And Why More Travelling Makes You More Successful
Successful, savvy travellers are made, not born. Even if you’re the kind of person who’s always losing their luggage and falling victim to tourist scams, you can learn to become a travel aficionado. So what sets successful travellers apart from those who are always missing the proverbial boat (or bus, or plane)?
Simple. Successful travellers are successful simply because they travel more often. And when you are a successful traveller you become more successful in the rest of your life also. Practice makes perfect, and travel is no different. Here are 10 awesome reasons to embrace frequent travel and get on the plane again (and again, and again….).
1. You get comfortable with discomfort
Travel, by its very nature, is uncomfortable. Not only are you shoved into a tiny seat next to a snoring fat guy; you’re jostled on bumpy buses, put up in hotel rooms with questionable security, and forced to use toilets like you’ve never used them before.
All of this results in an amazing phenomenon that only becomes apparent once you get home: things that used to make you uncomfortable have no effect on you now.
After all, what’s a traffic jam or an awkward encounter with your mother-in-law compared to being stranded on a deserted Vietnamese highway for 16 hours straight?
2. You can rise above fear
Frequent travel forces you to face your fears, whether those fears are cultural, physical, or emotional. When you have to face fears in order to survive, you quickly see how brave and capable you really are. The more you travel, the more comfortable you become with facing the very things that used to scare your pants off.
3. You learn to appreciate the little things
Frequent travellers develop a deeper appreciation of things so often taken for granted – a quiet place to sleep, a hot shower, fast WiFi, and endless food options. Travelling a lot means less access to little luxuries, which in turn increases your appreciation of what you have when you get home.
4. Change is suddenly easy
If you travel once or twice in your life, you never learn to navigate change with ease and grace. Travel often and you’ll have to change your plans on a daily basis and truly to learn to go with the flow. Accepting change on the road easily translates into an acceptance of change in your “real life” back home.
5. You become an expert negotiator
Frequent travellers learn to stand up for themselves, ask for what they want, and negotiate for the best deal. If you stay home, you may never learn these skills and get taken advantage of during the rare occasions on which you do travel.
6. You’re the master of your emotions
Frequent travellers find themselves in a variety of different situations, faced with an ever-changing array of cultural nuances and demands. In short, travel can push your buttons!
Those who travel often quickly learn to master their emotions so as not to cause themselves further stress or trouble on the road. In many cultures it is inappropriate to display anger, irritation, or sadness. Travel frequently and you’ll learn how to become the master of your emotional domain both on and off the road.
7. You appreciate what you have
Frequent travellers get exposed to extremes of wealth and poverty, and are able to put what they have (and who they are) into perspective. It’s hard to keep complaining about not getting a raise or the cost of new car after meeting those who don’t have a job, let alone a vehicle (let alone a decent meal most days!). The more often you travel, the more you’ll appreciate your station in life, whatever that station may be.
8. You become self-reliant
When you travel often, you learn to trust and rely upon yourself to stay safe. You learn what you like, what you don’t, and what you need to be comfortable. You become familiar with what you can handle and what you can’t, and your confidence increases as you rely on yourself alone to solve problems and overcome challenges.
9. You become more accepting
The more you travel, the more accepting you become of other’s differences. As you’re introduced to new ideas, you watch your old beliefs and biases dissolve before your eyes. Frequent travellers are much more open-minded and nonjudgmental than those who rarely or never travel.
10. You become a money master
Travel often and watch as you magically morph into a financial wizard. Travel forces you to budget, save, and spend wisely. You become more aware of what is necessary and what is disposable.
A frequent traveller is not only a successful traveler, but a more well-rounded, open-minded, appreciative individual. Travel more and become the down-to-earth, empathetic, worldly person you’ve always wanted to be! (Oh, and you probably won’t lose your luggage nearly as often as you used to.)
Rebecca Anne Nguyen is a freelance writer and the Founder of TheHappyPassport.com, an inspiration site for solo female travellers.
