At the young age of 10 years old, my parents brought into my life a way of looking at the world through spiritual eyes. It consisted of recognizing your divine within, learning to love yourself, being more spiritually in tune with who you are, thus bringing on many prosperities, loves, happinesses, and destinies.
I have been very fortunate to have spirituality be a huge part of my life because it taught me to understand the world better, be more compassionate with others, and be more accepting and loving of what is different from what I know. Being able to relate is a tremendous power most of us don’t know.
Daily, I do my best to stay in this practice, but like any of us humans, I lose my way at times. And there was a time when I lost my way and spiritual healing brought me back to a better path. Around the same time I went on my first trip abroad, I went through a spiritual growth period, realizing I was missing out on my full potential and life’s purpose. With the help and guidance of my parents, I was able to find my way back to the path that was intended for me.
When I took my first trip abroad, it was the first time I had ever seen something outside of everything I had seen in my own country. Now, it may not be as big of a deal for everybody as it was for me, but seeing different people, cultures, ways of living, and finally starting to see the wonderful and beautiful differences that make up this world, I knew that this was something I needed to be doing with my life.
Shortly after that trip, I joined the Peace Corps. I moved to China, and living there is when I experienced one of the most prominent spiritual growth periods of my lifetime. I also spent a few days reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, which is an enlightening story about the journey of travel and fulfilling your own personal legend (this book really puts travel and spiritual growth in perspective).
If ever you are in a place where you feel stuck and are looking for answers within yourself, take a solo trip somewhere and be with yourself for a while. It’s then you’ll start to really get a better grasp of who you are, what you like, what serves you, what doesn’t, etc. Because sometimes it’s when we’re alone with ourselves that we learn the most about who we are.
So that story is a long version of my point, which is how traveling can promote your spiritual growth, which is something I really believe in.
Allows You To Be Alone With Yourself
It’s hard to say it but it’s the truth. Many of us fear being alone with ourselves. We fear it, especially if we don’t particularly like aspects of ourselves. But part of true spiritual growth is spending that time alone with yourself, recognizing your demons, and loving them anyway. Easier said than done, I know. But you never know the true power of self-love until you are alone, traveling the world, and realizing you are conquering your biggest hopes and dreams all by yourself. Something about traveling alone gives you a sense of empowerment that is irreplaceable.
Helps You Be More Compassionate
Compassion is one of our biggest downfalls as a human race and we see it every day on the web when videos and pictures of people expressing struggle or triumph are posted on social media. We see random people passing judgment over a situation they can’t relate to. Exposing yourself to the rest of the world, becoming friends with people around the globe who are drastically different from you, it helps you relate to ALL types of people and become a more compassionate person. Imagine the weight of judgement lifted off you when you learn how to love everyone for who they are, their status, their situation, their belief systems, and whatever makes them different.
Gives You the Chance to Reflect on Thoughts You’ve Placed on the Backburner
Sometimes escaping the everyday life gives you the chance to focus on things you’ve placed on the back burner in your mind. Sometimes we get so focused on the reality we live in we forget to get closer to the divine within. Being disconnected from the reality of your daily lifestyle gives you the chance to hone in on those feelings and really comfort them. I liked going to new places, the top of a mountain, or the bank of a lake, and pouring my thoughts onto paper. It is a relieving experience, and perhaps just what you need to reconnect with yourself, internalize those things you’ve been feeling, and promote that spiritual growth.
Sometimes Spiritual Growth is Just Seeing New Cool Things
Sitting and marveling at a piece of ancient architecture, listening to monks chanting, enjoying a sunset in Europe, spending several hours in a museum, or browsing a street full of unique shops is enough to spark spiritual growth. Seeing the wonders of the world and realizing there is so much more to it than what we live every day is a great way of reaching within and getting more in touch with yourself. You realize there are so many other things you didn’t know you loved until you left home to travel solo. It also helps you see the beauties and wonders that exist in your own backyard.
Traveling Solo Changes Your Attitude
At times, we travel to get away from it all to regroup, recollect, rethink our goals, and of course, have a little bit of fun. Coming back from a vacation and coming back from a solo traveling trip can feel revitalizing. It can put you back into the positive mindset you know you’re capable of achieving each and every day. A positive attitude can mean spiritual growth, which means improved lifestyle, health, and happiness.
Helps You Love Yourself More
When I took my first solo trip to Beijing, it was the first time I had really ever gone anywhere where no one was waiting on the other end for me, and where I was truly alone. I felt empowered, confident, and proud of myself for being brave enough to follow my heart. And in small moments like that, when we accomplish a dream and a hope we have set in our mind, we are taking one large step to loving ourselves more. Each time we do anything we love or desire to do, we affirm to ourselves that who we are, what we love, and what we do matters to us.
Traveling changed my life, made me a better person, and helped me be more in touch with humanity and myself. It caused me to question the things I thought I knew were to be true, belief systems, perspectives, and it changed how I looked at the world. It helped me care more, be a little more aware of sensitivities, and it taught me to listen.
Traveling to someplace you don’t know can be an incredibly humbling experience and reminds you that there are millions of other people out there living their story and each one is equally important. That humbling feeling was incredible spiritual growth for me.
This is what we call love. When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there’s no need at all to understand what’s happening, because everything happens within you.
– The Alchemist
If you enjoy this post, please leave a comment below. Tell me about how traveling contributed to your spiritual growth.
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