If you know me, you know I’m always using the phrase “it’s all mental.” Normally, I use it in a joking manner, but deep down, I apply this phrase in every aspect of my life. Especially traveling abroad, having an “it’s all mental” mentality has made my time in Europe nothing short of pure bliss.
Before I left for Prague, everyone asked me if I was worried, anxious, or scared. But honestly, I wasn’t any of those things because I knew that I was the only one who could make or break my experience overseas. I was certain I was going to have an amazing time and not let little things that were out of my control affect my experience. It was up to me and my attitude to enjoy my semester, because it’s all mental.
Let me start off by explaining what this phrase means to me. Every experience, interaction, or decision thought out by the human mind is perceived uniquely by each individual. We use our brains in every aspect of our lives, whether we are actively aware of it or not. However, people fail to understand how much power and ability that gives us. We have the power to control how we perceive things and, more importantly, how we react to them.
Once we stop blaming external factors for our problems and our successes, we can break the barrier of letting things control us. Looking at the silver lining and focusing on the positives of every situation will result in more happiness and a higher quality of life.
My friends and I are constantly traveling every weekend, and with that much movement, things are likely to go wrong—trains get canceled, hostels are gross, things get lost, and the weather is not always on our side. When I was in Copenhagen, the weather was miserable. It was rainy, windy, and so cold. I could have let that ruin my entire trip.
If I focused on how cold I was or the fact that all my clothes were soaked, I would have remembered the trip in a negative light and probably hated Copenhagen. But instead of reminiscing and constantly complaining about it, I focused on other, more positive aspects of the trip. Like how I was learning new things about Denmark while exploring a city I’d never been to before. Or how the trip led me to get to know the people I was around better. Or how I found my favorite art museum in all of Europe. Instead of dwelling on the negatives, my reactions to the struggles turned into appreciation for other aspects of the trip. If you apply that to everything in your life, you will become more grateful and find new value in your surroundings.
Although the weather was an external factor I couldn’t control, I could control my reaction to it. I am so lucky to be living in Europe, and I have nothing to complain about. My outlook controls my experience, and it can make or break yours. Make your mind a nice place to be!
A quote (author unknown) that has stuck with me is this one: “Be so rooted in yourself that nobody’s absence or presence can disturb your peace.” I apply this to situations I’m in, constantly reminding myself that everything is ultimately up to me and I can choose whether I am content with my life or not. Not everything is so black and white and simple, but being aware and having a positive outlook does improve your life in all the right ways. It’s not about what you look at, but what you see.
Maya Kollme is a student at James Madison University and an ISA Featured Photo Blogger. She is studying with ISA in Prague, Czech Republic.