Traveling is the ultimate form of novelty. Thus, it has the power to ignite epiphanies and revelations.
You set foot in a new city, a new country, and your mesmerized by its unique characteristics. Landscape, architecture, food, pace, accents of the locals. You’re many miles away from your regular city/town. You’re removed from routine, everyday activities.
This novelty disrupts your brain’s automaticity, and the experience stands out in your catalogue of memories.
This disruption brings opportunities for your subconscious to observe your life. The literal distance creates perspective on your current habits, your current life’s direction. You become a detective looking through a one-way mirror to the examination room.
When you’re lucky, an epiphany might come your way. That’s what happened to me as I once watched the sunset on the Gulf of Mexico, when I realized I wanted to make a life-changing phone call.
And, more broadly, traveling could also mean changing residences. At age 22, I moved cold turkey from Massachusetts to Santa Fe, New Mexico. By living 2200 miles away, adapting to a new culture (MA and NM are perhaps on opposite ends of the spectrum of American culture), I was able to review and process my previous life, while assessing my current one. Because I was able to compare and analyze contrasting cultural norms and beliefs, I increased my personal independence.
I became more grounded in self.
Where’s your next destination?
Cheers,
Joel
