5WiW is an out-of-the-box concept that was inspired by my own out-of-this-world travel experience with a van in the far north of Zweden above the Arctic Circle, but can be illustrated with multiple formats that we are familiar with here in Belgium, each with their own particular overlap with 5WiW.
De Columbus
We do not typically work with celebrities, but just like this TV-program every 5WiW guest is getting the VIP treatment. And the aim is to have connecting conversations while moving through peaceful sceneries. The van serves as the vehicle but as a safe psychological cocoon at the same time.
And while the cocoon van is aimed at create a shield of psychological safety that keeps everything inside that wants to be kept inside, there is also the option to bring out information that you as a guest want to bring out — in our case in a podcast, on Youtube or Instagram, for instance. Not on national TV.
Wildlife
Overlap with Wildlife is that conversations can also be explicitly about sensitive and vulnerable topics, and that mental vulnerability is even allowed to be in the spotlight without that having to be in a therapeutic context.
There is indeed explicit attention for “nature”. Nature around, as in the beautiful surroundings we are roaming around in. But also for “our nature”, as in our true human nature.
One thing that is very clear, is that our true nature is under severe pressure in our current day Westerse society, and thus that mental vulnerability is actually to be expected.
C’est Pres de Chez Vous
“C’est Pres de Chez Vous” means “it is close to you”. This is not a TV-program. But it is a project by our late father that greatly inspired the 5WiW concept. He looked for, and found those peaceful natural sceneries that were located surprisingly close to home. On his bike.
Towards the end of his life, when dementia was setting in, he asked us to take him through those same sceneries by car. Sometimes we enjoyed the scenery in silence. Sometimes we talked. But despite the surging dementia, those conversations turned out to be some of the most connecting and illuminating we’ve ever had. I don’t know if there’s more powerful examples to illustrate what deep peace can do — to our being and to our … brains.
The other take-away: even closer to home (than the Arctic) there’s beautiful sceneries that can have a surprisingly peaceful and healing effect.
Joannebus
Joannebus: not a TV program either. Anniek’s project is living proof that the bus concept of the Columbus has promise away from TV cameras.
Her way of “pricing” the trip to potential guests is inspiring as well: “this should not be about money.” She is asking to split the costs rather than getting paid for her time and/or expertise. Thereby demonstrating that at some point connection and conversation become a more important currency than money or profit. At least if the goal is to put people in their innate power. That is not what our mainstream society currently propagates. But it certainly is at the heart of 5WiW too.
Arne Borealis & Hike_and_Sea
Arne Borealis and Hike_and_Sea: a Belgian couple showing that traveling with a VW van — way smaller than the Columbus or Joannebus — is possible with two, even for longer journeys and in the Arctic. And thus certainly in our milder climate in Central Europe.
Their story also illustrates to what kind of beautifully creative outcome such trips can lead. Hanneke is a professional photographer. Combined with Arne’s words, they are truly creating powerful content.
Notice on top of the photo (copied from IG): “No place like home.” That reference to home deserves its own blog post.
Holy Motors
Holy Motors is one of the main reasons I got so attracted by the Arctic. It stands for cooperation rather than competition or exploitation. Co-creation rather than domination. Exchanging rather than teaching. Deep connection with outdoor nature. Deep connection with our true inner nature. Going beyond the human connection — thanks to the dogs. Leading the way from a vulnerable perspective. Putting yourself out there even when ideas are not so conventional. Taking a huge leap of faith by moving to the “end of the world”. Community building, even in a challenging environment. And then there’s of course the attention for the creative process, designing expeditions… All of that, too, feels like a part of what 5WiW stands for.
Wu Wei
Wu Wei refers to the Taoist concept meaning “effortless action” or “non-doing”. It’s not about inaction, but about flowing with the natural rhythm of life, acting in harmony with the world rather than against it. To live with wu wei is to let go of force and control, and instead allow life to unfold with quiet trust and graceful presence. Like water finding its way around obstacles.
Wu wei also describes what a trip with 5WiW aims for: letting the inspiration of the moment inspire the direction. And allowing ourselves to be pulled into the now.
Also, wu wei describes what it feels like to ride the Onewheel (photo): moving forward with virtually no effort. Not even a remote control. Just the slightest movement of the body will move you forward and create a sensation as if you’re floating.
Dropping
I once organized a dropping expedition. Right in the middle of my 5 year psychology program. I had no “business” organizing this in the first place — because not in any way was it conducive of better study results… Such was my thinking at the time, prior to accepting the invitation to organize it.
It ended up being an extremely invigorating experience and has become an absolute major reference point for me in terms of flow / peak experience — I literally ended up working 2 days and 2 nights non-stop. Not because anyone asked me. But because such was the power/flow behind it that it just seemed to happen like that.
It’s both that energy and the expedition component that are now also inspiring 5WiW.
[Note to self: perhaps this is material for a FAQ section. But it does relate to the nature of the 5WiW concept — which why it’s still here for now]
* With so many different angles of inspiration, how or where does the “psychologist” component of my profile fit in?
—> Only the future will tell, and the right words to answer this question are still trickling in, but at the start of this project I feel the focus on the “expedition” component is primary. Yes, facilitating personal growth is an integral part of the 5WiW mission — but that is true for the co-pilot (you) as much as for the pilot (me). We both aim to connect as much as possible to our own true power. Providing a safe space in which we can retreat into a deep level of inner peace is a first and integral goal already. Of course, if my background as a psychologist or generative coach can further add to the process, I will not refrain from allowing that to happen. But I am not trained as a clinical psychologist, nor as a therapist.
From that perspective, any contributions from me would come from an explicit growth approach in which the focus is on one’s strengths rather than weaknesses, and perhaps even from a less conventional “awakening” perspective as much as from a mainstream psychological approach.
It feels like it’s not a coincidence that our conversations would be part of an expedition rather than a “session” — and that any guest would be a co-pilot (rather than a “client”). It’s truly about an adventurous “curious” journey that we embark on together. The more we can look at it like that, the more likely it is that insights and observations will surface that neither of us would have come up with separately — rendering each of our individual profiles less important.
Which allows for an interesting segue into the next question below: “diving into the deep” (traveling in the vertical dimension) is as important in a 5WiW expedition as moving from A to B on the horizontal dimension.
* While talking about taxi drivers: Do you also provide “taxi” services? And more in general, how is 5WiW different from a taxi service?
—> The goal of a typical taxi service is to bring or even rush you from A to B. As fast as possible, via the shortest route possible. At a competitive and thus relatively high rate / price. And although you may have a chat during that ride, or even briefly connect to the driver, that is certainly not the typical goal.
The goal of 5WiW might be exactly the opposite in several ways: First, we truly want to take our time, by driving slowly and taking stops as we see fit. Reaching a physical “point B” destination is not a main goal. If there’s any type of destination it’s the here & now, even if we are moving forward most of the time. The scenery, and “being in that scenery” may help with that. And so can the conversation — or the silence during the conversation. With that connection being most important of all.
In addition, in 5WiW’s current introductory format you might pay less for a 5WiW expedition than for a typical taxi service covering the same physical distance.
Alrightie , you might think then: would 5WiW then provide shuttle service to the airport, for instance? If we can turn that trip into a journey with time and potential for some wandering (e.g. a detour), I would consider it. If you’re rushed, perhaps we could still do it but then the rates would go up exponentially — the idea being that your financial injection can allow other people to book an expedition with that extra money.