Few years ago, a deep journey of self-exploration lead me to the Death Road in Bolivia. It was one of the most incredible experiences in my life.
I was scared … very scared. It took a lot of courage to venture into biking 40 miles on the “world’s most dangerous road”… I was in the middle of nowhere, with nobody I knew, and I had never really “mountain biked” in my whole life – in fact, I had not ridden a bike in ages!
I knew it was dangerous on many levels. And I was aware that any injury in the middle of Bolivia could become a nightmare for a solitary backpacker. However, my purpose and desire for pushing my boundaries and testing my fears led me to take the chance.
While I was biking down that dangerous road, surrounded by astonishing beauty, and very present in the moment, an indescribable sense of gratitude came over me. I was grateful for absolutely every single person and event in my life, because everything had led me to be there, indulging with beauty and sense of accomplishment and freedom. And for some funny reason, I was especially thankful for the unhappy events, like an unexpected divorce, jobs rejections, emotional pains and other challenges that led me into building self-agency and courage to have that experience. I was in deep love and gratitude with my life for what was.
In the middle of nowhere, surrounded by half a dozen strangers, in an experience that had “death” as part of its name, I realized that if I died that day, I would be happy. I felt at peace with myself, I felt in peace with my family and relationships, and I felt I had done the best I could to became the best version of myself, at that point, and also to follow my dreams. I still had – and have – many more dreams to follow, but I knew that up to then, I had done the best I could. I acknowledged that, if I died, it would be sad for my loved ones, but I also had deep trust that life would carry on and everything would be ok, as it always has.
Later on, when I was reflecting about new projects and professional intentions, I asked myself why I want to support others in their personal development and growth. And the image of that adventure, and that felt sense, came back to me again. I realized that whatever work I do, I want somehow help pave the road for people to feel that way too: find peace within themselves, about who they are, about how they handle their relationships, and about how they navigate life.
I deeply believe that we all have the ability to learn ways to be at peace and well with ourselves and with life as is, while continuing to grow and expand. It does take courage to honestly take a look within and process what does not feel right or what feels painful. It also takes courage, and persistence, to take the actions we need to adjust the gears to a more desired direction. However, this courage is what will unleash the power to free ourselves and find peace on how we navigate life and relationships.
I am Iria Sebastiao, an ordinary person, seeking to do the best I can “to be the change I wish to see in the world” – some days it works better than others. Every day is a good day. Every day is a learning day.
