Travel is a litmus test and a catalyst of our lives. When we travel, we learn a lot about the world and about ourselves. On a very basic level, the right travel experiences remind us who we are and what we like and don’t like. They charge us with new emotions and energy. The right travel experiences can also amplify our values, remind us what is really important in life, and force to re-calibrate our priorities.
In addition to being a life barometer or a litmus test, travel can provide rich learning opportunities. For example, during a trip, you can master a new language, learn about a new culture, work in a different country, and live like a local. These types of experiences generate new emotions and new human connections. Being away, in a different environment, gives us freedom and courage to calibrate inner definition of who we are, stretch, redefine and reinvent ourselves.
Aim for immersive travel experiences
More and more people travel the world seek immersive, authentic experiences. These include adventure trips, cultural enrichment, spiritual journeys, learning expeditions and social good projects. I personally went on a “learning expedition” to study in the US about 20 years ago and settled there. It changed my life forever. I know an older couple in France who took a vacation trip to Senegal, and then kept coming back every year to help children in need.
We often start planning travel with a question “where?” and find ourselves caught in an endless and pointless research on destinations, places to see, things to do. The result of such approach is sub-optimal. You end up choosing to go somewhere because other people did it or worse sold you on it, wasting your precious time and money. You return tired and disappointed.
Start your travel planning with the why
There is a better approach to travel. It starts with the “why”. Ask yourself “why do I/we want to travel”, “why now”, “why there”. Revisit your personal interests, goals, things that make you happy, excite you, or challenge you. Think about what you always wanted to do, but never could. Think how you could accomplish something personally important to you during your trip. Only then, start planning.
Starting with the “WHY” will help you make every trip more meaningful, purposeful and memorable. It will also help avoid “boiling the ocean” and save you a ton of time when planning travel. When you put a personal lens on your search, it helps you surface experiences that are right for you based on your goals and situation.
Spend time digging deeper into your “Why”. Self-reflection is an incredibly valuable exercise, but we often forget to do it. When you are planning a trip, ask yourself “Why” several times to get to a deeper underlying personal goal or need that can guide your travel planning . You might be surprised where this will take you.
