Lessons from the Camino: Humility, Liberation, and Empowerment
I recently returned from the Camino de Costa Rica—a 16-day hike across Costa Rica—with countless blisters, bug bites and stories. My primary intention was to reconnect with ancestors. Over the miles, my appreciation for the resilience and wisdom brought by all our ancestors deepened, especially from those whose experiences I have not fully learned or understood.
But the Camino taught me more than that. Three important lessons evolved over the course of the hike: practice humility, allow for liberation, and empower myself and others on every step of the journey.
Humility
Hiking for 16 days in unfamiliar terrain and circumstances allows space for humility if you’re honest with yourself. I want to be clear: this kind of humility is not about holding a low or dismissive view of oneself, but the wonderful awareness that our fates are inextricably entwined with and reliant upon the people and environment surrounding us. When the sun was hot, the trail was steep and rocky, and rain forest was thick, we were reminded of our place on this amazing planet. And as the trail repeatedly revealed breathtaking vistas and encounters, we truly appreciated our fortune.
We relied on strangers who invited us into their homes for our mid-day meals. Our Colones contributed to household incomes and their incredible dishes sustained us for another day of hiking. Along the way, families offered us coffee when we needed a morning kick or coconut water and helado when the afternoon sun was overwhelming. These experiences begot gratitude. Every time.
Life was happening all around us and we humbly stepped into it every day. With every Spanish lesson and interaction, we were reminded that language enables connection. But with every silent hug, wave, or shared smile, we were reminded that some forms of connection transcend language. And as our guides taught us more about themselves, Costa Rican culture, economy, indigenous history, nature, and sustainability, we gained ever-greater appreciation for the coffee and banana bread that we have grown accustomed to at home. The Camino showed me that this kind of humility is beautiful to experience.
Liberation
I was liberated from any expectations I had about the Camino rather quickly! I understood that my expectations wouldn’t help me navigate what was occurring from one moment to the next. I learned to accept (with some time and awareness) that my expectations mostly led to disappointment, usually because they robbed me of appreciation for the present moment. Letting go of my expectations was enormously liberating.
The Camino also allowed me to let go of the thoughts and worries that occupy too much of my energy at home. Fully appreciating the privilege of this kind of liberation, I reveled in the stretches of time I had to let all the clatter go because it did nothing to serve my progress on the Camino. The time didn’t matter. The date didn’t matter. Spreadsheets and charge accounts were utterly meaningless. The simple and important stuff mattered. Were we healthy? Were we nourished? Were we hydrated? Were we attuned to what was happening moment to moment? Were we present? Those were the things that mattered.
Empowerment
A delightful consequence of staying present on the Camino was a new sense of empowerment to simply take the next step. Sometimes that meant I should walk more. Sometimes it meant rest, hydrate, and breathe. Sometimes it meant to take an assist from the relief car when my knee ached. Sometimes it meant to check in with a fellow hiker. Or to stop and pay attention to that bird, that vista, that flower, an emerging conversation, a feeling, or an unexpected breeze. I was empowered to take whatever next step was necessary and I knew my team and guides were there to support that step. Likewise, I was there to support their next step, whatever it might be. And 16 days later, I stepped onto a Caribbean beach with four other American women and two Costa Rican guides; seven people who supported one another as we crossed Costa Rica together. It is hard to imagine a more empowering experience.
LEVERAGING THE LESSONS
I am still processing how these learnings will shape me personally. I know I have cleared away assumptions and am refocusing on important relationships. I am reminded that periods of silence and daily movement (especially in nature) clear the clutter in my mind. And as our guides reminded me every day, it is important to embody the uniquely Costa Rican approach of living Pura Vida.
I am also deeply curious how these lessons apply to me professionally and the dynamics of organizational life that we all face daily. In that vein, I offer some prompting questions for you to consider too:
Humility
How much energy might we conserve if we set aside our assumptions to learn from someone else?
What gets lost in translation when language fails us? And when language does fail us, how else might we connect and get back on track with one another?
How much stronger might we be if we let others support us when we are stuck or need help?
What if the stories we tell ourselves are wrong? How will we know? And what is our responsibility as we uncover more truth?
Liberation
What would be possible if we liberated ourselves from the clatter that does not serve us?
What could we accomplish together if our purpose was to support one another on our collective journey?
What would happen if—even momentarily—we set aside our expectations to truly pay attention to what is happening right here, right now?
How can we liberate ourselves and one another from burdens that rob us of the simple and important stuff in organizational life?
Empowerment
How often do we feel empowered to take our next step? How often do we support others to take their own next step? How might we enable that, for ourselves and for others?
What could we achieve together if our potential was truly empowered? How might an organization create a culture in which individual capabilities and organizational goals are seamless and reinforcing?
I doubt that these questions are entirely new for any of us. And I believe we can intellectually tackle them with some degree of confidence in our answers. But the Camino taught me that the answers are not solely intellectual. I think they are begging for attention through embodied experiences—both alone and with others. Every one of us, and the organizations and communities we are a part of, are certainly worthy of the attention.
After all, our fates are inextricably entwined.
In Eudaimonia- Lisa
If you want to learn more about el Camino de Costa Rica, I encourage you to visit https://www.caminodecostarica.org/ and our amazing guides: Jorleny Aguilar Alfaro (https://jorlehike.com/) and Rigoberto Venegas (https://www.facebook.com/cordilleraadventures).