Travel & personal growth: an interview with Authority Magazine
I recently had the opportunity to talk travel and personal growth with Authority Magazine. This was equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking. I mean, as far as topics go, travel and personal growth are two of my absolute favorites to explore. On the other hand, I’m often hesitant when someone asks point blank for tips, recommended habits or advice. As a coach, my work leans more toward supporting people in determining for themselves what’s most helpful. I help people tap into their inner-knowing of what’s most important and meaningful and authentic for them, so they can find a way forward that feels aligned. My approach is open and collaborative and exploratory; not prescriptive, diagnostic or formulaic. So the experience of not only expressing my opinions and tips for travel, but having those things posted on a major platform…forever…for all to see…cue my imposter syndrome.
But, as with most things that rub up against my fear, doubt and insecurity, I found that challenging these things and leaning into the experience held important learning for me. In essence, this interview became about more than my thoughts on travel. It became a practice in finding, using and trusting my voice. It became a tool to fortify the burgeoning belief that I do have something important to say, something worth sharing. It helped me further synthesize the thoughts that often feel tangled and unclear in my head into something that is hopefully digestible, possibly relatable and, with any luck, maybe even inspiring.
While I won’t post the whole article here (it’s a little lengthy), I will leave you with the “5 Habits You Should Develop In Order To Make Travel Into An Opportunity For Personal Growth.” (No pressure, right?)
And, should you feel so inclined, I will include a link to the full article here.
As with everything I write, I hope you take with you what resonates and leave the rest. I hope it sparks inspiration to try something new or create your own list. At the very least, I hope it stirs up the tiniest bit of curiosity in your sweet soul.
So, without further ado, here we go:
Connect with your why
This habit starts before you leave home, and it’s about pausing to understand why you want to travel to begin with. Connecting with your underlying motive for travel can not only help with the trip-planning process, but can help you travel more mindfully, intentionally and proactively, which means you are likely to get more out of the experience. Before you travel, you can pause to consider questions such as:
What is it you want to get out of your trip?
How is that different from what you get out of your normal routine?
How would you like to show up as you travel? Or what values would you like to embody?
How would you like to be different when you return home?
2. Adopt a beginner’s mind
The idea of a beginner’s mind is based on Zen teaching, and it’s about letting go of preconceived ideas and instead learning as though you are hearing about a concept for the first time. It taps into a childlike way of being, seeing the world with wonder and fresh eyes and curiosity. With this mindset, the goal is to suspend limited or rigid ways of thinking and adopt the posture of an eager student, ready to explore what life and the world have to teach you. This approach is incredibly useful in travel. As you become acquainted with different people, cultures and customs, you can let go of needing to judge those things and instead lean into genuine curiosity about them. Some ideas for engaging with this sense of curiosity and open-mindedness as you travel are:
Connecting with local people and organizations to learn more about the history, culture and way of life.
Attending local events or taking classes led by people in the community.
Making an effort to learn and speak the local language.
Allowing yourself time to wander and explore without a strict itinerary.
3. Slow down
As much as you’re able, try to slow down the pace of your travel. Try to pause and take it all in, rather than rushing through it or trying to cram in as much as possible. As you slow down, consider finding intentional ways to use some of that time. Maybe it’s journaling, deep breathing, meditating, connecting with nature, engaging in meaningful conversation or simply observing what’s happening around you and within you. Pausing is when you’re able to reflect on and begin to make meaning of your experiences, which is what ultimately leads to growth and development. And slowing down is something you can build into your travel itinerary. Some questions to consider are:
Is there a particular activity or amount of time each day you can use to intentionally slow down and check in with yourself?
Can you prioritize having some slow mornings or evenings throughout your trip?
Can you limit how many activities you do each day?
Would scheduling a couple of larger blocks of time or an entire day for slowing down be helpful?
4. Practice kindness & compassion
This habit applies to how you treat others and yourself as you travel. Leading with kindness and compassion helps you create meaningful connections, stay open and curious, and be more present to your experiences. And showing compassion to others really stems from practicing it with yourself. Many people find self-compassion difficult, especially at first, but it’s particularly useful as you travel. When you’re having a challenging time, try being extra patient and gentle with yourself and take a moment to acknowledge that you’re human. In recognizing your own humanity, you can also recognize it in others and be more thoughtful of your responses, particularly in uncomfortable situations. A few practices you can try to begin to cultivate more self-compassion are:
Writing self-compassion letters, where you focus on writing to yourself with the same voice you would use when talking with a dear friend.
Or, if writing isn’t your thing, speaking to yourself with this voice works too. You can do this out loud in a space that feels safe, or you can do it quietly pretty much anywhere.
Take yourself on a date where you can prioritize intentional time to be alone, do something that feels restorative and enjoy your own company.
Journal things you feel grateful to yourself for or are proud of yourself for. This could include acknowledging what you’re doing well, what progress you’re making and what you want to continue doing moving forward.
5. Take time to integrate
You have traveled and had an impactful trip… Now what? What do you do with what you’ve learned and experienced? Perhaps you feel like a different person after your trip, but your life at home feels unchanged and maybe not as aligned as it once did. This is where taking some time to reflect and integrate after traveling is so useful. Rather than returning home and quickly defaulting to old patterns or trying to make yourself fit back into the life you had, consider what you want to take with you from your experience. What self-learning from your trip feels really important? And how can you begin to make some small (or big) shifts so that your life better fits who you are now? Identifying even one change in how you spend your time, what you prioritize or how you show up in your life can have a big impact. Any substantial transformation generally begins with small movement, and using the momentum of a trip is a great way to get started. Some questions to consider as you return home are:
What stands out most about this trip to me? What did I observe or learn about myself that feels important?
When did I feel most engaged and like the version of myself I want to be?
When did I feel most reflective and thoughtful? What helped prompt that?
How would I describe the person I was on this trip? What part of that person would I like to incorporate more in my daily life?
Until next time…
Happy traveling!
~Tiffany