When you first hear or read the phrase impact mindfulness, what comes to mind?

Probably some sort of save the world kinda of a thing, no?

And it is that, but much more.

In this impact mindfulness mindset primer I want to explain a little about what this worldview really means. If you want to delve deeper, there are other eBooks, as well as my blog, Revolutionary Misfit.

You see, the normal way of thinking about personal impact is to put the cart before the horse…to think in terms of impact as a by-product, rather than the end game.

It’s more typical to think that the best way for me to have an impact on the world is to focus first in a self-interested way on my success. And then from that firmly established and comfortable platform, I can have my greater impact on the world outside of me.

Sounds perfectly legitimate, doesn’t it?

Here’s the problem with it.

Even if you’re Donald Trump and you make sure that a certain percentage of your success is funneled towards some type of image-driven, brand-focused, impact…a certain very small percentage…

It doesn’t detract from the fact that the other 90+% of your daily energy and focus is purely self-interested, group interested, consumption oriented and certainly not People and Planet interested.

It must permeate every aspect of your life.

It must become who you are and what you’re about.

Because only when enough people do that will we begin to solve the problems we have in this world…

Problems that have been exponentially growing to uncontrollable proportions right before our very eyes in just the last generation.

Problems like religious fanatics unleashing genocidal rage on unbelievers, global warming that’s already wreaking havoc on the planet’s weather systems, a growing income gap that threatens social unrest around the globe, developed nations that are literally consuming the world out of existence, etc., etc…

Lately the trend seems to be one of sealing borders and leaving those outside of them to their fate, rather than finding real solutions.

It must pervade every waking moment of your conscious existence.

That’s the “mindset” or “worldview” of impact mindfulness.

It’s not simply donating time or money to this or that worthy cause, even though doing so is a very good and certainly an impact worthy activity.

It’s adopting a mindset that sees the world and our place in it in terms of the three foundational pillars of Impact Mindfulness…

Prioritizing Impact Over Interest – making sure our daily choices or activities, especially those consumptive and economically focused ones, are impact mindful…

Embracing the Concept of The Big US – seeing the entire world and its inhabitants as fellow crew members on a planetary ship…the only ship we have…so that it becomes of utmost priority that we take care of it and each other…

Removing Impact Blinders – being mindful to eliminate status quo ways of thinking that serve to trap us into doing “it” (life) in the same old destructive ways…

The world, our world, needs people who are thinking and acting according to this impact mindfulness worldview. And that is true both within the borders of one’s birth, as well as outside of them. In fact, this whole eBook makes the point that expats, those who’ve chosen to live outside of the borders of their birth, have an even greater opportunity for making world-changing impacts.

The only heroes out there to save us are those of us willing to rise up and make an impact.

Hopefully this little book will inspire you to do no less.

In my lifetime the world has become a more cynical place. There’s no doubt about that. And it seems the last few years have witnessed a dramatic increase in that trend.

I recently listened to an interview of the renowned MIT professor and thinker Noam Chomsky. He said that the increased threat of nuclear war, global climate catastrophe, and neoliberalism are combining to perform the perfect storm…the one that could do our species in once and for all. Hey, don’t laugh…it happened to the dinosaurs and they were around a lot longer than we’ve been! So, it’s no wonder people are becoming more pessimistic. And rampant pessimism usually leads to cynicism, as folks seek to blame everyone and thing, except themselves, for their problems.

Oh, in case you don’t know what “neoliberalism” is, don’t worry. You can read about that HERE, if you’re interested (and you should be).

I believe this burgeoning cynicism is one of the driving factors in the current expat wave. I’ve also called it the “Trump effect” for obvious reasons, but cynicism is perhaps at its heart.

However, the last thing I want you to do is bring that cynicism here with you. I’d much prefer you leave it stateside, before boarding your flight to paradise.

The danger is that once you get here, you allow it to creep back in. I know this from experience because it has happened to me. So, how do we go about combatting cynicism, Costa Rica expat style?

Well, you’re nearing the end of this little book and I hope it has give you some ideas that might serve to answer the above question. But, more to the point, let me share how I’ve done it…

By Learning Humility…

When I first came to Costa Rica I was anything but humble. I was a lawyer-MBA type who was flown down to orchestrate a large business deal. It was a heady experience and one that indeed did go directly to that part of my body. I had what you might call a Mark Sanford-esque experience (and anyone from my home state of South Carolina will know exactly what that means).

But all that came crashing to an end and when the dust finally settled (I did as well) I had acquired a new home. And I learned, gradually, to be humble. Living in a foreign country can do that to you, if you really immerse. Oh, there are plenty who come here and never do that. But that is not my nature. I did immerse and it changed me.

How? Well, I believe the natural grandeur of this place put me in my place. I was, and still am, humbled by both the beauty, power and fragility of nature. I was humbled into dismissing the notion that human progress can proceed in a way that puts us at odds with nature. Nature will either win that battle, or the “spoils” will leave a bitter taste in the mouth of the victor.

I was humbled by living shoulder to shoulder with people who were different. I gradually came to the realization that being from the world’s largest superpower doesn’t make me any more exceptional than they already were. Neither did my education, money, language, customs, intelligence, or anything else. That we are all just people striving for the same basic thing…to live a dignified life.

I gradually came to the realization that being from the world’s largest superpower doesn’t make me any more exceptional than they already were.

By Learning to Show Respect…

I came here thinking very firmly that I had all the right answers. That the indoctrination of my upbringing, education, church and nationality made me a much brighter person than I really was. I often notice that attitude with gringos who come here either to visit or live. If it is to live, you either learn to respect, or you are in for a very unhealthy experience. Those are the ones who grow bitter and continuously grumble about how the ticos have it all wrong. Well, they may have it all wrong, but they’re smiling (actually laughing at you) while you sit miserable.

You see, it pays to learn to respect other viewpoints. It enhances your human experience to learn to stand in the other fellow’s shoes, especially if those shoes are far different from ones you have ever tried on. It is one of the greatest lessons of life I have learned here. It has served to remove those impact blinders that I came here wearing. I began to see the world from a different and far more open-minded perspective.

It enhances your human experience to learn to stand in the other fellow’s shoes, especially if those shoes are far different from ones you have ever tried on.

By Learning to Be Patient…

For many years this came as a hard lesson for me. I did not understand the concept of time that existed here. It seemed as if time didn’t matter, or at least that these people certainly didn’t respect my incessant worry over its scarcity. They seemed to take the view that there really was enough time to go around and meet everyone’s needs. Maybe that’s because there is a far different definition of “needs meeting” here than exists up there. People here just get along with a lot less and are content with that. The idea of arranging your life to achieve maximum efficiency with the goal of having more just doesn’t occur to most people here. The goal of life here is not to have more, but to live more. The two are not the same (I know that may come as a surprise to many).

So a much slower pace of life is what prevails. One that breathes deeper meaning into the concept of “relaxing and smelling roses.” And there are so many “roses” to smell here…maybe that’s the impetus. In the U.S. people strive to make a gazillion so they can have maybe 50% of the peaceful experience that a tico making less than half the poverty rate in the U.S. has simply by walking outside of his humble choza (home) and taking in the spectacular and completely free panoramic vista of his daily existence. So why should he be in a hurry?

So, first out of sheer necessity, and later out of a deeper understanding of true happiness, I slowed down. And I believe (hope) that it has added years to my life. It has certainly decreased the moments of panic and rage.

Now you might have your own methods, but the above ways for combatting cynicism, Costa Rica expat style, have worked fairly well for me. Turning off the news might be all you need. I obviously needed a bit more.

Cynicism is a disease that has already affected enough of us who hail from the so-called “developed-world.” So, don’t succumb to it, neither here, nor there, nor any goddamn where.

Pura Vida!

As a realtor and expat consultant in the southern zone, I often notice that expats come to Costa Rica in search of a less materialistic and more sustainable way of life. I commonly hear from those searching for that perfect place and/or property of their desire for a simpler life, to immerse with the culture, and live off the land.

And that’s all well and good. I’ve been an expat in Costa Rica for going on 16 years now. I also came in search of that simpler quality of life. However, at some point I began to ask the question why? Why did I want to be more sustainable? Was it simply a lifestyle choice, or were there deeper reasons? And the reason I began to think hard about is impact.

Now impact mindfulness is not reserved for expats alone. Anyone, anywhere, can be more mindful of their impacts on people and planet. However, I believe the expat, a person who’s decided to take the bold risk of living in a foreign country, is in a unique position to make an impact, not only on the country they move to, but also on the one they left. An expat is a person on the outside looking in and can gain deep perspectives about how the world works that those confined to the borders of their birth just aren’t exposed to.

Long ago I began to write about impact mindfulness in a blog entitled Revolutionary Misfit. I developed a three-prong framework for the concept. One that places impact over self-interest, embraces the concept of the Big Us, and seeks to remove and eliminate impact blinders. If you’d like to learn more about that, you can check out my blog, or eBooks I’ve written on the subject. Lately, as a realtor and expat consultant, I’ve been trying to expand the concept into the realm of Costa Rica expat living via a related concept I call “expat mindfulness.”

In light of all that, I thought I’d write this article with a few basic ideas for making an impact as a Costa Rica expat.

Idea #1…

I notice that many expats, even though they want to live sustainably, tend to import into Costa Rica non-sustainable notions about what that means. For instance, they tend to buy or bring in imported goods rather than support the local economy by buying and consuming what is actually produced in Costa Rica. Not only is buying local a great way to achieve a sustainable impact, but it can also help bring down the budget quite a bit.

Costa Rica is fast becoming a country that pays a 3rd-world level of living wage to its citizens, who then have to pay 1st world prices in order to actually live. That’s just not sustainable for them. We expats are perhaps unwittingly contributing to this problem. Buying locally grown, non-industrial-processed goods, like those found in local farmers’ markets, or produced by local artisans, can help to combat this trend.

Idea #2…

I believe one of the greatest ways expats can have an impact is by sharing their experiences with those in their home, or birth, country. I say “home” or “birth” because after living in Costa Rica as long as I have, you began to think of it as your home country.

Those back “home” will certainly be interested in your new life. Many will probably think negative thoughts about the decision, at least initially. Some may even claim that you’ve gone completely nuts to move from a developed country like the U.S. to one that is, well, just developing. Of course, you and I know how wrong they are. But unless we let them know why they are wrong, they’ll just go on thinking that the key to happiness is 1st-world level consumption. They’ll never bother to think that if everyone in the world consumed at that level, we’d need three to four more planets just to sustain ourselves!

We as expats have learned that the key to happiness is not in rampant consumption. Our tico friends in Costa Rica have shown us that. Through their humble ways they’ve demonstrated to us the error of our over-consumptive mentality. Costs Rica consumes far less than the U.S., but nevertheless its citizens consistently live longer and rate as being far happier.

Therefore, when your new life sparks an interest, be sure to inform of these startling revelations stemming from your Costa Rica expat living experience. Invite them to come see for themselves. But when they do, don’t shelter them from the truth, but rather expose them, gently, to it!

Idea #3…

There are so many ways to get involved in helping people and planet in Costa Rica. I wrote a while back about how happiness promoters tend to be happier than happiness pursuers. I’ve noticed that those expats who come to Costa Rica and quickly get involved in ways to give back, either by donating time, skill, or resources to their community, or by doing something positive for the environment, tend to be happier and stick around a lot longer. Those who congregate in the “gringo bars” and gripe about elements of the local culture that just don’t measure up to their standards, are often sent packing back home with their proverbial tails tucked between their legs.

The above are just a few basic ideas for making an impact as a Costa Rica expat. Use your imagination and I am sure you can come up with others that could be more in-line with your particular interests.

I was having a few beers in a local bar recently…not a “gringo bar”, mind you, but a real hard-core “chichero”, or local watering hole frequented mostly by…locals.

But there was this one guy. He was a Canadian. There was a soccer (er, fútbol) match on the television. He started complaining about how the style of fútbol that the ticos love to watch and play just didn’t measure up to American-style football, or Canadian-style hockey. That these soccer players were all a bunch of inept, uncoordinated, well, pussies.

Next it was the bugs in his mountain apartment. I can’t imagine how he could last a day in a beach apartment. Then it was the waiting lines at banks. Then it was the phenomenon of “gringo prices”, which I believe is an Alex Jones-inspired conspiracy theory. Oh, that reminds me. I’ve got another North American friend who stubbornly proclaims that they invariably change the music in bars and taxi cabs to English pop whenever he enters. As if the Costa Ricans always adjust their culture to cater to what they perceive to be his whims.

Anyway, after listening to about 30 minutes of this guy complaining about literally everything, I asked him, “well, aren’t you about ready to go home?” He replied hell yes and that he was leaving the next day. I finished my chicken wings and beer, paid my tab, and and said goodbye (while I thought to myself, “good riddance”).

I’ve written in these pages that even I have negative thoughts about certain aspects of the Cost Rica expat life. Of course, I have a whole lot more of them about life in my country of birth. The truth is, no matter where you hang your hat, you can find something to complain about. Isn’t it true?

I cannot imagine how anyone could fail to find anything positive about the expat life in Costa Rica. I mean even that guy was able to come up with one or two positive characteristics. So, why not focus on those?

I hope that within the pages of this book I’ve been able to share some insights into getting the most out of your Costa Rica expat living experience. How to be mindful of ways you can make the world a better place in doing so. And while doing that, have a whole lot of fun yourself. If you can’t find ways to have fun in Costa Rica, well, then I’m afraid you’re destined for misery anywhere else.

Here you’re surrounded by natural beauty. If you’re a single guy, by natural beauties as well. If you’re an outdoorsy type, there’s no end to the activities of which you can partake regularly…surfing, hiking, boating, fishing, rafting, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, scuba diving, snorkeling, horseback riding, etc., etc. If you like taking pictures, well there’s plenty of material all around you. If you like to grow stuff, well, spit a seed on the ground and it will. There’s just no end to it.

And you can do it all in near perfect weather. Sure it rains a bit. Yes it can be hot in places. Being one of the most biodiverse locations on earth does imply bugs and lots of them. Nobody said it was perfect!

Perhaps the best way to negate Costa Rica expat negativity is by allowing the expat experience to put you in your place. Living in a foreign land can do that. Having to make the adjustments, mentally and physically, to the expat life can do that. You will learn, quite quickly hopefully, that the world down here doesn’t revolve around you. You will learn that neither nature, nor the ticos, really care how much education you have, how successful you were, or how much money you have. If you have a lot of money and tend to throw it around, trying to win friends and influence people in the process, oh sure you’ll attract some attention. But usually not the kind that you were bargaining for.

So, don’t complain about them. Relish them and the change they have the potential of bringing about in you.