Category: Lifestyle

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The Ultimate Guide to Redefining Success and Achieving Greatness

Redefining Success and Achieving Greatness

Every great story begins with a challenge, a moment where everything seems against you, and the easiest choice is to give up. But here’s the thing – it’s precisely in those moments that heroes are made. Think of any person you admire, anyone who’s made a significant impact in their field or the world. Their journey wasn’t a straight line to success; it was a roller coaster ride of highs and lows, filled with obstacles they had to overcome. These challenges aren’t roadblocks; they’re stepping stones, each one teaching us something invaluable about ourselves and pushing us closer to our goals.

It’s about more than just surviving these challenges; it’s about embracing them. See each difficulty as an opportunity to grow stronger, more resilient. It’s in the toughest times that we find out what we’re truly made of. Remember, the bigger the challenge, the bigger the opportunity for growth. So, when you’re faced with something that seems insurmountable, take a moment to pause, reflect, and then charge forward with even more determination. Your dreams aren’t just possible; they’re within reach, as long as you’re willing to keep pushing through the barriers.

Bet on Yourself: Investing in Personal Growth

Investing in yourself is the most crucial investment you’ll ever make. It’s not about the money, though financial investment can certainly be part of your growth strategy. It’s about investing time, energy, and belief in yourself. Every minute you spend learning something new, every ounce of effort you put into developing your skills, and every bit of faith you have in your potential are stepping stones to a future you’ve only imagined.

The stories of those who’ve achieved greatness are filled with chapters of self-investment. They took courses, read books, sought mentors, and most importantly, they gave themselves permission to fail, learn, and try again. This investment isn’t just about professional development; it’s about personal growth. It’s about becoming the person who can achieve those dreams. Betting on yourself means pushing past your comfort zone, taking risks, and believing that you’re capable of more than you know.

Cultivate Authentic Connections: The Power of Community

No one achieves anything alone. The path to success is paved with the support, wisdom, and encouragement of others. Authentic connections with people who believe in you, push you, and support you are invaluable. It’s about creating a network of mentors, peers, and followers who share your vision and enthusiasm. These connections provide not just emotional support but also different perspectives and insights that can be crucial in overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities.

But cultivating these connections isn’t just about what you can get from them; it’s also about what you can give. It’s about building a community of mutual support, where everyone contributes and benefits. Share your knowledge, offer your help, and celebrate others’ successes as if they were your own. Authentic connections are built on genuine interaction and mutual respect. In a world that’s becoming increasingly digital, remember the power of a simple conversation, a helping hand, or a shared struggle. Together, we can achieve so much more.

Navigate Change with Resilience: Adapting to Life’s Uncertainties

Change is the only constant in life. It can be unexpected, unwelcome, and unsettling. But it can also be an incredible opportunity for growth. Navigating change with resilience means accepting that the unexpected will happen, but you have the inner strength to get through it. It’s about being flexible, adaptable, and open to new possibilities. When faced with change, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” and “How can this help me grow?”

Resilience is not about never feeling doubt or fear; it’s about facing those emotions and moving forward anyway. It’s about using every change, every challenge, as a chance to evolve. Remember, every great achievement involves navigating through uncertainty. Embrace change as an opportunity to test your resilience and adaptability, knowing that each step forward makes you stronger and better prepared for whatever comes next.

Unleash Your Potential: Stepping Into Your Power

We all have untapped potential within us, an incredible capacity for creativity, innovation, and achievement. Yet, so often, we limit ourselves with self-doubt and fear of failure. Stepping into your power means recognizing that you have everything you need within you to achieve your dreams. It’s about shedding those self-imposed limitations and embracing the belief that you are capable of greatness.

Unleashing your potential requires bold action. It’s about setting ambitious goals and going after them with determination and courage. It’s about being willing to take the risks that others won’t, to do the work that others don’t, and to believe in yourself when others might not. Remember, every successful person started with a dream and the belief that they could make it a reality. You have that same power within you. It’s time to unleash it.

In conclusion, the journey to success is a complex tapestry woven from our challenges, investments in self, connections with others, resilience in the face of change, and the courage to unleash our full potential. It’s a path that requires courage, determination, and belief. But it’s also a journey filled with opportunities for growth, learning, and profound personal satisfaction. Let’s embrace the journey, bet on ourselves, cultivate meaningful connections, navigate change with resilience, and unleash our potential to achieve greatness. Together, we can turn dreams into reality.

Source: linkedin.com ~ By: Evan Carmichael ~ Image: Canva Pro

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Beyond Purpose: Finding Your Inner Greatness

Finding Your Inner Greatness

Greatness. It’s a word and aspirational state that has intrigued me for years. But, what does it mean to be great? I started thinking about it when I penned my book, The Savage Leader: 13 Principles to Become a Better Leader from the Inside Out. In sports, there have been clear examples to me of Greatness. Steph Curry, Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, and Wayne Gretzky. Athletes who won (and keep winning) multiple championships. Yes, they won, but it was also the way they won as well as the impact on their teammates, franchises, fans, and their communities that felt different.

I have also felt the presence of Greatness in community and non-profit leaders. People like Mariama Shaheed, founder and CEO of Global Preparatory Academy, the first bi-lingual charter school in Indiana. Global Prep provides kids in Indianapolis with a view of what’s possible in the world and then uses education as a tool to help them achieve it.

I have also seen it in business leaders like Chase Fisher and Steve Gatena.

Chase Fisher is the founder and CEO of Blenders Eyewear, an uncompromising sunglasses (and increasingly a lifestyle) company rooted in San Diego’s beach culture that lives up to its motto – “Life in Forward Motion.”

Steve Gatena created Pray.com as a way to grow faith, grow community, and to “create a world where everyone leaves a legacy of helping others.” Beyond the impact that Pray.com has on its millions of customers, its culture is one that nurtures the long-term growth and development of its employees.

Why Greatness?

I’ve spent years running down success while more recently trying to define and live out my own sense of purpose. Success feels like chasing the mirage that appears on the horizon and just as you arrive at that oasis, it disappears. It can also be wholly unfulfilling—like wolfing down a box of Red Vines—and can lack long-term motivation (to me) to put in the late nights and endure the long slog required to reach the next horizon. There are countless books and seminars designed to help you chase success only to leave you with a metaphorical belly ache and sugar crash once you achieve (temporarily) an externally created definition of success.

Purpose on the other hand can lead to a life of fulfillment. It can also feel nebulous and unattainable to many people. Books like Start with Why have been helpful in bringing the concept of purpose to the mainstream, but many people struggle with its practical long-term application. It’s also more difficult to measure and track progress toward living a life of purpose.

But, what if you could put it all together? A life of success and one rooted in purpose? Living a life fueled with motivation, long-term orientation, and fulfillment. To me that’s Greatness!

Deconstructing Greatness: What Does It Mean to Be Great?

But what is Greatness? How do you define it and start down the path to achieve it? “Knowing it when you see it” is not helpful as a roadmap to help us define Greatness in our lives and careers. So what does Greatness actually mean? Let’s start with the following definition.

“Greatness lives at the intersection of purpose and success. Greatness combines our yearning for external achievement while balancing an internal focus on creating fulfillment, meaning, and impact.”

I recently asked several groups of executives to define Greatness and their responses varied dramatically. To some, Greatness is reserved for a select few. Entrepreneurs and business luminaries like Elon, Jobs, and Bezos. Others referenced transcendent sports figures like Kobe, Jeter, and LeBron. All of them are people who are commonly referenced by a single name.

To others, Greatness was a successful entrepreneur taking a “triple bottom line” approach to life and not making personal sacrifices in service of business goals. Others referenced people like the janitor at a local school who took pride in hard work and strong family life.

It confirmed what I have long suspected. When people think about Greatness, their responses vary based on where they lie on the Success-Purpose Continuum. Some of us are 99% focused on success and 1% on purpose, while others are 99% purpose and 1% success. Most of us are somewhere in between.

Achieving Greatness. Are You In?

What about you? If you’ve read this far, I suspect you seek Greatness in your life. Take the next step in identifying and achieving your personal sense of Greatness. Consider the following:

  • What does Greatness mean to you? What would it mean to be great in life and in your career?

  • What are your most important values? What words resonate with your core? (e.g., faith, family, growth, security, environment, justice, transparency)

  • Where do you land on the Success-Purpose Continuum? Do you aspire to a life primarily aimed at purpose? Or are you hell-bent on being the most successful person in your family or graduating class? Or somewhere in between?

  • How can you bring purpose and success together to create your own personal definition of Greatness?

Warning Label: Once you take this first step, you’ll never look back. You’ll also wonder why you never lived a life and led a career focused on your Greatness.

Source: thesavageleader.com ~ Image: Canva Pro

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The 5 Rules to Achieving Greatness and Success in Life

There is a common myth that those who achieve success or accomplish something extraordinary in this world are born with rare qualities that set them apart from the rest of us. But the idea that success requires that “special something” is what prevents us from trying to pursue our own ideas.

Through my work at the Case Foundation, I found that regardless of economics or demographics, countless people actually do break out in their pursuit to build a better life for themselves and others.

This led us to ask: How do they do it? And so few years back, the Case Foundation set out to research whether there was a “secret sauce” behind the success of innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers.

What we found surprised us. Indeed, it wasn’t genius, massive resources or degrees from elite schools behind their success. Rather, they shared a common passion to make the world better, and lived by these five principles:

1. Make a “big bet”

Truly significant transformations only occur when you decide to go for a revolutionary change.

Consider Shazi Visram, the daughter of Pakistani and Tanzanian immigrants. Visram got her idea for Happy Family, a healthy baby food brand, when she was an MBA student at Columbia University. She wasn’t a mother then, but she was moved by the story of her classmate, a working mother of two who complained about the lack of healthy baby food options.

The idea that success requires that ‘special something’ is what prevents us from trying to pursue our own ideas.

Visram found that the market had remained stalled for decades, even as the population was growing increasingly interested in healthy, organic foods. She decided that this was going to be her “big bet” and eventually raised enough capital to launch Happy Family, in 2006. In 2013, Visram sold Happy Family to a multinational company committed to products that promote health. She knew this path would enable even broader distribution and product choices for consumers. Her early investors realized a return of 30 times.

2. Be bold, take risks

To move forward with new ideas, some degree of risk-taking is required.

If you feel uncomfortable taking risks, try switching up your mindset and view it as an incremental process of change, as opposed to a reckless act. This lessens the fear, and risk-taking then becomes part of the process of discovery. Risk and development helps us avoid stagnation by constantly calling us back to the drawing board.

Like the cautionary tales of Kodak and Blockbuster that I write about in my book, “Be Fearless: 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose,” it’s easy to stick with what’s comfortable. But as Josh Linker, author of “Road to Reinvention” reminds us, “Playing it safe has become recklessly dangerous.”

3. Make failure matter

While no one seeks out failure, great innovators make setbacks matter. They take the lessons to further perfect their ideas. The process of Research and Development (R&D), used in science, medicine and tech, recognizes the importance of trial and error, yet we often forget the value of the “error” part that failure represents in our own lives.

Failure is success in progress. ~ Albert Einstein

The point is not to celebrate failure but rather learn from it – as numerous leaders and businesses like Google X, IBM, Meg Whitman and others have.

4. Reach beyond your bubble

More brain power applied to anything is usually a good thing, but too often, breakthroughs are seen as the stuff of lone geniuses. In reality, the greatest organizations, products and movements were all advanced by people working together — people who were different from one another and complimented each other’s skill.

In a report called “Delivering Through Diversity,” McKinsey studied the data of 1,000 companies across 12 countries. They found that organizations with diverse cultures were two times more likely to meet or exceed financial targets, six times more likely to be innovative and eight times more likely to achieve better business outcomes.

5. Let urgency conquer fear

Don’t overanalyze, just do.

In 2010, chef José Andrés founded the World Central Kitchen after traveling to Haiti following the devastating earthquake. Since, then, he’s continued to provide disaster relief. In 2017, when Andrés realized the lack of government response to Puerto Rico’s hurricane disaster, he scaled rapidly. He went from serving 1,000 meals in one kitchen per day to 23 kitchens serving 175,000 meals per day.

It was Martin Luther King, Jr., who talked about the “fierce of urgency of now,” and while he was speaking of the bold steps taken to end segregation, the words are applicable today to anyone who is ready to step out or up to innovate or breakthrough with something new. “This no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism,” he said.

Now go, be fearless

People do great things not because they are blessed with remarkable ability, great charisma or any special advantages, but because when they hear that voice whisper, “This could be your moment,” they simply choose to act. The first step to greatness is deciding to be the one who doesn’t just let life happen to you. So, pick your arena and go for it. The time is now for each one of us to decide whether we will hold back or strike out.

Source: cnbc.com ~ By: Jean Case ~ Image: Canva Pro

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14 Things You Can Do Every Day To Protect Your Mental Health As You Age

Protect Your Mental Health

Aging brings you face to face with the loss of loved ones, children leaving the nest, and physical changes such as reduced energy levels. These types of events can “give rise to negative emotions such as sadness, anxiety, loneliness and lowered self-esteem,” according to the American Psychological Association. Growing older can also come with a slew of positive changes like the opportunity to travel, more time to spend with grandchildren, and the chance to take on a new hobby.

“But any kind of change, even joyful changes, can bring up a variety of emotions, including anxiety, overwhelm, loneliness, and depression,” said Connie Habash, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Menlo Park, California. Therefore, it’s essential to make your mental health a priority, especially throughout your later years.

Here are a handful of ways in which you can emotionally support yourself throughout the journey of growing older:

1. Meditate

“Meditation is a great way to protect your mental health as you age,” said Jodi Baretz, a licensed clinical social worker and author of Mindful Is the New Skinny. “Not only does it train your brain to focus and improve your attention, it also decreases anxiety and increases your ability to enjoy the everyday moments of your life.”

Baretz added that meditation can also increase your tolerance of the uncomfortable and help you become less reactive, which decreases stress and emotional overwhelm. And studies show that it may go a long way in preventing age-related cognitive decline.

2. Stay connected

As people get older, there can be a tendency to withdraw from others. Retirement, friends passing, kids moving away all contribute to this social isolation. But it’s important to trade a night in with Netflix for an occasional dinner out with friends.

“The most important thing you can do is stay in communication with others,” said Colleen Mullen, a licensed marriage and family therapist at San Diego’s Coaching Through Chaos. “Find a new social group, swim, play Bingo, join a walking group or book club.” Mullen also noted that staying socially connected keeps your mind in a healthier place, which can in turn positively boost your overall well-being.

3. Adopt an attitude of gratitude

Studies suggest that taking a moment to count your blessings can boost your happiness. “Practicing gratitude has been demonstrated to help people manage stress, decrease depression, increase empathy and decrease aggression,” Mullen said.

Steven M. Sultanoff, a clinical psychologist in Costa Mesa, California, suggested ending your day by recalling three things that you are grateful for at the moment.

4. Check in with your body

Between smartphones, television and a 24/7 news cycle, our minds are always busy. But mindfulness has been linked to reduced anxiety and the reduction of mental stress. However, a “mindful body scan” may help whenever you are feeling overwhelmed, according to Karinn Glover, an assistant professor of the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

The process is simple: Spend five to 15 minutes breathing deeply and focusing your thoughts on your body, sensations, areas of discomfort or tension, starting at your feet and moving upward progressively until you get to the top of your head, Glover said.

“It’s a wonderful way to practice getting in touch with your body so stress and tension don’t become overwhelming,” Glover added.

5. Get moving

“Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, which brings oxygen, which helps prevent the dreaded ‘brain fog’ that so many women complain about once they reach a certain estrogen-deprived age,” said Maria Shriver, founder of The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement and Move for Minds — the organization’s annual fundraising initiative. For the best results, the organization recommends a combination of aerobic exercise and weight or resistance training.

6. Try something new

“Keep an open mind,” said Susan London, director of social work at Shore View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She suggested taking any opportunity possible to step out of your comfort zone.

“You never know the kinds of experiences you might have as a result of this, and it could change the course of your life without you even realizing it,” London added.

Shriver also advocated for challenging your mind. “Mental activity offers benefits to brain health. Learn something new to create new neural connections,” Shriver said. Try studying an unfamiliar language or taking up an instrument.

7. Pop a probiotic

Approximately 90 percent of serotonin (the neurotransmitter in the brain that releases feel-good chemicals) is made in the belly, along with other important mood-regulating neurotransmitters, said Sarah Morgan, a functional nutritionist and founder of Buddies In My Belly.

“The neurotransmitters made in the belly directly impact brain functions like mood, memory, focus, sense of well-being and more,” she explained.

Research suggests that taking a daily probiotic may help ward off depression. Morgan also recommended eating a diet high in plant foods that are rich in prebiotic fibers to keep your gut bacteria “healthy and happy.” This includes vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruit, beans and whole grains.

8. Form a new routine

Many Americans strive to retire by the age of 65. But sitting at home all day with nothing to do can take a toll on you emotionally. According to Ramani Durvasula, a professor of psychology at California State University, “having a routine can provide meaning and purpose, which many view as two of the most essential ingredients for health.” Sign up to volunteer, take on a part-time job in an industry that has always fascinated you, try a new hobby, become a mentor or get involved in local civic activities.

9. Get your Zs

“As you age, unfortunately, insomnia becomes an issue for many Americans, afflicting almost half of adults over the age of 60,” said Bill Fish, a certified sleep science coach and co-founder of Tuck.

A lack of sleep can lead to mental health ailments such as anxiety and depression. And a 2012 study linked sleeplessness with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s.

“Your brain goes through a rebooting process each night, essentially recharging itself, so we feel brighter and refreshed in the morning,” Fish said. “If you aren’t achieving the recommended sleep of seven to nine hours per night, you aren’t giving the brain a chance to recover to take on the day ahead.”

10. Practice self-love

Developing a compassionate relationship with your body will go a long way in helping you to combat any dissatisfaction that may coincide with the process of aging. Richard Matzkin, psychotherapist and co-author of Art Of Aging, suggested practicing positive affirmations and visualization to achieve this.

“The thing that kills self-love most is negative self-judgment,” he said. “You can counter this with positive self-talk. When negativity arises, rather than allowing yourself to be drawn into self-defeating, negative thoughts, replace it with thoughts about what you like about yourself.”

11. See a therapist

If you begin to feel sad, frustrated or anxious, you might want to consider giving therapy a try.

“Therapists can help identify counterproductive patterns in thinking and emotion that will help you get back to loving life quickly, should you hit a rough spot,” said Whitney Owens, a licensed clinical psychologist in Las Vegas.

Grief can also be a reason to call in a professional. There is no shame in getting support from an experienced practitioner who understands what you are going through.

“Don’t ignore the signs. If you are experiencing grief for an inordinate amount of time, usually longer than a year after the loss of a loved one, don’t be afraid to seek help,” London said.

12. Keep a positive support system

Having a good support system can help to tackle conditions like stress and depression. Surround yourself with people who love and care about you. That also means cutting out toxic people.

“Stop catering to people who suck your drive. Let them go,” Durvasula, the professor of psychology, said.

13. Laugh out loud

Next time something makes you laugh, take note and try to include more of that in your life.

“Happiness goes hand-in-hand with laughing, and humor is a great stress reliever,” said James Polo, a psychiatrist in Tacoma, Washington. “Mentally fit individuals tend to take time to celebrate funny things and laugh about them out loud.”

14. Spend time in nature

Going outdoors can improve your physical and mental health. So whether you spend time in your yard pruning the bushes, going for a hike in the forest, or simply sitting in a local park to take in the peace and serenity, getting outside may help to brighten your day.

“The feelings of awe and gratitude when we stand atop a stunning vista or when we see a rose slowly bloom in our garden, uplift us and maintain our appreciation of the beauty that we have in our lives all around us,” Habash said.

Source: huffingtonpost.com ~ By: Nicole Pajer ~ Image: Pixabay

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14 Ways Traveling Stimulates Inner Growth

Traveling Stimulates Inner Growth

Travel has a unique way of exposing us to experiences that create a mental shift within us that you just can’t find by any other means. Here are some ways travel helps stimulate inner growth!

What is it about travel that propels us towards change and improvement?

Perhaps it’s because as we explore, our eyes are opened to a more appealing lifestyle that we’d like to try for ourselves. Maybe we’ve been impacted by a new culture or religion that we’d like to get immersed in.

As we travel, we are constantly stepping outside of our comfort zones, pushing ourselves to really live in the different, unique destinations we travel to. We return home feeling like a new and improved version of ourselves because we’ve experienced things that have enabled us to grow.

If we continue to seek out unfamiliar surroundings, meet new people, and tackle uncertainty head-on, we will no doubt begin to notice a change within ourselves over time. An open mind will get you very far on your travels! It will help you remain receptive to change as you soak it all in, effectively stimulating inner growth along the way.

Here are some ways you can let the travel bug teach you a thing or two not only about the world but about yourself. Travel is a tool for making us better.

14 Ways Traveling Stimulates Inner Growth

1. Travel is the greatest teacher

It’s one thing to learn about a place through devoted study of the best travel guides, maps, blogs, and other travel media, but nothing beats actually setting foot there. When you have the opportunity to explore a new destination, you come face-to-face with a new culture that presents new challenges that your brain hasn’t faced before.

Problem-solving in a new country is the best way to immerse yourself in a new culture on a personal level, which forces you to learn and grow at a fast pace. You’re able to connect with the locals, pick up on new languages, dive into the history of the area, and alter your perspective for the better.

Travel is a pure form of education as it has the unique ability to teach new travelers by thrusting them out of their comfort zones and giving them a first-hand experience of the unknown. After all, the best way to learn is by doing!

2. Challenges start to look more like opportunities

Traveling is no easy task! The unfamiliar customs, language barriers, and stressful act of navigating public transport are all difficult to get used to in a new destination.

Figuring out some of these new challenges is often a rewarding experience. Any small win on the road is a big win for the brave traveler. The odds are stacked against us when we travel, and overcoming those odds boosts our confidence and helps us overcome even more than we thought we could.

Sure, you’ll meet your fair share of failures while exploring the globe. Once you start to see those failures as chances to learn and do better, any obstacle you meet will become less of a threat and more of an opportunity to grow.

It’s human nature to adapt, persevere, and survive under pressure, which teaches our brains to discover better ways to solve problems. Soon, travel becomes second nature to us and we can return from each trip knowing we have become more creative and fearless.

3. You experience a dramatic shift in perspective

Nothing will open your eyes to just how small you are in the world more than travel. Becoming detached from your comfort zone and leaving the little corner of the world you inhabit can be a very humbling experience.

You will quickly come to realize that your problems aren’t so bad compared to the issues other countries face on a daily basis. It’s important to address the culture shock you encounter with empathy as you take time to reflect and reassess your values.

Seeing how other cultures thrive challenges any preconceived ideas you may have about their lifestyle. You are able to appreciate their way of life, embrace cultural differences, and at the same time, be more thankful for your own community and roots.

In short, travel makes you more open-minded, and you are transformed for the better. They aren’t kidding when they say that travel changes you!

4. You’re able to connect with yourself and others better

Traveling to a new country, especially if you’re traveling the world alone, can be a daunting task that can make you feel isolated and alone. That’s why it’s important to get out there and make connections with people, whether you’re looking for guidance or just need a travel companion to keep you company on your adventure.

Engage with the locals at lively events or foodie hot spots, spend a few nights in a hostel to get to know other travelers and swap stories with them, or travel with friends to get to know them better.

Work exchange is a great way to connect with your local community (and yourself!) while traveling. In exchange for a few hours of each day, you’ll receive free accommodation and other benefits. Worldpackers offers opportunities to work in hostels, schools, NGOs, permaculture projects, eco-villages, holistic centers, and more. This is truly a great way to learn new skills abroad while having the support of a local, collaborative community behind you.

If you want to travel as a means to connect more deeply to yourself and the world around you, I highly recommend learning more about the Worldpackers travel experience.

5. “The people you meet create the paradise you find.” — Robin Esrock

Try to interact instead of being a bystander; open yourself up to make friends while traveling! You never know what you’ll be invited to or what insider tips you might not find elsewhere.

Chances are the people you meet will share a meaningful or unique experience with you and you’ll end up having the time of your life with some awesome memories to bring back as souvenirs.

Don’t forget to smile as much as much as you can so you are more approachable and friendly. One little smile can go a long way!

6. Travel cultivates a growth mindset

Some live their lives with a fixed mindset, meaning they never seek new learning experiences, are content with the skills they currently possess, and are threatened by change or the success of others. On the other hand, if you strive to live with a growth mindset, you believe your skills and intelligence grow with effort. With this mindset, you are always seeking new learning opportunities to broaden your talents, embrace challenges, and see failure as a stepping stone toward improvement.

Travel is directly tied with the growth mindset because you are thrust into a completely new environment where learning is mandatory. Especially if you’re traveling long-term, living in a new country means adapting is necessary to get by.

Change itself keeps our brain in a healthy, plastic state so that we’re able to learn and retain more over time. The world is ever-changing, which means we must change along with it, evolving and growing all the time.

Traveling as often as possible is the perfect way to cultivate that growth mindset, effectively keeping our minds open, fueling our curiosity, and helping us stay prepared for whatever life throws our way.

7. You improve your communication skills

If you strive to interact with locals and other travelers while you wander, you will end up developing better social skills. Being able to strike up a conversation with a total stranger will eventually become one of your strong suits if you travel a lot.

This is good news for introverts who need a little extra practice! Plus, it’s really fascinating to learn from others’ experiences, hear what inspires them, and listen to travel tales!

8. Experiences are greater than things

Now more than ever, people are gifting experiences to their loved ones as opposed to merchandise or material things. Experiences can leave an imprint on a person for an entire lifetime, while the “stuff” we accumulate just gives us a temporary sense of satisfaction. That feeling will soon fade, and we begin to find ourselves trying to replace that lost feeling with yet another shiny new toy.

Travel isn’t merely a thing, but a lifestyle shift that you open yourself up to in order to receive some form of enlightenment. The more you travel, the more you’ll embrace the minimalist travel mindset. Essentially, you’ll realize what’s important to you and be better able to cut out some things out of your life that don’t measure up.

Travel is the perfect way to begin collecting loads of memories and ditch the dead weight that might be holding you back from leading a fulfilling life.

9. You learn how to be more present

“Travel is like a good, challenging book: it demands presentness — the ability to live completely in the moment, absorbed in the words or vision of reality before you.” — Robert Kaplan


Sometimes we get so excited to conquer new experiences and make lasting memories of them that we forget to savor them as they are happening. For some of us, travel is an escape from our extremely busy lives, but what’s the point of escaping that lifestyle only to travel with an equally busy itinerary?

Embracing slow travel is essential for soaking up your experiences so that you can record your memories in more depth, focusing on the little details that made the destination so special to you. While traveling, your main focus is to absorb your new surroundings and try new things rather than thinking about the future!

Seek to deepen your connections with the people you meet and the places you visit, sit down and take time to meditate or people-watch, and keep a structured light itinerary. You’ll eventually learn to appreciate the present and in turn, better appreciate the memories you create.

10. Adapting to change becomes easier

Sometimes travel can be very spontaneous and you may have to change up your itinerary at the drop of a hat. Travel heightens your awareness of what’s going on around you, and the more you plan for, the more you have to be prepared for. This is a great skill to have if you’re always on the go and need a backup plan to resort to in case your plans don’t work out.

Traveling is about venturing into the great unknown. It helps eradicate any fears you may have of what you cannot control and you are better able to embrace the unfamiliar with an open mind. Repeatedly exiting that pesky comfort zone will help you adapt to change more easily and soon you’ll be welcoming it into your life as a healthy opportunity to grow!

11. You gain a deeper understanding of different cultures, values, religions, and ways of life

The world is diverse and filled with amazing people who practice different beliefs and lifestyles than you do. Travel opens the door that takes you on the path toward understanding these differences better and appreciating them for what they are.

Approaching a new country with an open mind and a caring heart is guaranteed to help you fully absorb what another culture has to offer. Who knows, you might find a new favorite dish to make at home, adopt certain values into your life that you admire, or fall in love with the culture as a whole.

Our perspectives are widened when we travel, and this contributes greatly to our personal inner growth. When we see the good in the world we are more compelled to do good ourselves. Becoming better individuals is a small but necessary step towards becoming better as a human race.

12. You develop more confidence and learn to embrace independence

You can do it! The more cool activities and meaningful experiences you check off your bucket list, the more power you’ll gain over your self-doubts.

Slowly but surely, you’ll begin to realize that you’re racking up experience points in the realm of travel, and you can plan your schedule with freedom and confidence. Traveling solo can help especially with cultivating that sense of fearlessness because you have to rely on your own travel know-how to get through your trip.

The more you travel, the more comfortable you’ll get with living independently.

13. Travel teaches you how to grow from adversity

Contrary to popular belief, travel isn’t always the beautiful, carefree experience we expect. This is why it’s important to be prepared for anything life may throw your way so that when a challenge arises, you know how to turn it into a learning experience.

Some have medical emergencies while abroad. You could miss your flight and get stuck in an airport for an eternity or run out of food on a backpacking trip. You never know what could happen, despite your efforts to plan for every outcome!

When a troubling situation such as this arises, those who are resilient and determined enough will walk away from their hardship transformed. Patience and a clear head will help you get through these difficult circumstances and teach you a hard-earned lesson, which you’ll be able to apply to other challenges you may face in the future.

Inner growth occurs when, despite being knocked down by the challenges we face, we choose to get back up again and progress.

14. You ditch your comfort zone and become a “yes man”

Say “no” to saying no! Travel is all about trying new things.

If you can’t banish your comfort zone for at least some portions of your trip, your growth will come to an abrupt halt. That doesn’t mean you have to say “yes” to everything, you just have to participate in those things you know will teach you something new or give you a broader perspective.

Your comfort zone is that little voice that creates excuses for things you can’t or won’t do. The act of traveling itself means that you don’t mind stepping out of your comfort zone and everything you’re used to behind in order to see the world.

Try to actively pop that comfort zone bubble! Take risks, ride public transit, overcome fears, eat street food, meet new people, and say “yes” to more opportunities that present themselves to you.

You’d be surprised at how liberating you’ll feel after accomplishing something you never thought you would. It gives you room to grow, boosts your confidence, gives you courage, and gives you that validation you need to go out and do hard things.

Let travel eradicate those excuses once and for all.

As you embark on your next big adventure, remember to stay present and record your thoughts and memories as often as you can! Not only will you be able to look back on them fondly, but you can track your progress to see how much you’ve grown as time goes on. Write down your goals, what you’d like to learn, or what knowledge you were able to glean on your trip.

I hope you use this article to inspire you to plan your next trip and get out there. Immersing yourself in a different country may seem scary at first, but you’ll be amazed at the new skills you’ll pick up, and the deep insight you’ll gain, and you’ll be able to turn your attention inward as you self-evaluate how your experiences have enriched your life.

You’ll be a savvy traveler in no time! Let your inner growth spurts shine through to serve as evidence that travel is truly life-changing.

“Travel has a way of stretching the mind. The stretch comes not from travel’s immediate rewards, the inevitable myriad of new sights, smells, and sounds, but with experiencing firsthand how others do differently what we believed to be the right and only way.” ⁠— Ralph Crawshaw

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