The True Journey to a Successful Life Abroad.
‘’Hola, hablo un poco Espanol’’ That’s all I could say when I first landed in Spain and began my journey abroad. Since then, I lived in many different countries, faced a wide variety of challenges and confronted complex fears. This adventure became my life journey and brought me the confidence today to inspire others.
At the age of 24, I became inspired by the idea of “life abroad.” I wanted the experience of an ‘expat’ to learn about other cultures and languages. Was this a good idea or would it be the mistake of my life? According to my family and friends I was insane to leap into the unknown and leaving the financial security I had at home. Facing a mountain of questions, I simply did not want to grow old wondering if only I had done it.
I took action, broke down my goal into small steps, and began applying for jobs pretty much everywhere. Of course, I could have saved a lot of time by crafting a plan to narrow my searches, but patience has never been my strength. Finally, I decided to take a job in Spain as my first destination. Working in a hotel spa, together with new colleagues and clients became my daily routine, while learning the language and finding my way around in the new land. Watch this TEDx video here to decide on your next step
Each time I moved into a new country, I had to research and plan ahead to make sure I had work and a place to live. Then, I had to adapt to the new, learn a new language, meet new people, and basically face several challenges to find my way around, so I could feel at home. Each time I cruised through the well-known four stages, but each time it went faster. If you want to determine your stage, read this article
Being alone in a new country, away from everyone I knew.

I confess it was scary, but I kept reminding myself ‘’why I do this?’’ I wanted to meet new people and understand their culture. It took practice to grow my network because I had to find the confidence to speak up and ask questions to people I’ve never met before. This resulted in a boost of self-esteem without even realizing it at the time.
I also learned that the real fear comes from our own thoughts. So often I stressed myself only by thinking negatively about myself: ‘’I can’t do it, I’m not good enough.’’ What you say to yourself affects how you feel and also the decisions that you make. Slowly, but surely, I learned to change my thoughts in the other direction which made me feel so much more confident and allowed me to find opportunities instead of challenges.
Just go out there and speak, ask, talk, network. It will bring you much more satisfaction and confidence, rather than holding back because you fear failure.
Each time I did something new, I faced fears and it always felt like climbing the highest mountain. But each time after that, the mountain slowly became a hill.
Taking action always starts with one first step. One of the countries I lived in was France, where I had a job as a commercial manager which consisted selling building materials. There I was, a foreigner with a strange accent, and woman, in a male-dominated field, and I had never done this kind of job before. Can you imagine my anxiety?
I could feel my heart beating in my throat before entering that first door of a huge building. There I was, standing all alone in the middle of construction sites, in a foreign country, speaking a foreign language. But then, I knocked, entered, and with a polite ‘Bonjour’, started my speech and realized it was not that bad after all. These victories definitely boosted my self-confidence.

While living abroad, there are often times when I lose my motivation and energy making me really miss my family and friends. Many times, I sat on my knees in an empty living room, in front of moving boxes, feeling exhausted and alone. That’s when I suddenly miss my mom near me, and then it doesn’t matter if I’m 20, 30 or 40 years old. Making a phone call is just not the same when you feel stressed or sad and just crave a hug. These situations have definitely increased my self-assurance and self-reliance. I realize how every situation, pleasant and unpleasant, are important life lessons making me a richer person. Reading my favorite quotes are also a great source of motivation.

My journey has also deepened my perception regarding friendships. Who are the ones that really support me unconditionally? Who are the ones I really want to be surrounded with? The friends who genuinely care are the ones who understand that being abroad is an intense experience, rather than a holiday, and friendship is not about the number of emails or calls. Creating my tribe has been essential for me, and they do cross borders! Start finding your tribe , here’s how.
Through the years abroad, I have learned so much about people. Every time I arrive in a new country, I have to rely on strangers. As a result, I’ve found that those who quickly tell me how wonderful and everlasting our friendship will be are usually the ones I never hear from again after I have moved out of the country.
Having been disappointed in so-called friends, has taught me to choose carefully, which also means letting go of the people who are pulling me down and draining my energy. It takes a while, but being surrounded by supportive people provides the energy that motivates and inspires!

Being single seems easy for some people. I often hear ‘’Oh, you’re free to do anything you want.’’ True, but it also means I am the only one making decisions. Which job, which house, which location, which insurance, which car, which gym, etc… Sometimes I would have appreciated sharing decisions and chores. Or maybe I would have not taken on that one job that turned out as a disaster.
Good or bad decisions, they are both lessons.
Years ago, I had never thought about my past mistakes in a positive light. Now, I understand it’s all OK and failure is life’s greatest teacher.
Every “down” moment has an “up,” and I keep moving forward. Each mistake is an opportunity to do things differently and make better choices.
Life has not always been easy. I’ve lost friendships, went through a divorce, and suffered a burnout. I took on jobs that seemed amazing but ended up a disaster.
Sometimes people say that I am lucky. ……They assume I’m so happy because I’m an independent woman, have travelled and lived in many countries, speak several languages, stay fit, and have a successful career.
Through my adventures, I learned to connect within myself and feel what gives me energy. My calling became crystal clear: Help people to become their best selves abroad!
Motivating and inspiring ambitious people, so they can make plans and take actions towards their goals. Understanding and adapting to cultural differences, when moving abroad or doing business abroad, is what I teach, preach and love.
Happiness, success, and confidence are different for everyone, it’s personal and an inner feeling within ourselves. Living abroad successfully is possible and proven over and over again, which is why I published the book as a complete guide. How incredible do you feel knowing that you can learn to believe in yourself and realize you can achieve your dreams.
In my journey, I have found that growth takes time and patience. You can start changing your life from feeling stuck to finding your own life path. This is the message I bring to my audience and readers, hoping it will move you to take charge of your life.
Are you ready to begin your journey?
‘’Life changes, and so can YOU!’’
Start NOW!
How? Check out the free resources in the PS
RachelSmets.com
Bestseller: Living Abroad Successfully: What, Where, When, How
Happy Journey!
~ Rachel Smets
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