7 Reasons Why Traveling Makes You a Better Person
1. Traveling Opens Your Eyes
When you meet people from different cultures, you learn that the way you look at the world isn’t the way everyone else does. As a matter of fact, you might notice that your point of view has blind spots. A lot of times we are blinded by our “problems” that we neglect the real problems that exist in this world, like poverty, slavery, human trafficking, etc. Experiencing the world for yourself can improve your vision and grip on reality. When we travel, we are able to look at our lives from a distance, metaphorically and physically, and we begin to see it with clearer eyes.
2. Traveling Helps You Learn More About Yourself
You learn the most in uncomfortable and unfamiliar situations. All of the challenges and opportunities that come along with traveling help you get to know who you are and what you are capable of. For example, when I went to Europe, I saw so many children begging for money that it helped me realize that I wanted to make difference in the lives of orphans. It was my experience there that led me to where I am today. I wouldn’t have arrived to this point in my life and I wouldn’t have figured out my calling without venturing to a new place in the world.
3. Traveling Challenges You
When you go to a place you’ve never been to, you are faced with many different challenges, especially if you are in a foreign country. Finding your way around, finding a restroom, trying to buy something with a different currency…these are all simple everyday tasks that become so difficult because of where we are. I think we all are put in situations that are out of our comfort zones when we travel, but when we overcome them, it helps us realize that we are capable of overcoming more than we expect from ourselves.
4. Being Away Makes You Appreciate Family & Home
We tend to meet new people and make different connections when we travel, and this ultimately makes you realize the things you take for granted, like family friends and your home, and we appreciate them more.
5. Traveling Makes You an Interesting Person
Saying that you have repelled over the jungles of Costa Rica, walked through the maze-like streets of Florence, bargained for the best prices in the floating markets of Bangkok, parasailed over the ocean in Cancun or hiked to the Acropolis in Athens makes you interesting to talk to. Learning about different cultures and being able to say a few words in different languages makes for exciting conversations, memories and anecdotes.
6. Traveling Expands Your Perspective
Getting to know people of different cultures and seeing what they do on a regular basis helps you see things from a different perspective. When I went to Myanmar, I saw how different their life is and it made me realize how small my problems are. When you learn about different lifestyles, you see how people value family and loved ones and it makes you think twice about how you value yours. We are a simple grain in a larger beach and there is so much out there to learn and see.
7. Traveling Changes Our Conception of Conventional
Being exposed to different cultural values helps us understand international issues and conflicts. It is a very important skill to be able to adapt to different perspectives and understand where people are coming from. Cultural sensitivity will help you with your communication on both business and personal levels.
Travel is good for a lot of things, but it can also increase mental well-being, and I’m not just talking about short-term. Whether you’re traveling for business, on a one week family vacation, or backpacking with a one way ticket, traveling can make you a happier person by gaining self-confidence, providing new experiences and memories, breaking your daily routine and giving you opportunities to meet people from all over the world.
Traveling is all about the experiences, and of course, the only way we experience our lives is through our senses. Through traveling, we awaken and shock our senses and begin to live life to the fullest.