How to Find Yourself While Traveling
“Not all those who wander are lost.” — J.R.R. Tolkien
Most of us have no idea how to find ourselves; we only know how to escape. While the vast omnipotent universe of pro-travel blogs romanticize their top 10 reason to travel or 99 things they learned while abroad, they never actually tell us how to find the selves we so desperately seek. Running to the farthest corners of the Earth to shed the cocoons that our homelands have woven around our souls, most of us never discover how to break free.
Finding vs. Escaping
We typically go on vacation to escape, recharge, and relax. Thus, we tend to get lost in the beauty of the world, never really searching for the beauty within. The first moment we set foot on a new land we feel amazing. Over the next few days or weeks, our lives are an endless mirage of new experiences and blissful strangers. In our complete anonymity, we are free. Free from our bosses, our responsibilities, and the speed of life that light couldn’t match. Yet if our intentions stretch beyond leisure and exploration, somewhere down the road we realize that we packed the very thing we so desperately tried to run from; ourselves.
The Path Back to Yourself
In order to find ourselves, we must actively search for them. To do so, we don’t need to backpack Europe or meditate with monks in a Tibetan temple. No matter where we are or how much money we have to travel with, clarity is always within our reach if we embrace the path back to ourselves.
Embracing the World
Who we are is greatly influenced by who others think we are. While the degree of the influence varies based on personal characteristics, it is a fact, whether we’d like to admit or not. Every day, these voices battle for our attention. When they get too loud, we are unable to hear the only voice that really matters; our own. That is why in order to find the true us we must unplug from these influences temporarily. Whether chartering a plane, a bus, or a bike, we set off into the sunset and start our journey. At this stage, we meet people, get lost in the beauty of the world, and rejoice in the freedom. We earned it. We have done something so many fear. We chose ourselves. As experience overtakes us, our minds quiet, and for the first time, in a long time, we enter into a state of complete presence.
Doing the Work
It is easy to be present when we detach from our lives of habit. The rift from our daily routine keeps our minds alert. Yet this state isn’t permanent. As soon as we are back to our old lives this feeling quickly fades (usually within a week or two). That is why it is crucial to seize the moment and develop a practice to be present anywhere and any time. An example of such a practice is one outlined by James Altucher in his article How to be THE LUCKIEST GUY ON THE PLANET in 4 Easy Steps. Being already so naturally present from travel gives us the training wheels necessary to create, experiment, and be consistent. By the time we return, this practice should be on it’s way to becoming a habit. The first day we try this we may hear nothing. The second day we may hear but a whisper. The third a squeak. The fourth a grunt. Yet maybe one day we hear something that we haven’t heard in months. Ourselves.
Keeping Track
As our egos bathe in our progress and pat us on the back, we increasingly identify with newfound success. Yet the more we do this, the more prone we become to repeating old mistakes. Thus, keeping a journal (digital or written) is critical even if we never write anything in it ever again. Keeping track will not only keep us grounded during our travels, but more importantly, provide a reference point for our future selves. While this seems like a simple thing to do, like all simple things, it’s really easy not to do it as well.
Unlock Your Potential
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