As a boat out at sea that’s in trouble, it’s important to anchor somewhere and refuel when life knocks the wind out of your sails. As it’s known to do.
And what better way to refuel than by taking a trip somewhere? Because travel is a great way to help yourself heal.
Travel for healing is great after a breakup, a job loss, the loss of a parent, or any great loss. It’s that special combo of self-care and soul-care that can help you get on with your life in a healthy way. Plus, all the benefits
Using travel for healing is, to me, a way to help our souls heal while leaving space for some fun, joy, and living. It’s a way to allow the pain to work through us, without the process feeling stark, isolated, and pitiful. These 10 benefits of travel are some of the reasons why I think it’s so good for healing.
1. Travel gives you a different perspective
Travel reminds us that the world is much bigger than just us. Interacting with and appreciating another culture can put you in a different headspace and give you a different perspective from which to view your current situation. When you visit a culture that’s different from yours (in positive ways, of course), the experience can open you up to a wholly different perspective on loss and pain, and help you see the appreciate other things life has to offer. Things that you may have in your own country such as beaches, rainforests, national parks, and nature preserves, look a lot different 1,000s of miles away.
2. When you travel you live more in-the-moment
Because the language, the sounds, the food, the people, transportation, the currency, customs, and almost everything is different, you pay more attention to everyday tasks when you travel. And with living in the moment automatic, you’ll have a good and healthy distraction from your troubles.
3. Travel may give you a Divine experience
Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “I believe in God, only I call it Nature.” Whatever your belief system, travel can leave you with a profound sense of “awe.” Imagine yourself in the glacial lakes of Banff National Park in Canada, roaming St. Mark’s Square in Venice, or sipping a cool drink as you look over the turquoise blue beaches of Turks & Caicos. Nature is pretty awesome and travel can drop you in the middle of some really dope views.
4. Travel lets you experience more of mother nature
As I just said, nature is awe-some, and some places on earth are so spectacular as to give you a divine experience. Being in nature is also naturally therapeutic.
5. You can be more “yourself” when you travel
Because no one knows you, you may feel that you can be yourself without the judgment (or concerns) of friends and family. Around strangers, you get to “let go” sooner and get out of your head.
6. Travel can be a form of closure
After a break-up, it’s nice to have closure but you know what, sometimes we don’t get it. Travel “removes” you from a situation and allows you to put your crazy life on “Pause.” When you get back to your story…some of the edges would have gone and you feel OK enough to close the chapter.
7. Travel provides a change of place and pace
Sometimes, running away from your problems is a good thing! We’re affected by our surroundings and travel gives you a new more relaxed one. The operative word here is “New.” You will also benefit from a slower pace so you can hear yourself think and access your “inner wise woman.”
8. Travel Yoga IS Healing Yoga
You may already know how beneficial yoga is for your everyday well-being, but a yoga retreat can be more like intensive self-care. In a location like Costa Rica (one of the most popular yoga retreat destinations), with meals, itinerary, and many of your decisions made for you, you can focus on healing.
Check out this list of awesome yoga retreats by Well+Good if you’re looking for inspiration.
9. Travel makes you feel like you’re moving forward
When going through a rough time, what any of us most need is a little hope. Because travel gives us the sense that you’re moving forward, you’ll feel more optimistic about our situation by the time you get back home.
There’s a saying that I love: When you travel, you always return home a different person. And that about sums up these reasons for using it as a tool in your healing or a way to fast-track it while still facing your loss and grief.
Great content! Definitely worth reading as I really learned a lot from this. Thanks for posting!