In our society, it’s easy to get caught up in daily routine and distractions.

We’re always looking for more material and immediate satisfaction, ultimately leaving us feeling uninspired and even without a sense of purpose.

That’s where travel comes in. Some people use travel to indulge in hedonistic endeavors—to escape their routine lives—but some are just eager to check a place off their bucket list.

Traveling sparks a sense of adventure, inspiration, and inner aliveness. We get so excited to go on our chosen vacation, yet when we return everything is the same, including our lack of inspiration.

If you are feeling stuck in your life, want change, or desire clarity, travel could be your ticket to discovering the keys to unlock your inner wisdom. There’s a way to embrace travel through a spiritual lens, gaining access to more profound guidance and joy than you could have even imagined.

Here are 4 ways travel inspires personal evolution:

Travel opens our channels of creativity.

Expansion is the true nature of the soul. We thrive on the infinite possibilities of life and our imagination. During travel, our imagination is activated and we can envision a life inspired by our soul’s desires. By witnessing other cultures, different values, and various ways of being in this world, we expand our idea of what is possible for ourselves.

In day-to-day life, it’s easy to conform to the social norms surrounding us. Our society creates ideals to aspire to, so our innate drive is to achieve those ideals. Many cultures have this tribal mentality, however, if all cultures have different ideals, which one is right?

Travel offers the opportunity to compare lifestyles, cities, and cultures. We are then able to reflect on and determine what is most meaningful to us and see whether we are living in congruence with our own values. Our hearts and minds are open to possibility and we are receptive to the expansive, creative potential of our lives.

Travel opens our hearts.

Travel unites us through human connection and helps us foster the consciousness of unity. We leave our journeys with a reinvigorated appreciation for the diversity of humankind. Through a love for humanity, we are able to deeply recognize that we are all the same at our core and connected to each other in the unseen web of life. We are truly one. With deep understanding and humility, we come back home more integrated and aware in our everyday lives of how we treat other people. Have you noticed how you are more compassionate, kind, and patient after taking a restorative vacation?

Travel leads to clarity.

More often than not, our travels lead us to far-reaching landscapes. In these quiet and deeply inspiring places, we can connect with our higher selves. Mother Nature reflects divinity in its purest form and reflects our truth back to us through stillness. Without distraction and noise, touching into that stillness has the power to transform our lives.

In a moment, life’s greatest questions can be answered. If it’s clarity you are seeking, and you don’t have the time to do Thoreau’s style of complete immersion in nature, then perhaps a week-long yoga retreat could jumpstart this process instead. There are so many incredible locations to choose from all over the world, and at different price points. Yoga retreats that include excursions are a fantastic way to connect with like-minded people, immerse yourself in a new culture, be in nature, and take time to connect with yourself on a deeper level.

Travel teaches vulnerability.

Vulnerability is all about showing up and being seen for our authentic selves. It’s about being exposed, and in doing so, we open ourselves to risk, whether it be mentally, emotionally, physically, or spiritually. When we travel, there are new customs, foods, and environments we must adapt to quickly. Leaving our home and comfort zone behind can bring up feelings of insecurity. We don’t feel in control anymore.

It turns out that venturing into the realm of vulnerability—and therefore, intimacy—can greatly enhance our relationships, our career, and our life experiences. Vulnerability research expert Brené Brown describes this better than anyone in her book, Daring Greatly. “When we shut ourselves off from vulnerability, we distance ourselves from the experiences that bring purpose and meaning to our lives.”

True self-empowerment and inner strength stem from the practice of vulnerability. We let go of the façade that we need to be perfect and give ourselves permission to be human. And more often than not, you’ll find that people actually respond positively to authentic self-expression no matter how it looks.

Travel offers everything necessary for true spiritual transformation to occur. When you travel with the perspective of humbly seeking to understand your place in this world, you’ll inevitably find deep healing and growth.

So the question is, are you ready to get out there in the world and let your personal transformation occur? Set intentions about what you desire to experience from both your inner and outer journeys and have fun planning your trip!
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Author: Michelle Lee
Image: Sylwia Bartyzel/Unsplash
Editor: Danielle Beutell
Copy editor: Yoli Ramazzina
Social editor: Callie Rushton