Can travel really change your life for the better?

Transformational Travel Experiences can leave lasting changes that improve your life

In the current landscape, there’s a notable shift towards valuing experiences more than owning things. Since the pandemic there has been more discernment on spending and a focus on health and mental wellbeing.

In the 2024 Global Wellness Trend report, amongst the top 10 trends are:

The Power of the Pilgrimage
A record number of new and revitalized pilgrimage trails worldwide are luring new generations to experience the most ancient, slow and spiritual form of travel.

From Manning Up to Opening Up
A cultural shift is underway with a rise of social and emotional wellness offerings for men to help them connect with themselves and each other.

As city dwellers seek respite in nature and meaningful connections, and more men enter the mental-emotional health and wellness space, I believe the trend of transformational travel is only going to rise in the coming years.

My definition of transformational travel is travel that…

• exposes you to new experiences
• takes you out of your comfort zone and brings growth
• changes the way you see yourself and the world
• helps you connect to yourself, others and the earth in a more meaningful way
• allows you to leave as a better version of yourself

My transformational travel experience (extended version)

I left my bubble of safety, comfort and convenience for the first time in my 40s without a plan, following the guidance of my heart. When I left in March 2022, I did not know when I was coming back.

As someone who likes having a plan and clear direction, these 2 years pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me question deeply ingrained belief systems. No books, course or certification could have taught me what I learnt from direct experience.

How travel changed my life for the better

• Shifted my perception of safety
  
  I spent nine months in South Africa. When I first landed, my soul felt at home right away. However, I noticed my human self asking ‘Is it safe?’ countless times during the first few months. I was struck by the stark contrast between the fearfulness of people in Singapore during COVID times and the laid-back attitude of people in South Africa.
  
  It became very clear that the fear our mind creates from being exposed to fear generated by the media and people around us, is an imaginery prison that limits and traps us.
  
  I had the luxury of time and space to explore my inner world and get to know myself. The more I got to know myself, the safer I felt in my body, the safer I felt in the world and out in nature.
  
  
• Made me more alert and aware of my surrounding
  
  Not in a fearful way, but more independent, resourceful and street smart. As someone with a terrible sense of direction, being alone in a foreign country is the surest way to improve one’s sense of direction.
  
  When my mobile phone died on me in Glastonbury, I had to navigate my way to the next nearest town to buy a phone, alone, without a phone. Previously, this would have made me upset and anxious, but I’ve definitely grown more confident in my own ability.
  
  
• More adaptable and less attached to “Stuff”
  
  I learnt to cut back on what I considered neccessities. When living out of a suitcase and travelling alone, it gets tiring packing and unpacking. The less I had to lug around, the better.
  
  Things I did not think I would get used to (I realised again) was an imaginery prison in my mind.
  
  I could get comfortable in my temporary home wherever I was, knowing that sense of home was within me, not the stuff I brought with me. This has been truly liberating.
  
  
• Less attachment to outcome, More ease in the unknown
  
  No plan, no answer and it’s okay
  
  From being someone who needs a plan and loves to execute one… to not knowing where I would be in the next 3 months, has trained me to become at ease in the unknown. As a result, I am less reactive when things don’t go according to plan … since there is no plan hahhaha only expectations of my mind.
  
  These days, I rarely take things personally. When certain doors close, that’s simply not the direction for me.
  
  This has really honed by ability to go with the flow. That’s not to say I am not kicking and screaming at times.
  
  
• More connected to nature
  
  When living in the concrete jungle becomes the norm, you don’t realise how disconnected you actually are. How many of us are truly happy sitting in an airconditioned office, at a desk, staring at a computer screen?
  
  There is something about waking up to the view of the ocean and mountains, that stirs up an aliveness within.
  
  When I’m out in nature, witnessing the night sky “up close” without bright city lights or the rising sun, there is a sense of awe and wonder that takes my breath away each time.
  
  In the silence and stillness, I can sense the trees breathing with me. This is when I feel the most alive and know that I am a part of Her.

Earthsong

In an organic landscape, as we venture into the moutains and waterfalls, we begin to hear the earth’s song. As we make space for silence, we learn to listen and feel the natural rhythms and energies of the Earth.

Let the earth stir up an ancient knowing within. Allow the beauty and majesty of the natural world you awaken a sense of awe and wonder, awakening a remembrance of your connection to her.

Join me for a transformational travel retreat in 2025. These are small group retreats, please book early to secure a spot.

Upcoming retreats
3D2N Penang, Malaysia < Meet your Inner Child > 7-9 Feb 2025
9D8N Cape Town + Cederberg, South Africa < Heartbeat of Africa > 7-15 May 2025
6D5N Glastonbury, UK < Avalon Awakening: Journey into Union > Sept 2025 (More details soon)