#359 - Monday Motivation: “Sometimes the most scenic roads in life are the detours you didn’t mean to take.”

Welcome to another short and empowering episode of Monday Motivation, giving you a dose of inspiration as you head into your week...

Today, we explore a powerful reminder from Angela N. Blount about how unexpected changes can lead us somewhere magical...

“Sometimes the most scenic roads in life are the detours you didn’t mean to take.”

Three key takeaways you can expect:

  1. How to quickly shift your mindset when life doesn't go to plan.

  2. The power of reframing so-called ‘mistakes’ into meaningful redirections.

  3. Five practices to help you embrace detours and stay open to life’s surprises.

Take this opportunity to learn how to turn frustration into discovery, and use those moments when things go “wrong” as invitations to explore something new.

It's a great reminder that life’s magic often happens outside the plan—and those unplanned moments might just bring you closer to your dream life.

As always, I’d LOVE to hear what resonates with you from this episode and what you plan to implement after listening in. So please share and let’s keep the conversation going in the Dream Life Podcast Facebook Group here.    

Have a wonderful week …and remember, it all starts with a dream 💛

K 💛

Dream Life & kikki.K Founder

SHOW NOTES:

  • Join our wonderful retreat on 22nd May to reconnect to you, and learn how you can run your own solitude retreats for yourself.
  • Join my Platinum Coaching Program (NEW Member Trial offer - save $200!) - where in May our focus is on Manifesting Your Dream Life - and turning vision into reality. Our Monthly Habit: Daily guided meditation. Commit daily to visualise your dream life and attract abundance.. Learn more here.
  • Join my virtual book club GROW for May where we meet weekly on Zoom to discuss and squeeze the learnings from great books. This May we're reading The DOSE Effect: Small Habits to Boost Your Brain Chemistry, by TJ Power. Today’s fast-paced world leaves many of us struggling with extreme emotional highs and lows caused by chemical imbalances in our brains, brought on by the pressures of modern life and constant digital connectivity. Neuroscientist TJ Power shares how you can reset and balance your brain chemistry with simple, everyday habits to lead a happier, healthier, and more productive life. NEW Member trial offer - just $9! Learn more here.
  • Dream Life Community Facebook Group: Connect with like-minded dreamers.

RESOURCES:

TRANSCRIPT:

Hi there and welcome back to another Monday Morning Motivation episode.

This week, I want to share a quote I absolutely love:

“Sometimes the most scenic roads in life are the detours you didn’t mean to take.”
– Angela N. Blount

Isn’t that the truth?

I experienced this just the other day. You may know I have a little ritual I call Inspiration Fridays. I’ll do a separate episode on it, but it’s basically where I jump in my Volvo and head out on a mini road trip somewhere in Sydney—just me, the open road, a new walk to discover, maybe a yoga or Pilates class, and always breakfast and a beautiful coffee at a café I haven’t been to before.

I used to do this in Melbourne before COVID, but as life turned upside down, I let it go. Now that I’m in Sydney, I’ve picked it back up because there’s so much to explore—and I just love a little road trip.

So, last Friday, I took a wrong turn. I was meant to go one way but ended up on a detour. At first, I felt frustrated. You know that inner voice: “Why wasn’t I paying attention?” I’d been listening to a podcast, and I just missed the turn. But then I paused, took a deep breath, and remembered the quote I just shared.

Instead of rushing to fix it, I leaned in. I let the detour unfold.

And guess what? I discovered a stunning lookout with views over Sydney Harbour that I’d never seen before. I also spotted new cafes and even a yoga studio that I’ve now added to my list. None of that would’ve happened if I hadn’t taken that wrong turn.

It made me think: I’ve had this mindset for a while now. I remember back in my previous business, we’d sometimes get the wrong product samples from suppliers—wrong colours, wrong specs. But surprisingly, some of them turned out better than expected. We even approved a few because the “mistake” was actually an improvement.

I’ve missed flights before, only to end up sitting next to someone super inspiring on the next one. The list goes on.

At the café I eventually got to, I journaled about it. I came up with a list of 20 “detours” in my life that turned out to be blessings.

So here's a thought: What if life’s wrong turns aren’t wrong at all?

What if the universe is gently nudging us toward experiences we need—even if we didn’t plan them? And what if those unexpected paths hold the real magic, clarity, and connection we’ve been looking for?

Here are a few ways to embrace this mindset:

1. Pause before reacting.
When things don’t go as planned, stop. Take a breath. Ask yourself, “What could this detour be showing me?”

2. Reframe the situation.
Write it down. Was there something unexpected that came from it? Journaling often reveals the silver lining we missed in the moment.

3. Trust the timing.
Things don’t always make sense right away. But later, when we look back, we often realise the detour was leading us to something better.

4. Make detours a practice.
Try new things. Take the longer walk. Visit the café across town. Say yes to something spontaneous. That’s where inspiration lives.

5. Let go of perfect plans.
Your dream life isn’t a spreadsheet. It’s a beautiful, evolving journey. The more you surrender control, the more room you create for magic.

Here’s your gentle challenge for this week:
Notice a detour—big or small—and lean into it.
Can you find something beautiful in the unexpected?

If you're a journaling person like me, try this prompt:

“What was a detour in my life that led to something surprisingly wonderful?”

One that comes to mind for me is losing my first business. It was so hard, so devastating. But now, I look around and see how that detour brought me here—to this beautiful Dream Life community, to running retreats, coaching programs, our book club, and even printing journals on demand. I never could’ve imagined this path back then. But I love it even more.

I bet you’ll remember more than one detour of your own—and I’d love to hear them! Share them in our private Facebook group: Your Dream Life Podcast Community.

And one final reminder: Your dream life isn’t only found in the moments that go according to plan. It’s also found in the messy bits, the unexpected turns, the scenic routes, the new favourite cafés, and the strangers who become dear friends.

So here’s to detours—and to you—embracing every twist and turn on this one precious life.

Have a beautiful Monday and an amazing week ahead.

I’ll be back Friday with another episode. Until then, dream big—and do one little thing today to bring you closer to your dream life.

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