Whenever I want to make a change in my life, I choose to travel. I’ve tried self-help books, internet videos, and local programs – but nothing seems to work so brilliantly as the open road. When you’re traveling it just seems like everything is geared towards personal development.
Here are ten reasons why travel makes change easy, and why you should choose to travel too.
1: What hurt you before can’t hurt you now
Maybe you hang with the wrong crowd, work at a stress factory, or your relationships are a mess. Whichever it may be, recognize that your environment has a HUGE impact on you. And leaving it temporarily can make all the difference. You can worry about re-integrating later. But for now, get the heck out of there!
2: There is a place for that
So you want to control your anger? Try a Buddhist retreat in South East Asia. Had enough of luxury? Experience life in Africa. Want to get off the booze? Visit a dry country. Want to get in touch with your spiritual side? Then go to India! Ok that’s enough. Point is – whatever you’re trying to accomplish, there are entire cultures out there practically just waiting to help you.
3: There are tons of people doing the same thing
Honestly, most people travel because they’re looking for something. For knowledge or wisdom or direction or whatever – they’re on a quest. And since you are too, help is never far away. Every traveler has a piece of your puzzle. Get out there and start collecting!
4: There are no limits to what you can do
Whether you’re looking to kick a simple habit or completely reinvent yourself, anything is possible on the road. You can go anywhere, experience anything, and change any aspect of you – dependent only on your willingness to do so. The world contains people practicing every lifestyle extreme you can imagine, seeking person growth or life change is no different. You can do it!
5: Traveling FORCES you to change
Spend enough time away from home and you’re bound to leave your comfort zone. You’re going to dance out directions to people who don’t understand you and you’re going to smell terrible on a spontaneous date. There’s just no way around it. But the way you deal with these difficult and awkward situations will automatically have a lasting impact on you. That’s a guarantee.
6: Every culture is also a perspective
We’ve all heard that ‘a different point of view’ is beneficial. But really, how possible is this when most local folk think in the same silly old way??? If you really want a new perspective then leave your country. Most of who I am today is a result of the places I have visited while traveling. Cultural perspectives have lasting impacts.
7: Your main focus is YOU
No work, no lawn, and no dishes. Just you, you, and more you. What do you want to achieve? What do you want to experience? What do you want to change and how do you do it? The time you get to spend thinking about you almost becomes meditative. This alone will change you.
8: There is no one there to stop you
How much does it suck when you want to do something that your friends and family don’t? Time to break free. The more you leave behind, the more you can become. You can simply do as you do as is perfect for you!
9: Traveling is intense
While on the road you experience both highs and lows – and often times extremes of both. There are no constants to pad you and no familiarities to hold your strings or break your fall. Life becomes a constant roller coaster where everything is amplified. One moment you’re top of the world, and the next moment you’re at rock bottom. Survive long enough and you’ll simply forget that a bad cup of coffee or waiting in traffic was even an issue. You’ll laugh at how stupid it all seems.
10: Your commitment to yourself will inspire others
Leaving everything behind to accomplish you goals or to realize your dreams is ambitious as hell. It takes courage to do it and many people never will simply because they’re too scared or because they’re too comfortable with comfort. Define what you desire and go out there and get it. Don’t let anything or anyone get in your way, including yourself. Because you can accomplish anything!