7 Life-Changing Lessons You Learn from Travelling

Amy Taylor September 18, 2014

There are a few things that can make a significant impact on your life. One of them is travelling. Visiting a place for the first time brings you delight unlike anything else. It opens you to new experiences and learning that you are going to treasure for the rest of your life.

So go ahead and stop thinking twice. Book a flight when you can and arrange for your next travel adventure. By travelling, you are not only bound to experience fun and adventure, but also a great boost in your health and well-being.

Here are life-changing lessons travelling can teach you:

Live in the Present

Seeing the Great Wall of China, The Great Pyramid of Giza, or The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus for the first time makes you forget about the past hurts as well as the future worries that make you emotionally weak and detached. Traveling is a feast for your eyes and it makes you stop and live in the moment. It’s hard to be thinking about the piles of paperwork you’ve left in the office while you’re out there somewhere in the world visiting places you’ve never been to before. Traveling teaches you to unplug from your daily stresses, and discover new things in life.

Experiences are More Valuable than Material Things

You might think buying a car or moving to a bigger house is the happiest thing that happened to your life. But setting your foot on tropical beaches with fine white sand in Thailand or learning history at the Roman Colosseum makes you realise that experiences are more valuable than material things. You also realise that the things you gain from travelling are things that can never be taken away from you – because they are the learning that have already left an imprint on your mind and heart.

Dealing with Things Smartly

What they say is true – experience is the best teacher. Lost luggage, delayed flight, booking inconveniences – regular travellers have experienced it all. While situations like these can cause you too much stress and annoyance, they also impart lessons that benefit you in the long run. The sooner you learn to roll with whatever challenges that come your way, the sooner you’ll be carefree, happy to move onto your next new adventure. Learning how to calm yourself in frustrating situations is a valuable skill that does not only apply to travelling, but also to other adventures in life, including the most difficult ones.

The World is a Lot Less Scary Place

The idea of travelling scares many people. Being in a strange place without knowing anyone can indeed feel overwhelming and sometimes, frightening. But travelling pushes you to your comfort zone and force you to interact with the world in a different way than you’re used to. You will realise that despite the differences in cultures and beliefs, people are mostly the same everywhere – good and kind, and are less likely to harm you.

It’s Never Too Late to Change

Travelling is also an opportunity for self-discovery. You learn so much about yourself while on the road. It allows you to reflect on your life and who you are, and what you really want to be, and what path you want to take. While you’re on board a plane, you start thinking about everything going on in your life and what you’d like to do differently when you get back home.

Relaxation is Crucial to Health

Travel forces you to slow down and take a moment to just be. It’s a perfect time to forget about your worries, and give in to pure fun, leisure and relaxation. It gives you space and time off from your normal life – from the pressures and demands of work and your personal responsibilities.

Fun is Everywhere

Happiness is a journey, not a destination, so they say. Traveling lets you appreciate every single place and event. Whether it’s having a small talk with the one sitting next to you on the plane or meeting a new friend – happiness is everywhere. You just have to allow yourself to experience it.

Travelling is transformative. It gives us a great opportunity to learn life-changing things in a fun-filled way.