When traveling abroad, some of your most memorable experiences may have taken place when you have stepped outside your comfort zone. Whether it is trying a new cuisine, listening to crisp new music powered by custom audio cables or learning to ski for the first time–you never forget your firsts.
This is why it is essential to always try something new when you travel. There isn’t any other way to create better memories than stepping out of your comfort zone. Once you do, you’ll wonder why it took you so long.
It Helps You Develop a Thicker Skin
Each time you push yourself to try something new, you become a stronger and more experienced person. You will have to make do with some loneliness and unfamiliarity and trust your gut in new experiences.
Yet, this is the only way to gain personal growth. Even if a new situation can be uncomfortable and scary, that is mostly a product of your mind. Plus, it is beneficial to have a thicker skin.
Truly, it is in stressful situations that you learn more about your character–and, how you handle uncomfortable situations.
Nonetheless, once you get through it, you’ll laugh about how nervous you once were.
Learn a New Language Quickly
When traveling to a country that speaks a language different from yours, you will have to learn the basics rather quickly. You may be surprised at how fast you’ll learn when you don’t have much of a choice.
Sure, in the tourist areas, there will be people who speak the world’s most popular languages. Yet, if you go outside of tourist hotspots, you will have to use that country’s native tongue–especially if you need to eat, go shopping, find activities or do anything else.
Yet, speaking several languages is important in our interconnected world. Learning from your home is a lot different than plunging into, and immersing yourself in a new culture. Since language and thought are connected, you will also think differently when you learn a new language.
Plus, when you return home, you’ll be quite proud of yourself.
You’ll Lose Some of the Fear
Even if you don’t feel like it, immersing yourself in another culture will help make you more fearless. Each time to force yourself to do something that makes you nervous, you then realize that your mind was really just playing tricks on you.
The outcome is often very different than what you expected. Soon, you’re not as fearful of trying new things and putting yourself in varying surroundings. You know that you’ve already done it before and can do it again. It will open up a new world of adventure for you that you would not have taken if you did not take a risk.
In addition, you might even continue a lifestyle of traveling the world.
Expand Your Circle of Friends
There is nothing more comforting than having friends all over the world. This is one of the best things about visiting other countries. Meeting people of different backgrounds and perspectives can transform you and turn you into a more open-minded person.
It also opens up opportunities for you in other parts of the world that you would not have had if you hadn’t visited. If you enjoy it enough, you might even live in different places throughout the year.
Pushing yourself to experience new situations, sights and sounds is an excellent method for inducing personal growth. Not only will you learn a lot about the world, but you will also learn a great deal about yourself.
