This post has been edited and reformatted from an original post in my weekly newsletter, Episodes.
A theme I’m encountering a lot lately is that our lives come into focus when we become uncomfortable. That’s right – I said uncomfortable. Whether that means realizing we’re settling in a certain part of our lives, neglecting something that is one of our true values, or spending too much time focusing on the wrong areas (screen time, anyone?), being outside of our normal routine and habits can make the gaps between our real life and our dream life become clear.
This, among many other things, is why I make it a priority to travel the world. Beyond getting to experience some of the incredible things our planet has to offer, getting outside of your normal location will teach you a lot about yourself. (Disclaimer: taking international trips is not a privilege accessible to everyone – however, I think you can apply these lessons by finding a new part of your area to explore or even just trying something new for the first time.)
Seeing how other societies operate also opens up my perspectives about how to approach solving problems or thinking outside of the box. Without ever leaving my normal environment in the US, I don’t think I would have ever questioned why we do things a certain way or why our society operates the way it does. I especially never would have questioned if things could – or should – be different.
I attribute so much of my growth over my 20s to the decision I made to take a leap of faith and fly around the world by myself to study in Germany. I can trace the person I’ve become in the years since back to that one immensely impactful decision. The main takeaway I have from that experience and the many travels I’ve done since is this: traveling helps you find out who you are without interference of your environment. Have you ever wondered who you are without the pressure of your friends, parents, job, or other expectations? Who would you be in a place where you know no one?
Probably someone who can do great things.
I have so many thoughts on this topic. If you’d like to see more posts on growth and learning about yourself and your life through travel, let me know in the comments below!
– Lillie
P.S. I run a weekly newsletter filled with productivity hacks, life inspiration, and general community for women in their 20’s (with lots of travel content sprinkled in). Check it out here 🙂