All of us are on a journey of self-discovery. And that journey is lifelong. Each major experience we have adds to self- awareness, and, in so doing, contributes to our growth as a person. As we work through crises, relationships, change, births, deaths, and more, we become better problem solvers, better critical thinkers, more empathetic, and stronger. Travel is one of those experiences that allows for a great deal of personal development, and those who are lucky enough to travel a lot, reap many benefits.

Travelers Learn about Themselves if They Travel Alone

Being in strange cities and countries all by yourself can be pretty scary at first. Once you have been able to get around in a foreign city, however, you understand that you have the power to accomplish goals on your own. You develop an independence that transfers to other situations you may face in your life. You also have time to get to know yourself, because other distractions – friends and family – are removed. You have time to think about your goals, your values, and what matters most.

Travelers Learn That They Can Rely on Others when Necessary

You may not be prone to ask others for help in your daily life, but you are missing out on a major benefit you can be to others. People like to be of service; they like to be helpful. When you ask for assistance, they are happy to help. In the process, as well, you learn that it is okay to be a “taker” at times. And as you interact with strangers in these ways, you come to lose the stereotypical attitudes with which you have grown up about certain people. For example, Americans tend to think the French are “stand-offish” and cold. The French often see Americans as loud, push, and rude. Interactions between these individuals break down those stereotypes and allow us to appreciate them as people with the same values, needs, and desires, as we have.

Travelers Learn Flexibility and Patience.

Traveling has its set of challenges. Flights are delayed luggage is lost, hotel accommodations may be pretty bad. And new experiences may be terrific or not so terrific. You are learning to expect the unexpected and to “roll” with it when it occurs. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all greet the unexpected with calm and, sometimes, a sense of humor?

Travelers have Exposure that leads to Awareness and Appreciation of Other Societies.

When you travel to foreign countries, or even to faraway places in your own country, you develop an appreciation for the values, the traditions, and the culture of other peoples. You begin to grasp the understanding of the worth of all humans on our planet.

Travelers Expand their Consciousness

It’s easy to get set in our own environments and our own comforts. Travel, however, exposes us to the struggles and challenges that other societies face. We see firsthand how 90% of the rest of the world lives. We return home much wiser than before, perhaps determined to finally get involved in projects that promote health, education, and basic needs for others throughout the world. That may be something as intimate as adopting a child in a foreign country or more generic, such as supporting efforts to dig wells that will bring fresh drinking water to an entire village.

Travelers Return Home Less Materialistic

People who travel extensively learn how little they really need to survive – a minimum amount of clothing and other worldly goods, and basic needs of food, water, and shelter, so they can easily plan their budget. All of their material possessions at home become less and less important and no longer define them. There is a personal freedom when this realization hits, like no other. They tend to stop accumulating things and start focusing on relationships.

 Travelers Build Self-Confidence

Once a traveler has had enough successful experiences navigating a huge city at night, finding the right train to get on, communicating with others who speak only their national language; once a traveler has set out on his/her own to explore a tropical rain forest or climb a mountain, to locate a remote village, or to meet strangers at a hostel, they truly understand what self-confidence is. This carries over into other aspects of their lives as they return to their communities, both personal and professional.

Travelers are Less Stressed

One of the things that we know about ourselves is that we let the little things truly bother us; we allow pressures at work to create stress in our lives. When we experience other cultures and their attitudes toward stressful situations, we begin to adopt that pattern of thinking too. There are only a few things that cause stress to people in most other countries – they are far more laid back and tend not to live the hurried lives we live. We return home with a much different set of priorities – and we tend to allow stress to control us less and less.

Travelers Appreciate Their Homes and Loved Ones More

 When travelers experience the poverty and the isolation of small towns and villages, the conditions under which so many live, they gain a new appreciation for what they have at home. They return home with a new gratitude for friends, family, and community.

Travelers Learn to Live in the Now

One of the failings that we humans, especially Americans, have is that we are either ruminating over the past or worrying about the future. As we do this, we miss the joy that is in the “right now.” Traveling puts us in the habit of living in the now. There is no past or future when we are staring at the statue of David in Florence, or looking out at stunning landscape through the window of a train. There is just this one moment to savor. This too tends to transfer over to life back home, especially for those who travel a lot and get into this habit.

Takeaway

Travel can change us in many ways. If we open our minds and hearts and absorb our surroundings fully, we gain great perspective on this small planet called Earth. We develop our sense of independence and yet the importance of being dependent in times of need; we enhance our confidence and problem-solving abilities, and we certainly develop a stronger and much more spiritual sense of priorities.

https://www.naturalnewsblogs.com/becoming-better-person-travel/