Mindfulness: Traveling For Self-Discovery | Unearthing Your Inner Wanderer
When I set the goal to travel it was always with the intent of doing it alone, but initially it was not about mindfulness. Because I’m introverted, I have always preferred and prioritized alone time, so when I first traveled alone as an adult, naturally it felt more instinctive and comfortable for me. Reflecting on my first few trips, I began to realize that traveling alone is very much an exploratory experience. I have always been a detail-oriented person, but going solo has heightened my sense of awareness such that I notice and remember things externally that I might not have if I were in a group, but each time I also discover more about myself than I knew before.
1.Inspiration
When you travel alone, you will most likely choose places you’ve seen or heard of that stood out to you. For me, traveling is a sensory experience in that when I choose a location, it’s because I’ve seen an enticing picture, I want to hear the music or taste the food associated with the culture. Your destination is based on what moves you directly as opposed to traveling in a group where you might go because of consensus. When I look back on my trips, I tend to choose outdoor activities like horseback riding, the beach, or walking tours because I’m inspired by and connect well with nature. I also spend more money on the experiences than keepsakes and material things I can bring home with me. When you’re engrossed in and inspired by an activity, the experience is enough to remember the trip by.
2.Preferences
Part of knowing who and how you are is knowing what you do and don’t like. I would venture to say that most people don’t choose to do things they don’t like to do. When you’re traveling solo, every choice is yours to make by yourself and when you make those choices, your preferences are revealed; take note of them. On the other hand, traveling is an opportunity to explore and find new and different things you were not aware you liked. I have an incredible love for music and rhythm, but I have always said that “i’m not a dancer”; however, when I was in Cuba, I took dance lessons on the streets of Havana and it was one of the most fun things i’ve ever done. You don’t know until you try so keep an open mind.
3.Time Management
Traveling alone can reveal how you prioritize and manage your time. For me, I want to experience as much of a location as I can, and normally I only have 3-5 days, so I always plan ahead so that I can maximize that time. Still, it’s important to be mindful and absorb every experience so that i’m not just doing things just to be doing them.
4.Triggers
I have dealt with some level of anxiety for a large part of my life, but when I began traveling by myself, it revealed a bigger picture of why I sometimes get anxious. One of my triggers is when things don’t go as planned and I’m not too fond of being lost either. When traveling, those things are related to physicality, but it turns out those things are emotional triggers for me as well. Once you’re aware of the things that make you tick, you can deal better. For example, I might make an itinerary for a trip for my peace of mind, but I might plan for only one activity a day and leave some wiggle room for exploration so I don’t feel pressure to follow a plan to a tee.
5.Energy
Sometimes when traveling in a group, you can feel obligated to do everything that the others do. In a physical sense, when you travel by yourself, you can get up and go when you feel like it and rest when you need to. You also have an opportunity to discover what energizes you and what drains you. Being the introvert that I am, I’m energized by large groups of people enjoying the same activity like festivals, because I’m involved without having to directly entertain anyone. I can get lost in the crowd and then return to my own space when it’s time.
Traveling solo can be reenergizing, because trips are usually a break from everyday life. By choosing your destination and activities carefully and leaving room for spontaneity, you’re able to do things for the sake of enjoyment and not obligation. It can be an opportunity to celebrate yourself for what you’ve accomplished in life and for making the trip happen for and by yourself.
Finding your reason for traveling and being mindful throughout the experience from planning all the way to execution makes solo trips that much more fulfilling and memorable. There are many ways to discover who you are but traveling and being in new spaces is something that has helped me acknowledge parts of myself that I may gloss over in everyday life. It’s a way of communicating with yourself and even when you’re not familiar with where you are, you become more and more confident that no matter where you are, you can always return to yourself.
