Travelling involves new situations, new cultures and new experiences, all of which can help us to grow. In this article, courtesy of Dr Charlotte Russell, clinical psychologist, we share how travel can help with personal growth and provide tips on how to grow from travelling. Challenging ourselves doesn’t always feel good, but it’s how we can stretch ourselves and grow as a person. Here are three ways that travel can help with personal growth.
” . . . grow as a person . . . “
The Ability to Succeed
When we put ourselves in situations that are new and challenging this can help to build confidence. A positive belief about our ability to deal with new and challenging situations and to achieve goals is about having a ‘can do’ attitude.
Foreign travel certainly provides opportunities for building self-confidence; we are almost always dealing with different situations, languages and cultures as we navigate around the world. Importantly, self-confidence can be important for our ability to tackle challenges and resilience. In a recent study, it was shown that those who travelled more, actually performed better at work, and one of the reasons for this was increased self-confidence.
” . . . ability to tackle challenges and resililience . . . “
The best advice for building confidence when you travel is to stretch yourself. Aim for situations that feel a little bit uncomfortable rather than stretching yourself too far.
Gaining perspective – the world out there
Travel can also help us to put life’s challenges into perspective. A gentleman who had post trauma symptoms following a terrible accident and injury, explained that he put himself in the ‘here and now’ when a difficult memory tried to take hold. He explained that this helped him to focus on the old oak trees in the park nearby, and to remind himself that they were there before he was born and would be there for many years after he was gone. Not only did this help him to reconnect with the here and now, it helped him to appreciate that the world is much bigger than him, and that provided him with a helpful sense of perspective.
“…they were there before he was born and would be there for many years after he was gone…“
Gaining perspective – appreciating different viewpoints
It’s well known and appreciated that interacting with other people can help us to appreciate different perspectives. Travel, especially longer trips where we immerse ourselves in another culture are great ways to really understand different cultural perspectives and ways of viewing the world.
“…appreciete different perspectives …”
Experiences that increase our ability to appreciate the perspective of others can supercharge our personal growth. These abilities lead to better problem solving, interpersonal interactions and the ability to work collaboratively with others. It’s yet another way that travel can make us better at life!
Taking time to learn about other cultures and customs is the best way to help yourself to understand different perspectives. This can involve hiring a local guide and chatting to local people while you are travelling.
“The The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.“ – Mercel Proust. T
Take Yourself out of Your Comfort Zone
Travelling is one of the most marvellous ways of taking yourself out of your comfort zone and into the exciting unknown. This gives you opportunities to explore new places, cultures, languages, foods and ways of being. Learning from travelling can be immense. However, leaving the unfamiliar environment of your own home can mean experiencing the discomfort of the new and unfamiliar. It could make you feel less confident, less self-assured, less assertive, less capable or even outright anxious. Unexpected challenges when travelling may force you to think on the spot, change your plans and cause anxiety and fear. It’s perfectly okay to feel this way and many people do, the fear is a normal state of nervous excitement that comes with trying something new, which can afford personal growth.
Try to speak to yourself compassionately. Remind yourself gently that although travelling is exciting and broadens horizons, you, just like everyone else, will inevitably face some challenges and problems. You may experience discomfort or even conflict but embracing the challenge and pushing against your limits may truly help you improve and develop yourself.
“…concentrate on the present and stop comparing yourself…“
And if you ever feel stuck or fed up, that’s ok, we all feel this way from time to time. Revisit your values and remind yourself why you are doing this. Think of all the reasons why you travel and what you have gained from your travels. It’s a great motivator! You can also play a game of turning a negative into a positive, find something good even in the most miserable situation! Also keep your eyes on ‘the prize’, knowledge, personal growth, improved problem solving, confidence in self, adaptability, network building or perhaps even a business opportunity and much more.
Focusing on your values, benefits and rewards is often a strong motivator to continue. But if you’ve reached your limits, it’s also important to honour your boundaries. It’s ok to say I’ve had enough, learned enough, experienced enough and now I can go back to the safety and comfort of my home. Travelling requires us to constantly step out of our comfort zone; visit new places, and embrace new cultures, this helps to contribute towards a growth mind-set.
“. . . keep your eyes on ‘the prize’ . . .”
Broaden Your Cultural Awareness Empathy
Understanding and participating in local traditions can broaden your cultural awareness and empathy. Engaging with local cultures provides insight into different ways of life and helps break down cultural barriers. Even attempting to speak a new language can improve your communication skills and show respect to locals. If communication causes some nerves perhaps explore communication through body language and learning to express yourself without words.
Traveling often involves overcoming unexpected obstacles, which can improve your problem-solving abilities and resilience. It offers opportunities to look at problems from a different perspective and assess resources to help you solve concerns. Being in new environments teaches flexibility and adaptability, essential skills in both personal and professional life. Learning to cope with the unknown builds mental strength and a more open-minded approach to life.
“. . . learning to cope with the unknown builds strength . . .”
Travel encourages you to live in the moment and fully experience your surroundings. Take time to observe and appreciate the details of your travel experiences, which can enhance mindfulness in your daily life. Try to continue this practice when you return. By actively engaging in these practices, you can maximize the personal growth opportunities that traveling offers.
“. . . live in the moment . . .”
Travel can bring a wide range of benefits to our personal growth including problem solving, confidence, ability to appreciate different perspectives and adaptability. Given all of these benefits, it can help to have a way of reflecting on your experience and process of learning.
Tell us in the comments, if Travel has helped with your personal growth.
