Redefining Adventure to Find Hope
by Elsa A
For a long time, the word adventure didn’t feel like something I could connect with. It sounded big and bold – the kind of thing reserved for people who were confident, carefree, and full of energy. Meanwhile, I was just trying to get through each day, with some days getting out of bed feeling like the most I could manage.
After years of struggling with my mental health and gradually slipping into a darker place, it’s no surprise that the idea of adventure felt distant, almost irrelevant, and like it belonged to a different version of me - someone I no longer recognised.
But over time, that definition began to change in ways I didn’t expect, and slowly, it led me back towards feeling a sense of hope i didn’t think i’d ever experience again.
Here are a few things that helped reshape my perspective, and that I still remind myself of today.
1. Adventure doesn’t have a fixed size
We’re often led to believe that adventure means big, dramatic experiences – travelling far, taking risks, climbing mountains, or exploring new countries. And while those things absolutely are incredible adventures, they’re not the only version of it.
For me, adventure started much smaller. It looked like stepping outside on a day I wanted to stay in bed, walking a little further than usual, or trying something new even when it felt uncomfortable. At the time, these moments didn’t feel exciting – they felt difficult. But they were still achievements.
I learned that adventure doesn’t always have to be about excitement. Sometimes it’s about courage – showing up when your anxiety is telling you not to, or doing something you once believed was impossible. It’s about facing the mountain in front of you, whatever that may be, and allowing yourself to feel proud of climbing it.
2. There’s healing in your own adventure
What I didn’t realise at first was that these small acts of adventure were also acts of healing. Every time I stepped slightly outside my comfort zone, I was gently proving to myself that I was capable of more than I thought.
It wasn’t about pushing myself too far or too fast. It was about slowly expanding my world through small moments, new experiences, and meaningful connections. Each step helped rebuild trust in myself.
The courage it takes to embrace your own version of adventure holds real power. It can shift your perspective, soften fear, and open the door to healing in ways you might not expect.
3. Nature became my safe place
Nature played a huge role in that shift.
There’s something about being outdoors that softens everything. It doesn’t demand anything from you or expect you to feel a certain way. You can show up exactly as you are, and somehow, it makes it easier to breathe a little deeper and feel a little less stuck.
At one point, I avoided the outside world completely, and now I can’t imagine my life without it. Even the smallest moments – noticing the sky, feeling the wind, or watching trees move – can help ground you, and give me immense power in calming a racing mind or bringing myself back to the present. They give your mind a pause and remind you that there’s more beyond your thoughts.
4. Hope returns quietly
Hope didn’t come back all at once. It appeared in small, quiet moments - a walk that felt slightly easier, a glimpse of something beautiful, or a day that didn’t feel quite as heavy.
At first, these moments felt insignificant, easy to dismiss. But over time, they added up. They reminded me that things can change, that not every day will feel the same, and that it’s possible to move forward – even when you’ve convinced yourself otherwise.
Hope doesn’t always arrive loudly - sometimes it grows slowly in the background.
5. Adventure can change every day
One of the most important things I’ve learned is that my idea of adventure isn’t fixed.
Some days, adventure is simply getting outside for a short walk. Other days, it’s trying a new technique from therapy, and sometimes, it’s something bigger – like signing up for a marathon (oops!) or planning a future trip.
Both ends of that spectrum are valid. The quieter, more difficult days don’t mean I’ve gone backwards. And the bigger, more exciting plans don’t mean everything is suddenly “fixed.” They’re all part of the same journey.
Learning to accept that has been freeing.
6. You’re allowed to go gently
There’s no set timeline for healing, or for becoming a more adventurous version of yourself. You’re allowed to take things slowly. You’re allowed to have days where things feel harder again.
We live in a world where it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind, and I definitely still struggle with that thought often. But the truth is, your journey is your own.
Adventure doesn’t have to be intense to be real. Sometimes, it’s simply about choosing to try again and again, in small ways.
Today, I experience adventure in many different forms. I’ve learned that it isn’t one-size-fits-all, and it doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s version, or even the version I had yesterday.
In a couple of weeks, I’ll be running my first marathon in Paris. That feels like a big adventure, one I’m both excited and nervous about, and today adventure looked like trying something new at work which felt outside of my comfort zone.
Both matter.
Adventure ebbs and flows, just like everything else. And wherever you are right now, you deserve to experience it in your own way. Give yourself the chance to realise that hope exists, and there is light at the end of the tunnel you feel stuck in.