, and follow-up coaching.

Prior to becoming a coach and business owner, Kristina worked in multinational companies in the US and Singapore and held a variety of positions ranging from strategy and marketing to business improvement and portfolio management. Kristina holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting, an MBA from INSEAD, and a doctor of psychology (PsyD) degree.

In our conversation, Kristina and Christine talk about how Kristina’s experiences in early childhood and studies abroad created the awareness that travel would be an important part of her life. She also shared her educational and career journeys and the internal struggles she had, when what she longed for wasn't fully in alignment with a seemingly perfect life she had worked so hard to create.

She speaks about her year-long journey that was the premise for her book and how that brought her to Peru and creating a space to bring her education and experiences together to offer holistic retreats in the Amazon jungle.

Join Christine for her soulful conversation with Kristina Liu.

In this episode, Christine and Christina discuss:

Kristina’s childhood and how moving from China, Germany, and eventually the U.S. sparked her journey into travel
How Kristina’s educational and career journeys and the internal struggles she had when she wasn't in alignment with her life
The difference between coaching and other forms of personal development
How her year-long travel experience inspired her to write her book
Kristina’s experience in Peru and what lead her to start Selva Vida Lodge & Retreat Center in the Amazon Jungle

Resources & Links Mentioned in the Episode

To learn more about Kristina Liu visit her website https://www.kristinaliu.com/

Follow Kristina on Instagram or Facebook, LinkedIn

To purchase her book The Inside Out Journey, head out to www.TheInsideOutJourneyBook.com

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Soul of Travel honors the passion and dedication of the people making a positive impact in tourism. In each episode, you’ll hear the story of women who are industry professionals and seasoned travelers and community leaders who know travel is more than a vacation. It is an opportunity for personal awareness and it is a vehicle for change. We are thought leaders, action takers, and heart-centered change makers.

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Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor.) Kristina Liu (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing and production by Rayna Booth.

Transcript

KEYWORDS

coaching, travel, journey, retreats, Peru, trip, world, psychology

Christine Winebrenner Irick 00:08

Thank you for joining me for soulful conversations with my community of fellow travelers, exploring the heart, the mind and the globe. These conversations highlight what travel really means for the world. Soul of Travel honors the passion and dedication of the people making a positive impact in tourism. Each week, I'll be speaking to women who are tourism professionals, world travelers and leaders in their communities will explore how travel has changed them and how that has rippled out and inspired them to change the world. These conversations are as much about travel as they are about passion, and living life with purpose, chasing dreams, building businesses, and having the desire to make the world a better place. This is a community of people who no travel is more than a vacation. It is an opportunity for personal awareness, and it is a vehicle for change. We are thought leaders, action takers, and heart centered changemakers I'm Christine Winebrenner Irick. And this is the Soul of Travel.

Kristina Liu is a Doctor of Psychology, a Certified Coach and most recently the author of The Inside Out Journey: An Elusive Search For Self Across Three Continents. Kristina is also the owner and director of Selva Vida Lodge and Retreat Center, where she conducts her life transformation programs and hosts travelers who want to explore the Peruvian Amazon. Her holistic retreats address one's body, mind, heart and spirit and use a combination of workshops, medicinal plants, yoga, meditation, mindfulness, connecting with nature and follow up coaching.

In our conversation, Kristina and I talk about how her experiences in early childhood and studies abroad created the awareness that travel would be an important part of her life. She shared her educational and career journeys and the internal struggles she had, when what she longed for wasn't fully in alignment with a seemingly perfect life she had worked so hard to create, she shares a bit about the year long journey that is the premise for her book, and how that brought her to Peru and full circle and creating a space to bring her education and experiences together to offer holistic retreats in the Amazon jungle. Join me now for my soulful conversation with Kristina Liu.

Welcome to Soul Of Travel, I am so happy today to be sitting down with Kristina Liu to share her story.

She is one of those people who was magically trapped into my life like many of my guests were a friend of mine knew a mutual friend who connected us and said thank you to my like each other you have a lot of things in common. And we hopped on a phone call just to kind of see who each other was. And it was definitely an immediate connection. And I'm so grateful for the powers that kind of made that happen. For those of you joining us, Kristina is a doctor of psychology, a certified coach and most recently, the author of the Inside Out Journey: An Elusive Search for Self Across Three Continents.

So I'm so excited to dive into the book, your year of travel and how all of the pieces of your life have kind of created this beautiful journey that's brought you to where you are today. So welcome, Kristina.

04:01

Oh, thank you so much Christine, for that lovely introduction. I mean, so happy to be here.

Christine Winebrenner Irick 04:07

Thank you. Well, to begin, I would love to just kind of start actually with your childhood. I know that you really identify as being a global citizen. And I think you have such a unique journey. And so I'd love for our listeners to kind of get an understanding of who you are starting from then if you share.

04:26

Yeah, yeah, definitely. And thank you for being interested in that. You know, one of the questions that I find the most difficult to answer is where are you from? Because I feel like I'm from so many different places. So to start, I was born in China in the northeast and part of China. I lived there for 10 years. And then I moved to Germany with my parents at the age of 10. We lived there for two years in a town called Athens, which is in the western part of Germany. And then I moved back to China with my parents again and this time to a different city in Beijing. capital. And then at the age of 14, I moved to the US. And then even in the US, I moved around quite a bit, starting in Burlington, Vermont, and then to Chicago, and then to Los Angeles. And then after that, I went to do an MBA in France. And also part of the MBA was in Singapore. So that's what led me to Singapore for almost 10 years. And that's, that kind of was right before I started my world travel. So I don't know if that answers your question.

Christine Winebrenner Irick 05:32

Or not, thank you. I mean, I just think that most people don't have the opportunity to have such a rich engagement with the world and be able to have lived in so many different places. And I think that just allows us to kind of to be open to more possibilities, I think the more we travel, and even better if we are able to live somewhere for an extended period of time, like all of those pieces kind of bring another layer of richness and understanding and awareness. And I think that's why I think travel is so powerful, is to tap into that and tap into that magic and tap into that ability to be able to relate to humans and humanity across the broader spectrum. So I just think that's such a cool part of how you got started.

06:23

Absolutely, yeah, I mean, those early years of travel, I think, definitely planted the seed for me to just be very curious about the world and be adaptable to different environments, because I was almost kind of forced to do that at a young age.

Christine Winebrenner Irick 06:39

Yeah, which can be, can be so hard. I mean, that is, I think one thing that people are intimidated about when they travel is if they're going to be able to be able to to go somewhere completely unknown, especially if you can't speak the language you might not be comfortable or familiar with the culture can be like the stop point for some people that they just can, right, overcome that hurdle. And so I think being able to come at that from a space of understanding and knowing that that is something that you have that resilience that you can do that. And I think it's also even like speaking a language, a foreign language, like maybe you're not fluent in French, but you've heard people speaking it, you know, it exists, you kind of have the tone in your, in your ears and the sense of it in your body. And so like, if you go to France, you're less afraid of that language, because it's not just a complete shock to your system. And I think travel can be that way too, like if you take these steps, and like kind of slowly build that resilience that allows you to expand and expand and expand. So yes, I think the other thing that I love, because I really relate to this is your educational journey also really shows this kind of like a rich journey.

Much like myself, like I've studied this thing, then this thing, then this thing, then this thing. And sometimes, like if you look at the individual pieces, you think, how does this quite go together? How did you get on that path? It's very, like, people are curious about it. And then you get to the end or you know, not maybe the end, but like the point you're at and you can reflect and you're like, oh, that all makes sense. So I would love for you to share a little bit about that part of your journey. How did you go from starting as a CPA and MBA and then find yourself curious about coaching and then moving into psychology? Like, how did those pieces fit together for you?

08:41

Yeah, you know, that's, I'm so glad that you asked that. Because, you know, that doubt about, you know, how do all these pieces fit together? You know, that has certainly crossed my mind, you know, and I think my educational journey probably also reflects really well, my, the personal journey I've gone on. So you know, starting out as a CPA, so studying accounting at at that time, it was the number one accounting school in the US, University of Urbana Champaign, and that was all the practical side of me, you know, the logical side that said, you know, what is the best school, I managed to get the in state rates, you know, so it's kind of like that, okay, well cost benefit analysis, you know, what's the best major I can do in the school and that really was what led me to choose accounting at Urbana Champaign.

Not really thinking about accounting was going to be you know, the passion of my life. And actually, when I first started, I even double majored in chemical engineering because that was also the number one major in that school in the country. So you know that that was kind of my thought process at the age 18. And then I also got a master's in accounting because I managed to get some AP credits from high school and so that made me a sophomore when I first entered and so basically, I finished the undergrad in three years and did the Use the last year to do a master. And all of that decision was really based on practical reasons like, you know, what's the good major, what can allow me to come out and start making good money. And so I did that for four years in accounting and audit, so I worked for a public accounting firm, and then moved in-house to an internal audit function at a biotech company. So that's what led me to move to LA. And at that point, that's when I said, you know, what, I want to add more value.

So that's when I started kind of listening to my heart and to, you know, what is it that I really desire besides just making money or having a good job. And so that's when I got the MBA thinking, you know, once I understand a little bit more broadly about business, then I can contribute in a greater way, rather than just auditing someone else's work. So that's what led me to do the MBA in France and Singapore. And that was also kind of following my heart in terms of hey, where do I actually really want to be, you know, and France being a country that I had always been fascinated with, and the food, the culture, you know, the wine. And so that's, that was one of the major reasons that I made the decision to to go to that particular school. But then the logical and rational side of me is like, oh, which is a good school, right. So so of course, you know, then I chose that good school. And also, it was a year, so less opportunity cost.

So there was still that side and me that that was, you know, talking but at the same time, I'm really grateful I made that decision, because that was one of the best years of my life, it was an intense one year program. And that was what opened me up to the world again, not, because even though I traveled with my parents when I was young, I felt like a lot of that was not really a decision made by me. And you know, I was kind of following my parents. But instead of going to this business school in France, that was the first time that I made a decision on my own to do something abroad. And that also opened up my desire to travel more, because when I was going to the school there, we would take trips during breaks, you know, to different parts of Europe when I was in France, and then when I was in Singapore, to different parts of Asia.

And so that's what really kind of planted that travel bug in me. So that was that year of MBA studies. And then I worked in the the corporate world in a Swiss agribusiness company for nine years in total, but towards the last two and a half years or so, that was kind of when I started listening to my heart again, or my heart started talking again, like, Are you sure you want to be doing this corporate thing for the rest of your life? You know, just keep climbing up the corporate ladder? And, you know, what, what does it all mean? Right? And then also, just really asking the question, Is this the way that you really want to contribute to the world and to add value, you know, to isn't really, in the company was an amazing company, I worked with amazing people, there was nothing that I could really complain about, in terms of the work itself, or the company or the people.

But there was just a deeper yearning in me that said, I wanted to help and contribute and add value in a more direct way. And I wanted to impact people in a more direct way. And so that's what got me into the psychology study. So that's when I started doing a doctor of psychology program while I was working full time. And so that's what got me exposed to coaching because when I first started the psychology studies, I thought, I can be a therapist or counselor, know, psychology was something that I've always been interested in. And, and then I, once I got to know, coaching, that was when everything just kind of clicked, I just said, Okay, this is exactly what I want to do, because it kind of fulfilled all the, the, the, the things, the criteria that I want to do in terms of profession, in terms of a career, you know, in terms of helping people in a direct way, you know, connecting with people but also using the experiences that I had in the corporate world and my prior business education, because you know, a lot of the people that you coach, especially if they're in the corporate world, they want to see someone that can connect with them that understands where they're coming from, and you know, so So, and that's what got me into coaching. So, so yeah, so that's a little bit of a background of my education and my career.

Christine Winebrenner Irick 14:29

I love that and when you talk about being able to connect to your clients, not only that, but I feel like a lot of people see coaching not only to add to what they can do as a as a professional, but also because much like you they're hearing this call or this nudge or they have this awareness of purpose or you know, it's this this question asking and because you are so familiar with what that feels like. You can also really say like Hey, I, I know this thing I've been there, this is where it led me. And I think, especially in the corporate world, where you've spent all this time, you know, like you said, checking boxes going to the perfect school making smart decisions.

All of a sudden, when you're light you go, Huh, My heart doesn't know if it wants this like that, that doesn't make any sense. It's almost like a split personality moment where you, you're like, I've been, we're doing this like spreadsheet life. And now all of a sudden your soul is like, Excuse me. And so I think that's a really hard place where when people arrive there, and, you know, it doesn't mean that they're completely out of alignment, but much like you, they might just need to reflect and say, Hey, is there some other way I can add to what I'm giving an offering, and also what I'm receiving? And, you know, you might be able to adjust and course correct on your current path? Or you might need to just say, is there something else out there? So I love that you can really walk people through that part of their journey.

16:09

Yeah, thanks for recognizing that. Absolutely. You know, I, when you say that split personality, I there was a moment of period of time, towards the end of my corporate career that I really felt that I was sometimes I would almost even visualize the two parts of me having a fight on stage, you know, the one part that says, because at that point, I had already started considering, you know, leaving the corporate world and also doing remote year, which is that year of travel that I did, and so this one hand says, No, you need to do this, because that's what your heart really wants to do. And then the other part is saying, no, no, no, you can't. What if you all these what ifs, all these terrible scenarios, that would happen, if I did that, you know, so it was a long fight, it was an intense fight. And, you know, when I talk about coaching, and the reason I believe in it so much is because it, that was the one thing that really helped me to reconcile these two parts of me, and allowed this part that says, you want to follow your heart to come out a little bit, and actually make decisions from that rather than, you know, constantly listening to the rational part of me so so that's why I find coaching so powerful. And, and that's why I'm so passionate about doing it.

Christine Winebrenner Irick 17:28

Yeah, thank you, I, I also just deeply resonates for me, because I feel like and I feel like many people and especially many women like us, we really start on that trajectory of like, these are the things we should be these are the decisions we should make. Whether that's with career, or families, or children's, or our extended family, like there's all these expectations that kind of set us up for not learning how to listen to our inner voice. And so when it gets to the point, I always reference this quote, and someday I'm going to actually look it up so that I can say it correctly.

But there's this story that Brene Brown tells about, like, you know, this inner voice, and you see a lot of women hitting midlife, and you see these huge changes. And it's because that voice has been there all along. But we've been really good at silencing it. And at some point, it just becomes this like microphone blasting of paying attention to yourself, and it's really intimidating. And so I, I just really connect to what that feels like. And I remember looking around and like when I was in my, like in my early 30s. And kind of noticing this about people who were mentors or people I was inspired by, and then having these huge shifts, and I was like, Oh my gosh, what happens? Why are they all doing this? Like, what is this thing that happens? And now that I'm kind of in that space? I'm like, Oh, I see. It's just like that part of you that you kept telling to be quiet says no. And so then you have to really sit down and have a conversation. And I think it's why it's so helpful for women like you to be able to guide that experience. So I would really now at this point, love to talk about coaching, like what that has meant for you why you think it's important and really like what it is what how does that differ? You know, you said you thought maybe you'd be using your doctor of psychology one way and then you kind of felt differently about this coaching, which brings both aspects, but how is it different and what does it offer?

19:41

Yeah, great. Thanks for asking that. You know, that's a question that a lot of people ask, you know, what is that difference between coaching and other forms of, you know, personal development, such as therapy or counseling, and I would say, probably two main differences. So in therapy or counseling In terms of the time frame, you're looking more at the past, looking at kind of what happened in your childhood and your prior experiences that shaped you to who you are? And perhaps, what are those experiences that created some of these emotional and behavioral patterns. Whereas in coaching, we look at more of the present, and the future. So what's happening right now?

And what is it that you want? For the future? You know, what's your vision? What's your dream? What's your desires? And and so that leads to the other difference, which is the kind of questions you ask, I think, in therapy or counseling, you probably ask a lot of the why questions, you know, why are you like that? You know, and so kind of digging really deep into the reasons why something might be happening. And whereas in coaching, who asked more of the what and how questions, which is kind of what is it that you want? Or what's happening right now? And then what is it that you want? And then how do you want to get there? No, what's the strategy that you want to use to get there. So that's really the main difference, and it's not one is better than the other, it really depends on what it is that you need at this present moment. And sometimes you can actually engage in both at the same time, you know, if you have something that you feel like is really holding you back, and that needs to be healed, that's kind of from the past, that would be something that would be really good to talk about with a therapist, or with a counselor wears, you know, at the same time, you also want to look at your current moment, and how you can make improvements in that as well as your future. So that will be a great place for you to work with a coach and ask some of those what and how questions. And I'm giving this definition or distinction not to say that, it's definitely one or the other, sometimes you do see a little bit of, you know, in coaching, we might go a little bit in the past, just to understand a little bit in doesn't mean in therapy, you never talk about the future or the present.

But these are just kind of, you know, 80%, kind of what you do in both of these modalities. And, you know, if I come back to you, you know, the reason that I decided on coaching, is, when I did my doctoral psychology studies, I definitely did a bit of therapy and counseling, one when I was doing my practicum. And while I felt it to be very fulfilling, and, you know, really helping people, I felt a little bit, you know, was my corporate background, I was always quite forward looking, you know, thinking about deliverables and outcomes a lot, because that's how I got trained. And so that was the thing that I felt like, I wasn't getting that much in the therapy, because you know, you do tend to dwell a bit a little bit on the past, and you don't talk so much about actions and what you can do going forward.

Whereas when I discovered coaching, I said, Wow, this is actually something that I can use my background, you know, and the focus on the future and the outcomes, and actually still help my clients. And the other thing that I've really felt like, at least when I first encountered coaching that I felt was different than the traditional therapy, or traditional psychotherapy and psychology that I learned about is that there was that cornerstone that the coaching training school that I went to says, which is that people are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole. And so when I heard that as Oh, wow, that is so different from the way that traditional psychology looks at people in which is that people are broken, you know, they need to be fixed. And that's why they're going to a therapist to kind of quote unquote, fix them in some way.

Whereas in coaching is saying, Hey, you are ready hole, you're already resourceful, and creative, you can actually solve your own problems and come up with your own answers. And that was just so enlightening for me and just felt so good about that, that there is actually a framework that acknowledges that part of people and empowers people to come up with their own answers and solve their own problems. So I just found that so empowering. And that's what I love to do with my clients. So I'm not an expert. I'm not here to fix you. I'm not here to give you the answers, but I can ask you the questions that allow you to come up with your own answers because that answer is within you.

Christine Winebrenner Irick 24:32

Hi, it's Christine. Interrupting this episode for just a moment to make sure you know you still have time to join our 2022 Lotus Books Sojourn. This is a unique journey exploring the heart, the mind and the globe through the pages of nine specially selected books written by inspiring female authors. Your journey includes two guided virtual discussions each month with a community of light hearted women as well as weekly journaling prompts and reflection, and an assigned travel companion for each book in the journey. Last year, women said this was one of the most surprising and impactful experiences they had. Join us for rich discussion, meaningful connection, and an opportunity for exploration from the comfort of your home, or wherever you might be in 2022.

Your next opportunity to join us is in April for a three or six month experience. Visit the website at Lotussojourns.com/book-sojourn to join today.

Now back to our soulful conversation.

I love that so much, like I just had about 77 revelations in that version. And having done both work myself, as you were saying it, I'm like, oh, yeah, I definitely see the differences. Like for me, I knew one felt one way and one felt another way. But as you talked about, even like the focus of, you know, now to pass instead of now to future, I'm very much had the moment where I'm like, Okay, I definitely needed to reflect on that I needed to process some of that, then I felt like we were just hanging out there. And I was like, I think I'm done here. And like when do we go forward, and I felt like that never really came like, I just kind of felt like I almost had to stay there and still had to kind of hang on to that like brokenness, because then I would have nowhere else to go, if I didn't stay working with my therapist then. And then I was finally like, you know, I think I've done it but I still do need something else. And then I happened to like, fall into this world of coaching and worked with a coach. And I was like, Ah, this is this was the next thing I was looking for.

Because, you know, like you said, we spent a little time here in the past, brought that to where we are now and then looked at how is that keeping you from being where you want to be in the future. And then like that exercise, kind of unties the strengths. And so I could just let it be done, and then move forward. And so I think, like you were saying, like someone who can weave together, all of those pieces are going to really give you some profound insight and movement in your life. And so it gets me so excited. I love coaching. I know, so many coaches and the women who they're mostly women that I know who dedicate their lives to doing that are really spectacular, because I think there's this deep appreciation for, for humans, her people and, and purpose.

And I think that makes them really interesting because they see this magic in everyone, or they want everyone to see this magic in themselves. And so I just think it's a it's such a great, it's people I love spending time with and so I really appreciate you sharing, you know, your experience with that, why it was so powerful for you, and why you think it's really valuable for others who are, you know, looking for support and guidance and growth and to see the two contrasting beside one another and to know, like, you know, this is for me for this, this is for me for this and like you said, like, it's not one or the other, but like this beautiful harmony of have it together. I would love to know if you had a moment, obviously where you were thinking about traveling, you mentioned this retreat. So I'd love to understand like, what was that whisper like? What were you hearing when you thought you needed to travel for a year? And then kind of take us into that journey? What became of this this year? That becomes this book that you just finished writing?

28:58

Yeah, yeah. Thank you. And thank you for sharing your experience, Christine with coaching and then with therapy. I think that's also probably so helpful for a lot of listeners to just to hear some personal experience. So yeah, glad to hear. Yeah, so about that year of travel. So how did it all start? I actually wrote about it in my book. It started a few years before I actually took the plunge, which is a pretty epic, you know, kind of two to three week holiday that I took with a best friend in Croatia, and then with then boyfriend through France and Italy. And it was on the last day of my travels.

I was sitting in this small restaurant in Southern France. And I was eating delicious food, drinking spectacular wine and looking at this beautiful scenery. And I just started crying because I thought well, I had to go back to work the next day. Right? And I don't really want you to know, I thought I just wanted to keep doing this. And that was about three or four years before I actually did this trip. So I, you know, fast forward, I went back to Singapore, I did actually start exploring what would it be like to take a so called gap year that some people take. And then at that time, I just, I couldn't do it.

You know, and now when I look back, you know, I can say, Oh, it was because of fear, I couldn't really, you know, have enough courage to do it. But at the same time, I said, I think it's also a little bit of my true self, that was, you know, looking for a little bit more than just this gap year. Because while I love to travel, and then if it really fulfills me, I also love to work. It's not that I, I, you know, I didn't cry because I hated my job so much. It was just, I love this trip so much. And I wanted to find a way to make it happen for a bit more of an extended period of time, rather than just this two to three weeks of vacation that I was taking, you know, every year. And so then fast forward about seven or eight months before I actually took the trip, I saw an ad, I think it was on Facebook, I couldn't remember exactly. But it basically said, Come travel with us while working or something to that extent.

And that was, my immediate reaction was, oh my gosh, that's exactly what I want. If I can combine the two things that I've really liked to do work and travel, I mean, that's like the perfect formula. And so then I started looking into what this thing is that they're talking about, because I thought, oh, maybe this is a company that will give you jobs, you know, while you're traveling, that would be amazing, because I didn't, I sure didn't have a job that I could do while I was traveling. But unfortunately, they don't actually give you a job, you basically need to have a job that you can do from anywhere, while you travel with this group of people. And so this company is called Remote year. And then I, at that time, they still had an application process, which I think they probably still do. And so you know, so I said, Well, let me just apply anyway, because, you know, let's see how it goes. Because I thought maybe you know, I wouldn't get in anyway. And then I went through all the rounds of interviews and you know, applications and they sell. Yeah, I would love to take you.

Even though I still sell, I still don't really have a job that I can do while I'm traveling. But at this time, I had already started doing my coaching, training. And oh, and then there was a bit of in between while I kind of put that desire off because I started dating someone, also the rational side of me is like, Oh, well, I can't travel the world while trying to establish a relationship. So let me put that off, right and hone in on this relationship. And when that didn't work out, that's when I said all right, let me let me explore this remote year, opportunity or possibility again, and at that time, so when I picked it up the second time, that was when I started my coaching training already. And I already started having this idea of oh, well, maybe I can pursue this coaching while I do this travel. So basically, I would have to leave my corporate job, because with that job, there was no way I could, you know, go to all these different places in the world and then still be able to do my work.

And so that was when that intense kind of debate dilemma making that decision happened for several months, you know, while I was going through the coaching training, I was basically thinking could I really, you know, leave a corporate job that was well paid, and I was on a good trajectory, and start a coaching career while traveling, you know, then that that's when, you know, kind of the voices in my heads. And now I use the name saboteurs in my head, telling him, Oh, no, you can't do that. And you're never gonna make enough money from coaching. And if this doesn't work out, you're never going to get another corporate job again, and you're going to be living on the street. That's, you know, that's the kind of things that these voices say, and, and then what it took, it was actually missing a flight. So I had already decided I'm not actually not going to do this on my rational side one. And then I was coming back from a flight from London back to Singapore after I attended a friend's wedding. And I end up missing my flight.

Normally, I would have been just really bummed out and you know, beating myself up but this time, you know, I said, you know, well, let's let's calm down, you know, it's gonna be fine. And so I ended up you know, buying another flight and, and then another friend who was at the wedding who's a good friend from business school, we ended up meeting for lunch in the middle of London, and she had missed her flight the day before, which is just such a coincidence that both of us we were not supposed to be in London anymore. We ended up meeting up for lunch again. And during that lunch, she said oh you know, like started talking and she said, You know, I always thought you become a sommelier, which is a wine connoisseur. And I'm like, Oh my gosh, I haven't thought that for so long. The reason she said it was because in business school, there was one class when the professor asked, What's your dream job, and I said, Somalia, because I love wine. And I didn't think I would really become a Somalia. But what she triggered in me was basically, hey, maybe you shouldn't go back to Singapore to this practical job that you've had for nine years. And maybe you should do something a little bit more outside of the box. And then the last thing that happened, as I was getting into the airport remote, you sent me an email, even though I already told them, I don't want to do this anymore.

35:42

They said, Oh, here, look at some of these new programs that we bought. And that was when I said, You know what, I think the universe is trying to tell me a message. You know, with all these coincidences, and that was when I went back to Singapore, I basically explored all my options of maybe taking a leave of absence for a year that didn't work out. And then basically, I sat down on my desk and started googling how to write a resignation letter. So yeah, that was the decision process of deciding that, that I would do a remote year. And so I gave my notice, in Singapore, it's about what is it six weeks, or two months, or even three months? So basically, I serve that, you know, kind of there to hold all my colleagues about it. And to my surprise, you know, I thought people would be kind of like, looking at me, like, really? Why would you do something like that? But actually, the overwhelming response was like, wow, that is so cool. We're so happy for you. And so that was another confirmation for me to say, you know, what, it's a really scary decision. And even during that time, I was, you know, as I was selling my stuff in Singapore, I was still going back and forth. Like, did I make the right decision? Like, should I really do this, but, you know, when I heard people actually reflecting back to me, of how cool it is to do something like, like that for a year, that was when I went, you know, what, I need to follow this through?

Christine Winebrenner Irick 37:03

Yeah. Oh, that's so I think that I've heard, you know, similar versions of this, you know, it's, again, it's so hard when you have this thing that you're like, I'm not supposed to let this go, I'm not supposed to let this go. And fate just keeps kind of like hammering away and telling you, you need to do this. Um, and the other thing that I was thinking is that, I feel like it's a sure sign, when you start Googling something that you have to make a change, because I've heard people like, Googling, like, how do I get a divorce? How do I leave this job? How do I like, you know, all these things? How do I like sell my house and my car and all these like, like, if you are asking Google, how to do your life, it's a sign that you need to be making a change, and I've done it myself, I won't.

I have Google things. And then I'm like, you just ask Google that. Let's do some real inner reflection here. And then the other thing that I love is that, you know, we are so caught up in these expectations, these external expectations. And I think, people we, we think people are going to tell us, that's crazy that you What are you doing? And I'm so surprised that this from you. And almost always what we get is this, like celebration of acknowledging our inner truth, like when people see that in somebody else, they are excited, like, there's a part of them that's like, you woke it up for them. Like they're like, Wow, that's a thing that can be real. And they latch on to that. And so I think it's also like, more often than not, I feel like that's the thing that happens, and people are surprised by it.

Because we really have been so controlled in our trajectory, and our like, head down, move forward, that when we like, look up and listen, and we do this thing. It's amazing, this freedom and then to have other people kind of validate that I'm so excited that that is the reception that you also had, but I think that's really important. And I think much like how you're explaining with coaching, like that's, that's your person that can help you do that, like can help you get there and work through that. That conversation because I have definitely had those like both personality conversations and you're like, there is no willingness. Are you kidding me? Like, it's never gonna be like, you cannot Yes, you can. Like that's never going away. And it's terrifying because you feel like either way you're letting this huge part of yourself down. And I think it's just so important than to have someone look at it with you and be like, Okay, well, who are you letting down here? When you say I won't do that and who are you letting down here when you say I won't do that and if it's over here, I'm letting down Parents, boss, kids, spouse, whatever Google. Like, that's not the right answer. Like if the person over here, you're letting down as you like, you can, you can find a way to shift that, I guess.

40:16

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I mean, coaching was such a monumental part of that journey for me to make that decision to to go on remote, you're if it weren't for coaching? Well, one, I don't even think I would have been correct, I'm not sure, I don't think I would have been courageous enough to even look at that option. Because coaching, you know, really evokes that part of me, that was true, that made me say, you have to listen to that voice a little bit. And also the exercises that we did, you know, getting to our values, you know, that was also so important, understanding our life purpose, you know, just putting some of these things that are so important, but that we don't really think about on a regular basis, to front and center to, for you to look at, that's when you can realize, Oh, if I'm not living my life, according to my values, or according to my life purpose, then what am I doing here? Right.

And so and also just having a coach, so when I was, I was going through the coaching training. And as part of that, you also get to work with a coach. And this was a coach who was still in training herself, but was a little bit more advanced. And we had a session one morning, I remember, because I had already decided to say yes to a job in Shanghai, this is when my company wanted to transfer me there. And that was going to be a better job. And, you know, with more advancement opportunities, and I didn't know if I wanted to take it. But again, that logical side said, you should take it. So I said, I'm gonna take it. And then she just said, Oh, you don't seem excited about it at all. And I said, You know what, you're right. I'm not excited about it. And sometimes it just requires another person to reflect back to you, what is really happening within you, for you to have that realization. And, and you know, and just that that was such a crucial moment for me. So I didn't end up taking that job. Because if I did, I don't think I would have gone remote here. Because I would have been like, well, I just got this new job. I just moved to this new city. Now, let me do this for a few more years before I can, you know, attend to my real desires. But so so I'm just really grateful to coaching for, for everything that it has brought to me and to the place that I am today. And for giving me that opportunity to do that incredible year of journey. Yeah.

Christine Winebrenner Irick 42:42

So you let fate intervene. You said yes. So can you tell us just a little bit about this journey? I know people can read about the whole thing in your book, which I'm excited for them to do? Like, can you give us a peek about what that was for you?

42:56

Yeah, yeah. So basically, it was a year. And so the program was a remote year, at least at that time. So I did it in 2018, at the beginning of 2018, and at the beginning of 2019, it was traveling to one city each month. And our program involved two months when we started in Africa. So started in Cape Town in South Africa, and then Marrakesh in Morocco. And then did four months in Europe. We did Valencia, Spain, Belgrade, Serbia, let's see Croatia and Lisbon, Portugal. And then we moved to South America and did two months in Argentina in Buenos itis and Cordova, one month in Lima, Peru, and then two months in Colombia in Medion, and Bogota, and ended the trip with Mexico City. And so while each month you are in the city, you're basically provided with accommodation. Usually it's shared accommodation with two or three other people, sometimes we got a one bedroom apartment by ourselves. And then you also got a co working space, which you can go to to do your work, because everyone on this trip had jobs that they did location independently. And, they also provided some activities in the city, about two to three activities each month to allow you to get to know the culture of the people.

But during this month, you're not confined to just doing the remote program. You know, you could have gone off and done your own thing, which is what I did, you know, so every month that I kind of used that city as a base, and I would take some side trips. And you know, like when I was in South Africa in Cape Town, we took trips to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek which is a wine country. Or you know, when I was in Lima, Peru, that was when I took that epic trip to the Amazon jungle, which is a big part of my book, which is probably the most unexpected discovery that I have. You know the jungle And the plant medicines there. It wasn't even something in my consciousness or even in my vocabulary when I started this trip. And nowhere did I think, Oh, I would, you know, go to the jungle and experience and you know, profound medicinal plants and have these profound realizations and discoveries and even end up buying the house in the jungles and giving a little bit away in the, from the book.

But I think even with that, it's hope it's still interesting and that I have read about how I got there. So so, you know, that's something that I learned in those years is I knew that travel is going to be one of the best ways for you to learn and transform. And I think that year just confirmed all of that, you know, you learn you grow, you transform. And you also, I think the other thing I learned is to surrender or to be open basically, to new things that could come your way that is beyond, you know, your wildest imagination of what could happen and how you could grow or transform.

Christine Winebrenner Irick 46:12

I love all that so much. I have like a million goosebumps right now. I I just I mean, I fully believe in that power of travel. And I believe travel also gets us to that space when we don't know how to get there to that openness and that possibility and that receiving because in our day to day life, we are so much more blocked and cut off and again, like that head down to forward. And when you travel, I mean, you're literally looking up and out, right, you're looking at everything that's around you never seen and just that like physical posturing leads to that mental posturing that leads to that openness. And then the universe is like, Oh, there she is, and starts like giving you the things that you need. And I always say that travel will give you what you need. And so I love that you ended up in Peru, you have this profound experience that you would have never expected and that has like really led you to like the culmination of all these things with psychology, coaching, travel, healing, like now you're there and you have this property, which I want to share with people because I'm so excited. I can't wait till I get to go. I love Peru and have been blessed to spend time in Lima and outside of a ketose and the jungle. But Silva Vita lodge so you have you had this, you know, I don't know exactly the epiphany like alignment that brought you to this property. And you can share that or you can leave that mystery to people to read. So now people can join you there. Can you tell us a little bit about some Aveda, the holistic retreats and what people can get through that experience?

47:47

Yeah, so I bought that house, bald, gosh, three years ago in 2019. And at that time, it wasn't called Silva Vita. It was basically a house for two small houses in the middle of the Amazon jungle about an hour from Iquitos, which is the biggest city in the jungle in Peru. And, and I just, you know, I really connected with it, and, and I ended up buying it, and I said, you know, this, the space, I just, you know, with coaching, I love to help people to realize their full potential. And I guess I like to do that with things as well, or properties because I just saw so much potential in that property, you know, even though it's just two small houses, but the location is just so beautiful. And you know, even though it's in the jungle, but it's in a village, so you're still connected a little bit with village life.

So you know, I thought that was a beautiful balance. And so I bought the property, I turned it, I call it the cell Vita because it's called jungle life in Spanish. So I love the jungle, I love life. And so I thought that's a good combo. And, and then I built a maloca, which is a space where you can do plant medicine ceremonies, and started doing retreats there and also open it to travelers who want to explore the beauty and the magic of the Amazon jungle. So you know, people can book it on Airbnb Expedia. And also can use the space to host their own retreats, if they want to have a space in the jungle that they want to host retreats in. And then I host retreats there a couple times a year.

And so it was actually going really well in 2019 leading up to 2020. And we all know what happened at the beginning of 2020. And it probably I mean, I don't know any other industry that was probably impacted even more than, you know, the travel industry. And so it kind of we stopped receiving guests for at least a year and a half or so, you know, because there was just absolutely no travel. Peru was closed for almost a year during 2020 and then slowly in 2021 It started opening back up again. But I think we all know that globally, people are still a little bit reluctant to travel. So, but we're starting to see it come back, we're starting to have guests again. And I'm actually hosting a retreat there in March this year. And this is a seven day retreat, where we basically address all parts of you: your mind, body, heart, and spirit. And so we do this through a combination of workshops, where we really look at your life, all the different aspects of your life that your mind, body, heart, and spirit. And then we also do some yoga, meditation, and also plant medicine. If, if people are willing and courageous enough to go there, of course, you don't have to.

And there's also jungle tours. So for you to get to know the Amazon jungle in the surrounding area, so Selva Vida. And there's also just a lot of healthy organic foods that are delicious. And so it's basically a week of being in the middle of a jungle, and really connecting with nature with yourself with other like minded individuals who also want to do this type of work. And I think what people can expect from that is, you know, everything that I said there, but in terms of outcome, I think, you know, if you just spend even just a couple of days in the jungle, I feel like you want to slow down, you want to be more present, you know, the, you know, just just realize you're more connected with yourself. And, you know, through the combination of all the intentional work that we do, you'll just feel even so what I described there even to you know, another 100 times, just because you know, when you put consciousness into something that it just really expands. So, so yeah, that's, that's a little bit of why I like retreats, online retreat centers.

Christine Winebrenner Irick 51:54

But so much goodness, I just feel like we had the most beautiful journey through your life. So I really appreciate you sharing all of that. I just, it's so powerful. And I think when we share our story, and we give someone just this peek into possibility, I think it's so important. And so I love that you just really allowed us to be in that with you. And I know that it's gonna inspire other people. If they want to reach out to you to work with you as a coach, if they're curious about your book, the Inside Out journey, or about traveling to Selva Vida, how can listeners find you?