10 Ways Traveling Makes You a Better Person

Do you think you are getting as much out of your travel experiences as you could? Are you showing up in the world as your best self? Are you on a path to continue growing and learning, and setting the best example for your family and friends?

We believe that travel is one of the greatest sources of fulfilment in life. It encourages us to become the very best versions of ourselves - and that flows over into all aspects of our lives.

Not only do you get to experience new things when traveling, you will also immerse yourself in different cultures, push yourself past your comfort zone and learn valuable lessons which you will carry with you throughout life. 

Traveling quite literally makes you a better, more interesting, and more well-rounded person. Here’s how travel can enhance your life, as well as the lives of those around you in the process!

1. Traveling teaches us how to be adaptable

When we travel, things change very quickly, for better and for worse. You have to deal with missed flights, wrong turns, rude people, and the list goes on. But these experiences make for some of the best stories!

While on the road, we learn to adapt to new and unexpected environments and people without getting overwhelmed. The art of rolling with the punches is mastered!

2. Traveling teaches us how to be adventurous

This doesn’t necessarily mean extreme adventures such as skydiving or bungee jumping (although it can!) We are talking about stepping outside of our comfort zone into a world of endless possibilities. 

Remember: “The more time you spend outside of your comfort zone, the more your comfort zone will expand.” - Robin Sharma

While traveling, we challenge ourselves to face the unknown, escape to a new place, meet new people, go it alone, try new foods and so much more!

3. Traveling teaches us how to be open-minded

As travelers, we encounter a diverse range of people and have to learn to put ourselves in other people’s shoes. We work to understand the customs and cultures of the people we meet on each trip. We may encounter a wide variety of economic circumstances, share stories with random strangers on the subway, or simply learn bits of a new language so we can ask for directions.

The fact that people can (and should) have different opinions and ways of seeing the world is fascinating. Through travel, we learn to appreciate and embrace this!

4. Traveling teaches us how to be self-reflective

When we travel, we realize that we are responsible for every step and action we take: where we go, the places we see, the people we interact with, and more. We get to know ourselves better when traveling, learning about our strengths and weaknesses and what we like and dislike along the way.

5. Traveling teaches us how to be patient

We may have to wait hours in security lines and end up missing a flight or get frustrated when we can’t understand a foregin language being spoken. It’s during the most trying of travel times when we are truly tested, and patience is a vital trait to be developed for any great traveler. We have to train ourselves to remain calm and not lose our tempers in these situations.

6. Traveling teaches us how to be grateful

When we are out exploring the world, we find beauty in those things that we previously took for granted. When we are away, we learn to appreciate our own lifestyle and our loved ones back home.

It's so important for us to be grateful for what's going well - whether that's our health, career or family, and more. When we maintain an attitude of gratitude, we are bound to be happier and more content in our daily lives.

7. Traveling teaches us how to be optimistic

In travel, everything that can and will go wrong at some point. And we have to maintain a positive attitude about it. Unexpected rainstorm? No problem. Take shelter in an amazing shop that you otherwise wouldn’t have stopped in! Sick or injured on the trip? See what daytime TV is like in a new place! Delayed flight? Nah. Bonus time on the ground. We ask ourselves, “How can I make the most of this situation and focus on what I can control?”

8. Traveling teaches us perseverance

We learn from traveling that we can’t just give up when the going gets tough. That’s when resilience is key to tackle challenges we will encounter head on and to come back stronger in the end! It’s just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other. As Lao Tzu said: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

9. Traveling teaches us how to be compassionate

Odds are, at some point in our travels, we will visit people in parts of the world who aren’t as fortunate as we are. Or encounter other travelers that are rude to us for apparently no reason. We have to learn to practice compassion and empathy in both situations.

10. Travel teaches us to be present

In a world where smartphones are always there to distract us, it can be difficult to live in the moment. Sure, you may still use your phone to navigate places and snap photos while traveling, but you will likely also disconnect for a while to really soak in your experience.

So did any of those traits resonate with you?

Or did any possibly touch on a sore spot where you might need some improvement?

Traveling is a life changing experience, without a doubt. And no matter your motivation for traveling, developing these traits (and more) within yourself takes time, but will inevitably happen. It’s a journey - figuratively and literally.

The more you travel, the more ingrained these traits will become within yourself, and the deeper your perspective of the world will be. Which is why we believe it’s important to travel as much as possible!

How do you travel more? You stay inspired. You regularly reminisce about your past travels. You plan out where you want to go next and take action to get there!

Which is where we can help. A pinnable travel map is an essential tool for you to achieve your travel desires. Which is exactly our specialty.

Get started now and find the perfect map to help you along on your journey. Choose your region, style, color, size, and even your push pin colors. Plus, you can personalize your map legend so you can track your travels exactly as you’d like.