How to Grow Spiritually and Personally Through Travel

Once upon a time, I was a total armchair traveler, dear reader. I felt so stuck in a life of work, marriage, and homeownership that just didn’t feel like *me*. You know that feeling? I’d sit on my couch, flipping through travel magazines, just dreaming of roaming freely in some far-off, exotic place. As a kid, my family vacationed all up and down the east coast of the US, and I absolutely loved exploring every new town. But somewhere along the way, I guess I stuffed that wanderlust down deep inside and just… stopped.

During that quiet time, I started a really active spiritual and personal journey. I was reading all the self-help books, praying, and getting hit with some major life lessons that really pushed my self-growth. But honestly, you? It was when I finally gave in to my gypsy soul and started traveling again that my personal and spiritual growth just catapulted to a whole new level. Travel tested every single one of my self-imposed boundaries, opened my eyes to endless possibilities, and totally transformed me into the woman I am today.

Now, I didn’t just take a massive leap and start traveling the world overnight. Oh no, you. For me, both travel and personal growth was a step-by-step process. First, I traveled with friends. Then, I tried a trip by myself in my own country. Then I went with an organized mission group to South Africa. Eventually, I found the courage to jump on a sailboat with strangers, which led me to backpack solo in Thailand! Each trip was its own little step that sparked another growth spurt. That’s why I truly believe travel is one of the best ways to nurture your spiritual and personal awareness.

Here are 6 ways you can jump-start your personal and spiritual journey through travel:

1. Get Off the Resort

Yes, lovely, we all need some pure relaxation and pampering from time to time. And for some of us, just the thought of traveling somewhere new or alone is completely frightening. So, if that’s where you are on your journey, please start there! There’s no shame in that. However, I believe the *real* growth happens when we venture beyond those comfy “touristy” areas and actually observe the local scene, the culture, the landscape, and the people. It doesn’t just give you a glimpse into a different lifestyle, it also gives you such a deeper appreciation for what you have and the life you live. What’s one place you’ve been where the local culture really touched you? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear about it!

2. Travel Solo

Sounds scary, I know, but the benefits are absolutely incredible! Traveling alone teaches you true independence, seriously improves your confidence, and makes your intuition so much stronger. It also reveals your strengths and weaknesses – maybe you’re amazing with directions, or maybe you discover your a natural at meeting new people. Ultimately, you discover that you are completely capable of traveling by yourself, making your own choices, finding your way, and talking to strangers. And one thing to remember, dear reader… you are never really all alone. There are people everywhere to talk to and help you. If you’re thinking about it, you should check out our beginner’s guide to solo travel!

3. Travel With A Group of Strangers

I did this first in South Africa with a mission group and then on a sailboat in the Caribbean. Wow, talk about a crash course in personal dynamics! You quickly learn how to communicate effectively, compromise, and respect others despite your differences. Otherwise, there can be some serious drama and hurt feelings! Doing this also expands your circle of international connections, and feeling connected is so vital to our spiritual growth. You build a little global family.

4. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone and Do Something You Fear

Doing something that scares you is a HUGE step in personal growth! Fear is that sneaky thing that prevents us from truly living and doing the things we desire. So pushing beyond that fear and accomplishing something you thought was impossible is the biggest confidence boost ever! It gives you this incredible sense of empowerment, that “If I can do that, I can do anything!” feeling. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll realize there was nothing to fear in the first place and you can’t wait to do it again.

5. Talk and LISTEN to People

Every single one of us is a tiny, beautiful part of this universe. By truly listening to others – about their cultures, their ideas, their religions, their joys and their struggles – our own knowledge, compassion, and perspectives deepen and expand. It strengthens our understanding that we’re all so much more alike than we are different. Because at the core of all people is the same desire: to feel love, joy, peace, and happiness.

6. Go on a Spiritual Retreat

Spiritual retreats are just the perfect way to combine travel with a specific intention for self-discovery. Think meditations, journaling, workshops, and healing sessions. A retreat can be for a weekend or last for weeks. Some have specific themes, and others are customized just for you. You could travel to a famously spiritual place like India or Machu Picchu, or even find a retreat in a nearby city. No matter what you choose, traveling for a retreat provides the time and space to focus on your inner self without life’s daily distractions, plus you get to explore a new place. It’s a total win-win, you.

Despite being at different stages and having unique goals, we’re all on some kind of spiritual and personal adventure, ladies. The key thing to remember is… growth is a process. It happens gradually. So just start wherever you are in this present moment and move forward one step at a time. If you always travel with others, maybe try a short solo trip. If you always travel solo, try something you fear, like diving or mountain climbing. If you’ve never been outside your own town, go visit a neighboring city for the day! Simply pick one suggestion that makes you feel a little uncomfortable or really resonates with you and…

GO GROW!