15 Ways Travel Can Change Your Perspective For Better or Worse

Travel challenges and forces us out of our comfort zone and into a beautiful and diverse world of people, languages, cultures, and much more. It’s easy to stay in a place we are familiar with, with the people we have always known, and with the customs we were born into, but outside of our borders, other people might be living completely different lives, and it helps to witness this so we can become better global citizens with a broader perspective on life.

Want to know how travel can change your perspective for better or worse? Well, here are 15 different ways.

There Are Different Versions of Normalization

What comes off as bizarre to you may be completely normal elsewhere. For example, in Japan, you’re supposed to slurp your noodles loudly, because it means you’re enjoying your meal! In a Western country, however, people might look at you funny if you do that. Travel teaches you that ‘normal’ is relative, and acceptance and tolerance are key to understanding one another.

A Greater Sense of Gratitude

Traveling a lot makes you realize how much you take for granted. Many parts of the world have no running water, no access to healthcare, or even stable electricity. When you see these differences firsthand, you might start to understand some unique issues faced in other countries and develop a better sense of gratitude for the opportunities and amenities you have.

Patience, Tested and Refined

Travel is a real test of patience if you’ve ever had a delayed flight, language barrier, or missed connection. In long lines, or out of unforeseen delays, you have to develop the ability to manage your frustration. It’s possible over time that you’ll get more patient and adaptable.

Breaking Stereotypes

Meeting people from different backgrounds tends to chip away at some of your preconceived notions. It’s easy to judge a place and its people by the headlines on the news and the reports from the media, but talking to locals and hearing their stories takes down stereotypes one conversation at a time.

Learning to Rely on Yourself

You learn to trust your instincts when you’re far from home, without your usual safety net. Travel helps you make decisions confidently, whether figuring out where to eat or how to get around a new city. It’s a kind of self-reliance that stays with you long after the trip is over.

Respecting Different Beliefs

Religious practices from various parts of the world give new definitions to life’s meaning, and what truly matters. Sunrise meditation in Thailand or witnessing prayers in India might get you thinking about spirituality in a new way or at least leave you with a great respect for others’ beliefs.

Finding Beauty in Simplicity

Travel can teach you that joy and excitement can be derived from various things and not just flashy or extravagant events. Simple things, like a little Parisian café, visiting a colorful market, or chatting with the locals can be a source of joy. Travel reminds you that life’s beauty is sometimes in the unplanned and uncomplicated.

Perspective on Wealth

Travel forces you to see all levels of wealth. You might visit a luxurious resort one day, and then a much less privileged area the next. It reminds us how unequal the distribution of money can be globally, and how different the opportunities are for different people. It makes you appreciate what you have, and aspire to greater things.

Openness to New Flavors

There are cultural quirks almost everywhere you go. Consider Durian fruit in Southeast Asia or haggis in Scotland. These foods are not easy to find outside the country and are a new experience for most travelers. When traveling, try to expand your palate and eat adventurously. Who knows? You might return with a taste for something you never thought you’d like.

When You Realize You’re a Tiny Dot on the Map

How small and insignificant did you feel when you stood on a mountaintop or saw an ancient temple? Travel can be a reminder of how large the rest of our world is. Sometimes we tend to live in a bubble surrounded by familiar things, but traveling is sure to burst that bubble and teach you that there is a whole world beyond what we know. It can also relive stress to step outside of our busy lives and enjoy the world around us.

Language Appreciation

Trying to communicate in a different tongue can be enlightening. A few phrases learned will show respect and open up unexpected connections. Beyond that, you learn the power of nonverbal communication as simple as a smile or a thumbs up, when words let you down.

Environmental Awareness

If you go to a pristine beach or visit a lush rainforest you may suddenly feel a charge or urgency to defend nature. Pollution or climate change is often highlighted when you see its effects firsthand. You might even begin to wonder about your own environmental footprint when you return.

Finding Joy in Solitude

Traveling alone can feel amazing and teach you a lot that you might not have known about yourself. It encourages introspection and helps you learn to enjoy your own company while making you more confident and comfortable exploring alone, which can be empowering.

Recognizing Your Cultural Biases

When you travel, you might be surprised by what you react to. Why do some customs seem so foreign? Travel can show you your cultural assumptions and help you understand the values you hold and why. This self-reflection is sometimes eye-opening, forcing you to rethink your point of view.

Gratefulness for Home

The best part about traveling can sometimes be coming home. After running around new and unfamiliar areas, it feels nice to come back to what feels familiar. The sights and sounds will make you realize how much you’ve missed being home and even make you appreciate your home and space more.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

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