Travel does many of things for us.

Facilitating journeys of self discovery is one of those things. It’s okay, most of us are confused about who we are and what this life thing is all about. But rarely do we have time to search for the answers.

I’ve experienced identity crises like everyone else, but these days I’m driven by meaningful purpose. I’m driven because I’m quickly waking up to the essence of who I really am, deep under the surface.

But I had to be able to recognise when it was time set-off  on my journey before I was able to take the first crucial step.

Here are some signs that might signal that it’s time for you to wake up and start asking questions.

You feel disconnected from the world

There’s a gap that seems to appear between us and the world when we’re unsure of ourselves. We can even feel completely cut off from our friends and family. When our sense of who we are comes into question we often turn inward to find the answers.

But what many of us don’t get is that it’s partly through our interaction with other people that we come learn the truth about ourselves.

If you’re feeling disconnected, maybe a journey of self discovery is for you.

You’ve got itchy feet

Hands up if the voice in your head enjoys nagging at you.

Yep, me too.

The nagging can manifest in many different ways. We might feel like quitting a boring job, moving house, leaving a bad relationship, killing a smoking habit, or anything else that would mean a fundamental shift in perspective.

Our minds are tired and want out of the game. A chance to breathe.

And the only way to satisfy a persistent voice is to listen to what it has to say. It might be time to listen to your voice and uncover your true self by experiencing all the diverse contexts the world and its people offer up.

You daydream about self discovery

Simply put, your head is in the clouds.

You don’t like getting up in the morning

I know that a lot of people find getting out of bed about as attractive as a grenade, but that says something about the way we’re living. To be alive should be a great joy. We should be able to welcome every day with positivity.

“And you? When will you begin that long journey into yourself?” – Rumi

But sadly the thought of waking up, both metaphorically and literally, becomes too challenging when it feels like there’s no escape from the cycle.

The good news is that it’s never too late to realise that things can be different. The path of self discovery is infinite because we never stop learning. But thats okay because when we live in the moment, the journey becomes the destination.

You distract yourself with stuff

Hands up if you buy crap that you will probably never use.

Yep, me too.

We do this because it offers us a temporary pleasure – a distraction from the terrifying prospect of self discovery. It lets us forget all the ‘problems’ we’d rather sweep under the carpet, or put aside to think about another day rather than confront them.

We don’t just do it with stuff. We do it with TV, movies, video games, alcohol, drugs and all sorts.

We hide because we’re afraid of the truth. And we’re afraid of the truth because we don’t know what it is.

You’re always tired

Our physical wellbeing is inextricably linked with Our mental wellbeing. Having a tired body and a tired mind only serves to block life’s answers from view.

When we find that we’re always tired, we might be spending too much time involved in soul-sucking activities that totally drain us. It’s not always easy to tell what those things are without a change in perspective

World travel offers us limitless, dynamic perspectives that can guide us toward what we’re looking for.

You feel like there’s so much more

If you can recognise any of the following, you’re probably in this category :

“I’m ready to conquer the world, but I’m afraid to step outside my comfort zone.”

“I feel like there’s so much more out there, but worry about taking action.”

“My rational mind files away my dreams for another day.”

What’s funny is that the times when we’re truly afraid to make a leap of faith are often the times we need to leap the most.

The truth is that there is much more out there, but it’s not going to fall into your lap.

The fruit of life is low hanging and incredibly sweet. Take it, it’s yours to enjoy.

 

In the next post we’ll look at how travel helps with all of the problems listed above. Subscribe to my mailing list to get it in your inbox. There’ll be no spam. And that’s a promise.