Personal Growth through Travel
Traveling requires effort in planning, financial investment, and taking time away from your daily life. While staycations can provide rejuvenation and rest, it's worth exploring why travel is beneficial. In this blog post, we will discuss three positive outcomes from travel experiences.
1. RESET
Although the disruptions in your daily schedule associated with travel may seem like a hassle, the opportunity for a reset through a vacation can be invaluable. Yes, you might need to complete pending tasks at work, squeeze in meetings, and ensure your household is in order before you depart, but the break in time and space can be powerful. During vacations, you set boundaries by detaching yourself from work, usual obligations, and responsibilities, allowing you to look beyond your desk and remember that there's a whole world out there. By physically relocating yourself to a new place on the planet and spending time in that corner of the world, you gain a shift in perspective.
During these opportunities, you begin to observe how others handle things, notice different flora and fauna that thrive in distinct soil and climates, explore local delicacies, encounter different accents, and immerse yourself in the unique structures, smells, people, and cultures that make a place truly distinctive. This enables you to clear your mind, temporarily free yourself from typical stressors, and rediscover the essence of living life.
2. PERSONAL GROWTH
Travel often leads to new insights not only about the world but also about yourself. It prompts you to reevaluate your regular routine and how you spend your time, encouraging you to consider incorporating vacation activities into your daily life. For example, during my recent trip to Ireland, I had the opportunity to attend a plein air painting festival in Dublin and its surroundings. It was an adventure! I pushed myself to try something new—exploring an unfamiliar city, navigating public transportation, participating in a painting event for a few days (previously, I had only been involved as a volunteer and spectator), meeting new people, dealing with a sudden thunderstorm while painting outdoors (solution: seeking shelter under an upturned rowboat on the beach), and taking art classes. I embarked on this journey alone, and it pushed and challenged me. The payoff was immense—I met incredible individuals, felt greatly encouraged, and became inspired to take more risks. It was undoubtedly worth venturing into uncharted territory.
3. INCREASING SELF-WORTH
What dream trip do you have on your bucket list? What experiences have you always wanted to have? Even if you plan your dream trip and encounter setbacks such as lost luggage, unfavorable weather, or unforeseen circumstances, the fact that you pursued your dream, devised a plan, and took action increases your self-worth. How? Because you acknowledged your own value and decided that you were deserving of the time and investment. You took a chance on yourself. There is always a payoff in believing in yourself and taking those leaps of faith.
If you don't currently have any dream trips or experiences in mind, take a moment to reflect on them now. Consider whether you prefer mountains or beaches, countryside or bustling cities, seashores or cozy cabins. Have fun exploring various options by conducting a Google search. Here's a true story: After watching the movie "Eat, Pray, Love," I became curious about yoga in Bali and decided to do some research. To my surprise, I discovered tour companies catering to women and solo travelers that organize vacations worldwide based on various hobbies and interests. Whether it's yoga in Bali, a writing course in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, biking in national parks, or cooking in France, there are endless opportunities available. Pushing yourself to work towards these dreams can be truly transformative. So, what are you waiting for?
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ALICIA ROZYCKI, PHD
Dr. Rozycki is a licensed psychologist and the founder of AROSE eTherapy®, an online therapy practice serving high achieving professional women and military affiliates including active duty, veterans, spouses, and government employees. Virtual sessions are available in Colorado, Florida, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Learn more about Dr. Rozycki.
