So there are hundreds, if not thousands, of articles out there about why, where and how we should travel, offering advice, tips and that all-important push we need to take that first exciting step to discovering the world. But there are none advising us what to do when the power of our ‘mental roadblocks’ stop us from embarking on our own travelling adventure.
I recently experienced this myself. Fresh back from my latest travels, it was all I could do to stop myself from packing in my job and leaving again the next day to start all over again. Thoughts of travel clouded my head and my excitement and thirst for more knowledge and experience were forefront in my mind. Yet the responsible half of my being was constantly trying to bring me down from my travel ‘high’ with negative thoughts such as “But what will you do with the house?”, “What about your job? You love your job, you can’t just give it up” and “What about the dogs? They couldn’t cope if you went away for a long time, you’ll have to re-home them”. And this started me thinking about all of the reasons we create for ourselves about why we SHOULDN’T travel.
Essentially, living life as a travelling nomad is a scary and daunting experience. You need to think about income and how you will fund your lifestyle. You also worry about what will happen when you ever do eventually come ‘home’. Will you be able to find a job? Will you be able to quickly and easily find somewhere to live? Will you be able to adjust to a normal lifestyle and routine? All of these questions are valid, but are also the reason why many people decide to stay within their comfort zone and simply take short annual holidays instead. The fear of the unknown and the ties of social responsibility are what scares people more than the thought of being lost in a country where no-one speaks the same language. It is also a bit of a taboo within normal society. I have many friends who, upon return from a lengthy round-the-world trip have applied for a job only to be asked “So why did you decide to take a year out when you were in a good position in your old job?”. It seems unfair that experiencing life and other cultures whilst enriching your soul is considered more unworthy than sitting behind a desk for the majority of your life. It is considered an indulgence, a long holiday, an opportunity to do nothing for a long period of time.
However, I am determined to fight my mind demons and follow my heart. I am now in the process of trying to shed my responsibilities so that I am free to pursue whichever path I choose. Selfish? Yes, definitely. But sometimes you have to do exactly what you want to do in order to find exactly the kind of happiness you were searching for all along. It is sad how many people miss out on seeing the world because of what they think they should do, as opposed to what they want to do. And I refuse to let the power of negative thoughts stop me from my travels.
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