I have recently returned from a week-long stay in New York feeling inspired and energized. And I have been reflecting on the magic of TRAVEL and why it inspires me so; why it is that I feel so happy when I’m travelling and why I have made an executive decision to make TRAVEL an essential component of my personal growth strategy in the years to come 😀
Here’s the thing…
If you want to be happy and fulfilled, you must continuously meet your need for growth.
Put simply – if you want to achieve more, you need to become more.
If personal development isn’t on your list of priorities right now, it should be.
And (at least in my humble opinion) so should travelling.
I always travelled in my corporate career – but I was late to the magic of travel. I was late to the awareness that travel can totally transform your view of the world. I didn’t really understand this until my relocation to Shanghai. That’s when I started to experience travel in a new way. With a childlike innocence … wide eyed and curious. I did not want to miss a single moment of the experience.
But can travelling really enhance your own personal development?
Well I have a few thoughts on the subject and I’d like to share some of them with you, then you can make up your own mind.
Ready?
You’ll be pushed out of your comfort zone
Now I understand that for some of you, these words may seem terrifying, please trust me when I tell you – it is so worth any discomfort that you might experience initially. In fact, travel is totally liberating. Because you will realise that all your boundaries are completely self-imposed. And with this knowledge, you can remove them anytime you choose. Then, when you remove the boundaries, you reconnect to YOU and you get to really shine.
Stepping out of your comfort zone also has a positive impact on your CONFIDENCE. You get to see yourself do things you never considered before. You get to see more of what you are truly capable of. And in the process, you naturally become more confident.
Self-discovery
Personal development starts with self-discovery. Not until you really understand who you are – what you like and don’t like, your strengths and weaknesses; the circumstances in which you feel brave, and those where you feel scared; where you thrive and where you feel challenged; or even how you respond in unexpected situations. Until you know all of these things, you won’t know what needs to be developed so you can change & grow.
Revival of the senses
Day-to-day life can become boring. Dull. Predictable. Routine. And with that, we become numb. Disconnected. We forget what we love. What moves us. What makes us laugh. What makes us tick.
Travel, if you do it right, can revive the senses. That’s my experience for sure. It can make you feel alive again. Alive, inspired and vibrant.
From the deep inner peace experienced as I waited for the sun to rise over Angkor Wat in Cambodia to the magic and awe of the great wall of China. When we experience these emotions, we begin to remember who we really are and what we love to do. These moments allow us to re-connect with our true desires. To know what we want and how to achieve it.
Travelling provides CLARITY
Travelling makes you appreciate what is going well in your life and to identify some things that may need to change. The things you’ve been taking for granted. The things you have been putting up with for too long. The parts of your life that you have been denying. The ‘stories’ you have told yourself about who you are and what you want. And how all of that combined has created your current reality.
Gratitude
Seeing people who have less than you, yet living happily, is so humbling. No mobile phones, no iPads and often – no TV. Just good old-fashioned fun. Kids racing around all over the place with no shoes. Happy.
Experiencing the impact of tragedy can be life-changing too. On my recent trip to NYC, my friends and I made time to visit the 9.11 memorial and museum.
It was so beautiful, so humbling, and deeply moving. It also provided a stark reminder to the truth that things can change in a heartbeat. If you really want to experience growth as a human being, gratitude is essential. Be grateful for all that you have in your life right now.
Letting go of control
When you are travelling, unpredictable situations arise.
The beauty of this is it teaches you to let go of the need for control. You learn not to panic when something unexpected happens. You learn to adapt. You learn to laugh at things that once you may not have considered funny! You get to exercise your problem-solving capabilities in new situations and become more creative in finding solutions. And even your leadership skills get a good work out. All in all, travelling is great for mastering your emotions and developing your communication skills and learning to go with the ‘flow’ by relinquishing control.
It inspires creativity and exploration
Travelling and meeting new people lights me up and inspires a level of creativity that I did not even know existed within me. I write when I travel, and I take my camera everywhere with me. As I view the world through my camera lens, I notice that I see things differently – in much more detail, and with a greater sense of curiosity. But travelling also creates the space to get creative about your own life. Generating exciting ideas, goals and dreams. Dreams for you. Your family. Your career. Your future. Your life.
Now of course, I understand how busy you are already so if you are not in a position to arrange a trip right now – how about you combine work and personal travel? When is your next business trip? Anything planned? If yes, is there an opportunity to take even 1-2 days holiday afterwards in order to explore the city?
I would love to hear more about your experiences of travel.
x Until next time, sending you love x
I would love to get to know you more, connect with me here.
