Why I moved to Costa Rica
It’s interesting to sit here this AM, presently surrounded in a feeling of nostalgia.
Today, as I write this, it’s been just over six months since officially moving to the town of Atenas, Costa Rica (about 15 miles west of San Jose, the capital of country).
Many different aspects went into the decision to relocate to a place I’ve never been.
While this may come across as ‘mucho loco’ (very crazy) to some, many others have personally reached out to me since officially announcing this move via Facebook.
A couple mornings ago I was brought to tears during my morning practice.
I felt a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for being exactly where I sit before you today.
I was overcome by emotions of happiness, that I could feel permeate throughout my whole entire being.
A lot goes into moving abroad, and when I say a lot I do mean A LOT.
However, my intention here is to share with you the cultivation of this vision and where/when it first originated.
In a world that will always turn, my hope is that for those who have either already had such dreams, or are open to the possibility of creating a new one, can leave with a deeper sense of inspiration :- )
So, it all started on December 2nd and the year was 1985. On this joyous of days, I was born into the world.
Alright I’m truly messing around, as I won’t go that far back.
However, I vividly do remember the year, which was 2014.
At the time I was working as a Senior Sales Consultant for the #1 valued sports franchise in the world.
Adorning a healthy six-figure plus income, I was immersed in the exact place that my vision had aspired.
Respected by my colleagues and peers, I had proven to be committed to the profession I was in.
All the way from collegiate studies, to multiple internships in the professional sports arena, and a previous move to the west coast to essentially start from the bottom.
To say I had put in ‘the work’ would be a vast understatement.
However, at this point I felt uninspired.
It was bothersome to me, because:
1. It was unexpected
2. I was in the exact place I had previously desired to be
3. To society, friends, and family, I had reached the mountaintop
This proved to be an interesting period of time for me, which lasted for nearly two whole years.
I felt alone.
I felt guilty.
I even felt a bit resentful towards myself, as on a financial level I was on the threshold of being in the multiple six-figure income club.
“Come on Brandon, you’ve made it bro! What’s your deal?!”
Was a consistent though that panned across my psyche frequently.
“You’re a success story B. I mean you grew up without a father for the majority of your life and you’ve redeemed yourself from the trouble and worry you placed on your mom, whenever you were wilding out.”
What we focus on expands, so this chatter kept appearing, however deep down I knew there was something underneath it that desired for more.
There were a few YouTube channels that really inspired me during this period, as well as help me focus on better taking care of myself mentally, emotionally, and physically.
The top ones then were:
1. Infinite Waters by Ralph Smart
2. The Model Health Show with Shawn Stevenson
I won’t go into the details around each, as you can check them out yourself if you desire to do so.
However, I found myself consumed with these channels on my 30-minute commute to work, at lunch, and often times in the evenings too.
I was positively obsessed.
I felt a sense of connection to these people who were all in different places of the world.
They helped spark something inside of me with their very relatable stories, as well as the guest in which they interacted with on their platforms.
More importantly than that though (I wondered to myself), how are these people able to support themselves without directly working for anyone.
I could sense the authenticity and freedom in which they all lived their lives.
I deeply desired that for myself.
To connect with others, to authentically share my story, and most importantly, to help people who find themselves in a place where they could use support.
I envisioned myself doing something similar to all of them.
So, what does all this have to do with Costa Rica?
Well I’m about to tell you ;-)
That’s when the vision was first consciously implanted that I wanted to work for myself and be location independent.
I had no clue as to what all that would entail, but I was very clear that that was a desire for myself.
And not a surface level desire of the mind, but from a deep place within my heart.
Shortly after this time, I began coming across other thought leaders who were traveling the world and working from their laptops.
Each and every time I saw this, I was met with barrage of goosebumps. I could feel a wave of energy throughout my body.
The only way to put words to it is to say it felt like an indescribable expansiveness that would even leave me with the shakes at times.
Imagine being so happy that you’re unable to control it, causing you to want to just jump up and down or do jumping jacks just to dispel the energy.
This is how I felt.
I remember communicating this strong vision and desire to a good friend of mine at the time.
However I was met with an assortment of:
“Are you crazy, you’ll never leave your current job!”
“Yea right, how would you support yourself?”
“At the end of the day that’s everybody’s dream, and it’s just that…a dream man. Let’s get real!”
I’d like to share a little nugget with you.
That individual is no longer a friend and a part of my inner circle today :- )
However, I’m grateful for his words and that experience, as it’s been a beautiful reminder to me on the importance of who you surround yourself with, as we’re genuinely a culmination of the 5 people we spend the most time with.
Months after first having the aforementioned vision, I found myself at a Wayne Dyer workshop in Denver, Colorado.
Wayne’s life story had greatly inspired me. He walked away from a tenured professor position, one in which he had worked over 20 years to create, in order to follow his deeper hearts passion of writing books full-time and living a life of even more freedom.
At the time of doing this, he had 4 kids to still fully support with his then wife too.
Super ballsy I thought.
After reading his “You’ll See It When You Believe It” book, I felt a strong desire to see him speak in person.
Which I not only did at this conference, I even had the pleasure of meeting him for a brief moment in a side hallway after the gathering.
His energy and way of being, as well as what he had created in his life, not only inspired me, but it lit a fire underneath my feet.
A short few months later, Wayne actually ended up passing away in his Maui home.
About a month after that, I ended up resigning from my corporate sales position.
And then a month after that I found myself in Phoenix Arizona for a spiritual conference that featured some of the top thought leaders in that space – Marianne Williamson, Don Miguel Ruiz, Iyalna Vanzant, Neale Donald Walsch, Michael Beckwith, as well as a host of many others.
However, one in particular planted the seed of one day moving to Costa Rica into my mind then.
His name, Joe Dispenza, and I hadn’t even heard of him until that conference.
He was best-selling author of two books – Becoming Supernatural and Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself.
As I attended his lecture, after briefly going through his intro, he mentioned that he was living in Costa Rica.
He talked about how tranquil and beautiful it was to be immersed in the healthy and healing confides of nature.
He spoke how he conducted all of his research and wrote his books in the country.
He spoke of how he has hosted retreats there for his clients.
My mouth internally was wide open, as well as my attention was full on and heightened to the highest degree.
That’s freedom I thought.
How cool is it that he is spending time doing what he loves (writing), in a place that he loves (Costa Rica), hosting retreats around the world, and now speaking to an engaged audience of others who have not only paid to see him, but also truly desire to hear what he has to say.
This conference, in November of 2015, was the first gentle push towards one day moving to the country where I now sit (immersed in a back drop of luscious trees and vibrant colored plants) before you today.
There’s been many elements that have been created since then:
- An online coaching business where I have the privilege of supporting other creative and visionary leaders who desire to live an authentic, purposeful, and free life on their terms
- Multiple online men’s groups, centered on emotional awareness and living a bigger and more meaningful life from the heart
- Leading the leadership teams of two (2) professional sports teams through mindfulness meditations to reduce stress, increase focus, and create healthy lifestyle habits that promote energy and peace of mind
- Traveling to over 20 countries throughout the world
- Completing a 200HR Yoga and Meditation Teacher Training in Ecuador
- Becoming a Certified Holistic Nutritionist
- Becoming certified in Eating & Mind-Body Psychology
- Living abroad in Finland for a summer, as well as spending a month in Italy another summer
I write this before you today, from a sense of gratitude and appreciation.
From a sense of not only listening to my heart, but following it with every fiber of my being.
I am grateful for now being in a beautifully healing and immersive destination that has been a part of my vision for many years.
I am grateful for the opportunity to completely work from my laptop and support clients in countries all around the world (including but not limited to – Spain, Thailand, Luxembourg, France, The United Kingdom, South Africa, as well as many in the United States too).
I am grateful for doing what I love each day.
And most importantly, I am grateful for sharing this brief but profound story of the power of combining a clear vision with the voice of the heart, and the fearless actions necessary, in order to continue on the process of elevating forward.
If there’s something you personally know and aspire to lean into, please know that you got this. You always have, and always will. Continue to have faith and believe in yourself, as that is the foundation of bringing it into physical form.
With Love,
Brandon