5 Ways Travel Encourages Personal Growth

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From the U.S. to Paris to Bangkok and beyond, travel is a valuable experience at any age. Its value means everyone should try to get out of the house, leave their hometown and see what the rest of the world has to offer. If you are still on the fence but want to experience more personal growth, here are five reasons to pick an adventure as the next step in improving yourself and learning more about the world.

You Experience New Cultures

Experiencing new cultures is arguably the most rewarding aspect of travel. Even something as simple as going to another state can introduce you to people and activities you would never have seen otherwise, and the further you go, the more exciting and unique these experiences become. When you see how other people live, you become more considerate of the individual. It broadens your mind and makes you reconsider how you view strangers walking down the street.

You Try New Food

Travel is also great for fussy eaters to expand their palate and experiment with new tastes and flavors. If you’re used to eating the same bland meat and potatoes every week, traveling to another country could introduce you to your new favorite meal. Maybe you’ll jump at the chance to try Korean BBQ, or maybe some roasted goat is more your style. You might try a chicken rendang and not want to eat anything else ever again. You’ll never know what types of foods are out there if you don’t travel.

You Meet So Many People

It’s easy to fall into the same routine of seeing the same people every day. It could be friends and family or coworkers. Traveling means you will meet new people, especially if you live like a true backpacker and shift between hostels wherever you go. The people you meet may not be who you usually hang out with, but they can still teach you so much.

You Become More Resourceful

Traveling also forces you to think more about what you do. While you might prefer to take taxis or planes everywhere, this is not economically viable. Instead, you need to think on your feet and figure out other ways to get around. Night buses and boats are key features of flexible travel and they are never as bad as they seem.

You Learn to Loosen Up

If you suffer from travel anxiety, you might be worried about getting on the plane. However, once you are there, you’ll soon realize that this is the best decision you’ve ever made. Seeing so many people enjoying themselves and simply living their lives will encourage you to loosen up. When you do, you’ll be open to more things and more daring than if you stayed at home.

Enriching Yourself

Travel gives everyone the chance to enrich themselves while also learning more about the rest of the world. It doesn’t matter if you have traveled to places all over the world or are dipping your toe in adventure for the first time. No matter where you go, you’re sure to discover more about yourself and embrace personal growth like never before.