So, this happened…
I took a week-long luxury vacation instead of returning to the hustle and grind during the first week of January.
And to be honest, it was because I was feeling overwhelmed with ambition.
We live in a world where ambition is often celebrated and encouraged – especially when kicking off the New Year. We make grand plans for ourselves, setting New Year’s resolutions that we hope will bring us happiness and success. We’re told that success is achieved through hard work, perseverance, and a constant drive to reach our goals.
But what happens when that ambition starts to fade? When we find ourselves feeling less motivated, less driven, and less excited about beginning yet another year of hustle?
For many of us, this can be a difficult and confusing time. We may feel like we’re not living up to our expectations or that we’re falling short of our goals. Especially when everyone else posts gym selfies, promotions, or product launches as they kick off the New Year.
The truth is, feeling less ambitious is a normal part of our lifecycle.
Just as the trees go dormant and the bears hibernate in the winter months – humans are not meant to be in a constant state of drive and determination.
What if, instead of setting New Year’s resolutions, we set our sights on vacation?
I did just that.
After closing The Ambition Studio offices for the last two weeks of December, as CEO, I decided to extend our out-of-office notifications for another week and fly my family to Playa del Carmen, Mexico for a luxury family vacation.
The following seven days taught me more about self-leadership than any seminar could.
Here are a few tips to help you align with your natural ambition cycle:
1. Embrace the journey, not just the destination.
One of the most important things to remember when feeling less ambitious is that time is an invented concept. The Gregorian calendar was introduced in 1852 by Pope Gregory XIII as a modification of the Julian calendar, which reformed the Roman calendar and so on. While time helps us “get things done,” our lives and achievements are not required to follow a timeframe.
It’s not just about the destination but also the journey. When we’re feeling less motivated, it can be easy to focus on all the things we haven’t achieved and all the things we still want to do. But by shifting our focus to the journey, and immersing ourselves in the journey, we can learn to appreciate and enjoy the present moment.
Like staying up past your daughter’s bedtime to eat cupcakes and dance the night away.
2. Reflect on your values
Feeling less ambitious may also signify that your values and goals have shifted. One of the benefits of taking a vacation is that it allows you to disconnect from the demands of daily life. It gives you a chance to unplug from technology and social media, to disconnect from the constant demands of work, and focus on your family and yourself. This time away can help you to understand what you need to feel refreshed, renewed, and rejuvenated.
Within twenty-four hours of settling into the resort, I quickly realized my values had shifted as an entrepreneurial leader. The goal wasn’t about multi-six figure revenue targets, it was about multiple opportunities to enjoy the financial freedom owning a company affords me.
Money is a tool; use it wisely but most importantly, USE IT!
3. Practice self-care support
Self-care is important for our mental and physical well-being. When we’re feeling less ambitious, it’s easy to neglect our own needs and put too much pressure on ourselves from a limited perspective.
Taking a vacation can help you to develop a new perspective on life. When we’re in the thick of daily life, it’s easy to get caught up in the minutia of our daily routines and to lose sight of the big picture. A vacation allows you to step back and see things from a different perspective and take advantage of the self-care support all around you.
Like when we asked our private concierge to run our daughter’s bath water before we returned from the beach. Yes, we’re fully capable of running a bathtub but when we asked for help, not only did it save us energy, but our concierge also surprised us with balloon animal bath friends.
Practicing getting supported with your self-care can help us feel more balanced and refreshed, which can help reignite our ambition.
4. Compare correctly, or don’t compare at all!
Comparing yourself to others typically ignites a downward spiral of imposture syndrome – yet most of our comparisons are interpretations disguised as facts. If you’re going to compare yourself to someone else, be honest with yourself.
How can you practice seeing the positive ways you’re aligned with the person you’re comparing yourself to? What don’t you know about their lives that could make them appear more human?
The hustle and grind culture forces us to use others as a rabbit, especially when it comes to setting New Year’s resolutions – yet most of the time we are no better or less than the next person.
I was reminded of this when we sat down for dinner and in walks a celebrity. This isn’t the first time we’ve dined or stayed at a resort with a celebrity yet it always sends the same goosebumps down my arms. I instantly started to straighten up and daydream about what their room looked like or what type of excursions they probably had planned – until I realized… we are on the same resort.
They are me, and I am them. If I’m going to compare, may as well make it positive. I vacation with celebrities. I can afford what they have too. I am no different than them.
If you’re feeling less ambitious, taking a break can help you clear your mind, recharge your batteries and return to your goals with renewed energy and focus. Whether it’s a long weekend, a week-long vacation, or just a few days away from your daily routine, taking a break can be a great way to restore your motivation and ambition.
In conclusion, feeling less ambitious is a normal part of life and might be a sign that you need a break before you jump into New Year’s goals. Remember, it’s not about always being ambitious, and motivated, it’s about finding the balance and the right time to recharge to come back stronger.
