#27: Erin O’Neil – Stranded in China, Gui Ren, and How to Be More Vulnerable & Trusting

“Trusting someone else is more of a reflection of whether or not you trust yourself to overcome any adversity.” – Erin O’Neil, Author of Gui Ren On this episode of the Edge of Comfort Podcast I talk with Erin O’Neil, world-traveler and first-time author of the book, Gui Ren. Erin and I discuss her unexpected […]

The post #27: Erin O’Neil – Stranded in China, Gui Ren, and How to Be More Vulnerable & Trusting appeared first on Edge of Comfort.

“Trusting someone else is more of a reflection of whether or not you trust yourself to overcome any adversity.”

– Erin O’Neil, Author of Gui Ren

On this episode of the Edge of Comfort Podcast I talk with Erin O’Neil, world-traveler and first-time author of the book, Gui Ren. Erin and I discuss her unexpected experiences from living in China, lessons from the Chinese phrase Gui Ren, and how a new side of life opens up when you are vulnerable and trusting.

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Many recent university graduates feel immense self and external pressure to immediately go into the workforce and begin climbing the ladder of corporate America. Heck, getting a professional job and setting yourself up for new opportunities in life is the reason most people go to a university.

In other countries, people are encouraged to delay their entrance into the workforce to travel for an extended period of time, often referred to as a gap year.

People take these periods of exploration to experience more of the world, break from the bubble of their life and culture, expose themselves to new ideas and possibilities, and catalyze internal change and growth.

This doesn’t always happen and if it does, it happens in various degrees for each individual. But, most people feel some sort of change, growth, or self confidence from an extended journey.

My guest today, Erin O’Neil (@_itsonmylist), decided to adopt a variation of the gap year mentality when she moved to China right after graduation for what was supposed to be a 6-month work experience in Shanghai. I say supposed to be, because things didn’t quite go as planned.

Right after graduation from university (while rocking an “It’s On My List” cap), Erin took a risk and moved to China for a life-changing experience.

Erin O’Neil is an enthusiastic digital storyteller and conversationalist with a serious case of wanderlust. By the time she turned 23, she had visited 22 countries on 4 different continents.

But, perhaps the most life-changing adventure for Erin was living alone in China for 6 months.

Despite the culture shock, severe language barrier, and struggle to figure out how chopsticks work, Asia taught her how to trust herself and create a world in which authenticity, mindfulness, and vulnerability were the only survival tools she needed.

Upon returning, Erin devotes her time to sharing stories from abroad and life lessons in travel. She is currently finishing writing her first book entitled, Gui Ren. Gui Ren is a written Chinese phrase that encompasses the right people coming into your life with synchronicity to help guide and inspire you.

One of the people Erin met at the right time during her travels. A true example of Gui Ren.

“To trust everyone risks heartbreak, but to trust no one guarantees loneliness.”

Her book Gui Ren, which her editor described as an Eat, Pray, Love for millennials, is a narrative devoted to illustrating moments of phenomenal connection and celebrating the lessons learned through travel. It’s an immersion into the comedic reality of navigating a world without verbal communication, finding stability and routine in an unfamiliar world, and abandoning comfort zones to catalyze personal growth and adventure.

Erin writes about many of her adventures and lessons of Gui Ren, including topics like trust, vulnerability, friendship, and connection, on her blog Out Collecting Stamps. Erin also speaks about her experiences at local libraries near Columbus, Ohio and gives helpful tips for traveling and navigating life abroad.

You can also watch these talks on her website, OnMyList.org.

Some of the things we discuss include:

Deciding to take a risk and move to China for her dream jobTurning negative situations into the best case scenarioErin’s trip around Asia and why traveling demands vulnerability and trustWhat Gui Ren means and why Erin chose it as the title of her first bookHow life changes when you are open-minded, vulnerable, trusting, and acknowledge fearHow vulnerability and trust is a skill anyone can improve

And so much more.

Scroll down for the full episode show notes and links.

Check out the video below if you prefer to watch our conversation:

Thank you for listening (or watching) and enjoy!

QUESTION OF THE EPISODE: When have you had your own Gui Ren moment? In other words, when has someone come into your life at the right time to help guide and inspire you? Please leave your answer or story in the comments below.

Show Notes and Links

Connect with Erin – Instagram | Facebook | Website | Patreon

Introduction. [0:00]Erin’s plane ride from Hell on her way to Shanghai. [6:50]Why did Erin move to Shanghai immediately after graduation from university? [12:30]Expectations of moving to China to work for 6 months. [16:30]Challenges in the first few weeks of living and working in China. [20:30]WeChatGetting the bank account blog postWhat surprised Erin most about moving back to China after her internship here? [23:40]Where did things go wrong with Erin’s “dream job?” [27:15]How did Erin communicate these troubles with people on the outside. [33:30]How to turn your mindset from negative to positive. [37:00]Details of Erin’s trips during her final three months abroad. [39:00]Why were the people Erin met along the way so impactful? / Why traveling demands vulnerability and trust. [44:10]Gui Ren blog postHow can people develop vulnerability, trust, and intuition? [55:20]Finding ways to get outside of your comfort zone in day-to-day life. [1:00:10]Imposter syndromeWhat is Gui Ren? Why is this phrase the theme of Erin’s first book? [1:06:15]Influencing Gui Ren and being more vulnerable in the routine of life. [1:12:15]Values Erin learned in her transition in moving to China. [1:26:35]Speaker Series videoErin’s decision to self-publish Gui Ren. [1:29:30]What does success look like to Erin in publishing her book? [1:34:10]Brené BrownEat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth GilbertRecognizing fear as a reflection of your own insecurities. [1:36:00]Reflecting on the past in order to write Gui Ren. [1:41:05]Erin’s PatreonOnMyList.orgTelling your authentic story. [1:45:30]Question of the episode. [1:48:15]

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The post #27: Erin O’Neil – Stranded in China, Gui Ren, and How to Be More Vulnerable & Trusting appeared first on Edge of Comfort.