Martinique's Influence on my Inner Evolution

Part one: My path to personal development

I was at a time trying to find myself. In October 2023, I took off for the island of Martinique where I decided to set off on an adventure on my own at 20 years old, for an indeterminate time! I bought a one-way plane ticket to settle on this island I didn't know. Everyone was afraid for me, except me. And I was right to trust myself because rest assured, my experience turned out to be wonderful and very enriching. I met some great people with whom I shared unforgettable moments, engraved forever in my head and in my heart. I encourage anyone to travel alone, without fear, but always with care. 

When I arrived in Martinique, I started by volunteering with a Martinican woman in her youth hostel. I had three roommates, now friends, with whom I spent whole days and evenings chatting, laughing, singing and cooking. We often broached subjects about astrology, personal development, energies, witchcraft... 

After this experience, I began my second volunteer placement with a Martinican independent chef, with whom I learned cooking techniques, ancient and local recipes, and much more! We did yoga together, and she talked to me about her island, the customs, the legends... Once again, I lived with several women who taught me a lot.

The Customs

They taught me how to speak a little Creole. When you're invited to someone's home in Martinique and the dish is too salty, you ask the cook “Are you in love?”, as if she'd dropped the pot of salt thinking of the man she loves. When the dish is very hot, we say “Bagail la chô!”. French is spoken all over the island, but Martinique Creole remains the main language used by the locals. It's a mixed Creole, born of a blend of English, Spanish and French expressions.

I discovered some Martinique specialties that I recommend you try if you go to the West Indies. The well-known Accras de morue, Poulet boucané, Fricassé de chatrou (a small octopus), “Ti nain morue”, Pâtés salés, chicken colombo, all the exotic fruits, and the rums!

Among their many traditions, I'm going to mention the four biggest events.  First, the famous Carnival. It takes place over four days, all over the island and the West Indies (Guadeloupe, Saint Lucia, Dominica...). It's party time, day and night. The Martinicans are very, very festive! Then there's Easter. It's a religious festival where people eat crabs. They catch the crabs, put them in cages a few days before the feast to feed them good fruit, and then serve them at the table on Easter Day. The crab is eaten by hand, just like in the old days, and it's delicious. In summer, it's the turn of the Yoles. A boat race (traditional Yoles) that circumnavigates the island over 10 days, in seven stages. It's the biggest sporting event on the island, but also, and above all, a very festive one. Finally, there's Christmas. The time of the famous “Chanté Nwel”. Martiniquais get together to sing and dance Creole Christmas carols, accompanied by traditional musical instruments. They also enjoy a traditional meal.

We also spoke of legends. They have their roots in the blending of Amerindian, African and European cultures. Spirits and nature often play a central role. Heroes and spectacular creatures include Soucougnan, the famous nocturnal creature who terrified villagers by transforming into a fireball. There are also many myths and mysteries surrounding the area. The beach at Les Salines is said to house a treasure chest, once buried by pirates and overflowing with treasure. There are also many ancient stories of witchcraft.

I also made more friends and met people from Martinique who shared their love for this beautiful Caribbean island. Being surrounded by love and kindness helped me to evolve and take the path of positivity. I was also in an ideal setting for my spirituality to grow, surrounded by an abundance of tropical nature. Birdsong and the sound of the waves helped me in my readings and meditations. This trip helped my spirituality grow because I experienced my spiritual awakening. I discovered a whole new world of manifestation, abundance, the laws of the universe, meditation and much more.

The Law of Attraction

To improve my own personal development, the first thing I learned about the Law of Attraction. The Law of Attraction is a principle that suggests that our thoughts, feelings and beliefs have a direct influence on the events and circumstances of our lives. In other words, what you attract into your life is a reflection of what you think and believe.

  In the same vein, I believe in the idea of “What’s meant to happen is meant to happen”. This idea helps me reevaluate the ‘whys’ in my life. I'm a great believer in the laws of gratitude and trust probably because it soothes me to think that, perhaps, there are one or more divine entities up there, and that by thanking them, we attract positive things from them. I find the law of vibrations very special since I believe we all practice it unconsciously, and that we have to keep questioning ourselves to further understand our individual paths. 

Vision Boards

Sometimes we think we want something, but in reality, we're moving towards something else that we want more. As far as the event is concerned, I create vision boards every December and January. I put in my professional goals, my travel goals, my thoughts, and images of the woman I aspire to be. Then I start again the following year, with the satisfaction of having achieved, without realizing it, many of the things on this “vision board”.

In December 2023, I made my “Vision Board 2024”. I wanted to go to Guadeloupe so badly, I took a random photo of a place on the island that I thought was pretty. Then in February 2024, I was able to go to Guadeloupe with my friend, the manager of the youth hostel. Already a goal to check off the list! And that's not all: months later, looking at my “vision board”, I realized that I'd taken exactly the same photo, totally unconsciously!

Some people believe that using photos in our vision boards is not ideal, as they can influence us, and that words and phrases are more beneficial, as they are more abstract and give free rein to our imagination. Here we have proof that photos can indeed influence us, but also that the vision board system works for me.

The Four Toltec Agreements

Secondly, I learned to apply the Four Toltec Agreements. These are four principles of life taken from the book by Don Miguel Ruiz, a Mexican author and shaman. I had read this book a year before, and at the time implementing these ideas seemed complicated.

The first is not to speak negatively about ourselves and others, not to use insults, and this is the one I find easiest. I've totally stopped talking badly about myself. I may have negative thoughts about myself, but I don't let them come out of my mouth, out of respect for myself and because it doesn't help my confidence, quite the opposite...  

For the second, let's take an example: someone insults you. You don't have to be sad or angry; it's his business, not yours. If you're hurt by what they say, it's because you've made it personal, and you've given them permission to have an impact on you. This agreement isn't easy, but I really tell myself every time someone disrespects me, that it's up to them. 

The third is to stop interpreting. We interpret a lot, we let ourselves believe things based on facts created out of thin air by our brains! “He thinks that for sure”, ‘she sees me as a person like that’, ‘they act that way because I did that, they didn't like it’, it's endless! Now, when a situation goes round and round in my head, I try to stop imagining scenarios or imagining what the person is thinking. I can't really know what they're thinking, I'm not inside their head. One solution to this is to ask questions to remove doubts. I can't stress this enough: communication is the key.

Finally, the fourth agreement is to always do your best. The “best” will vary from day to day. One morning you'll be full of energy, another you'll be sick, but in both cases, you'll do your best. I see it as a sport for the mind. I've learned to listen to myself more and do what I want to do, but this principle helps me find the limit, so that I don't listen to myself too much, and do what's right in each situation. It's also the mistakes I make that remind me of this principle...

The more you practice these agreements, the easier they will become for you. If at first you don't succeed, that's okay, just do your best. I believe that with time, willpower and rigor, we can succeed in applying these principles on a daily basis. 

Thirdly, I've learned to act with intention. This means acting with full awareness of the reasons for each action, gesture or decision, rather than operating in automatic mode. It forces me to think about what I'm doing and to question why I'm doing what I'm doing. It means becoming more authentic, acting with passion and conviction, rather than out of obligation or habit. It's about recognizing that you're responsible for your choices and their consequences and therefore exercising discernment. Easier said than done! I still find it hard to apply it every time, because I let myself be influenced by those close to me or those I know on certain subjects. Acting with intention is purely an exercise in self-questioning.

Doing things with intention fosters a life more aligned with one's values and goals, and can reduce the frustration or exhaustion associated with unthinking or purposeless actions that lead to “mistakes”. I don't blame mistakes, because they make you grow. It's just that sometimes, with a little more thought, we might be able to avoid them. 

The last thing I utilize is becoming grounded, being connected to the present moment, reinforcing my inner stability and better managing my emotions and thoughts. Being grounded helps me so much to be happier ! It's an ongoing process and every little step has an impact.

I'm aware that all this may sound very “cliché” and very “feminine”, but by integrating these practices into my daily life, I find that I've grown a lot, and that I'm still growing. My solo travels have taught me to trust myself more. And those are Important lessons that now enable me to have clearer life goals and to be more positive and grateful daily. I feel less stressed. On the contrary, I'm happier, more confident and more present. I try to apply what I've just shared with you daily, even if it's not always easy. There are days when I don't take the time, days without motivation, sad days,... But there are always solutions. When I'm not feeling well, I write, listen to music I like, or watch a comforting film. I don't force myself to do yoga and be grounded if I can't do it. Sometimes letting go feels good too.

I hope this article can help. Take what you have to take. To go further, you can, like me, listen to meditative podcasts, read and write positive mantras daily, and practice journaling. My consumption habits have changed, whether in terms of food, music, podcasts or time spent on social networks... I've clarified my desires, my goals, my values, and I'm very happy about that. This trip and these encounters have helped me evolve.