10 Ways Travel Changes Your Perspective on Blessings, Comfort, and Calling

Traveling can influence and strengthen our attitude of gratitude. Seeing the differences between our home country and another makes us appreciate things like running water and comfortable couches. Seeing how other cultures express gratitude to others or God can also open our eyes to new ways to show appreciation. Getting a fresh perspective on gratitude can help in the following ways: 

Enhancing Empathy—Immersing ourselves in other cultures' expressions of gratitude fosters greater empathy. Learning how different people express gratitude helps us reconsider our assumptions, experiences, and biases, allowing us to grow more personally.

Broadening Our Perspectives- When we practice simple acts of kindness, it strengthens our relationships with others.

Increasing Our Resilience—Expressing gratitude to God for what he has done, is doing, and will do in our lives helps improve our resilience. Knowing we can count on him in every circumstance provides a solid foundation for when things get difficult.

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Most people find it difficult to get out of their comfort zones. However, God wants us to do this. Trying new things while on vacation is a great way to stretch our boundaries. There are different ways to do this, and as we explore God's world, we are invited to trust him on the journey.

Traveling- Going to unknown places can be nerve-wracking and exhilarating. It can be nerve-wracking to get to the destination, let alone not knowing what will happen when you arrive. It can be exciting to open yourself up to new possibilities.

Learning New Skills- This isn’t just at home or in your community. Take a chance while traveling and take a class to learn a new skill, or go jet skiing or parasailing for the first time. Try something new and learn some new skills.

Meeting New People- This can be extremely hard when you are an introvert and like to be alone. Instead of putting a lot of pressure on yourself, try saying ‘Hi’ to someone and see what happens. If they interact, awesome. If they don’t, it’s okay. You put yourself out there, and that’s all that matters.

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Meeting new people can be difficult, but when we overcome our fear, we will be pleased to discover that it can also be fun. You can meet many fantastic people when you are traveling who represent a variety of races, ethnicities, ages, etc. We better understand each other by getting to know people who differ from us. This helps everyone because it fosters things like:

Enhanced Creativity and Innovation- Great things happen when different people try to figure out a problem or create something.

Deeper Understanding and Empathy—Hearing stories about people’s experiences can change our prejudices and stereotypes. We can step into each other’s shoes and view life through their lenses.

Stronger Problem-Solving Skills—By working together, diverse people can examine a problem from different angles and devise a splendid solution.

Cultural Appreciation and Learning—Knowing those different from us allows us to appreciate their traditions, values, and practices. This enriches our lives and makes us more well-rounded people.

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Sometimes, going on vacation leads us to contemplate and figure out something that has been bothering us or a change we need to make. It could be trying to figure out our purpose. It’s essential to embrace the unplanned, stay open to opportunities, and learn from detours. You may wind up finding your purpose on vacation by…

• Helping find a lost pet may inspire you to start your animal shelter.
• Maybe you help fix someone’s car and realize that you need to turn your vehicle fixing skills into a business.
• Spending time with your kids and other children may inspire you to go into teaching.

You never know what God has in store for you and how he may realize your purpose and calling. So keep an open mind and heart and listen closely.

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In our busy lives, we hardly ever appreciate nature and the beautiful things God has made for us. Many of us look outside to see what the weather is doing, and that’s it. How often do we notice the brilliant blue sky on a sunny day or the creatures playing in our backyards?

While traveling, take the time to admire nature and all that God has made for us. Don't just focus on the GPS as you drive from state to state. Notice the unique landscapes as you enter and leave each state. Pay attention to birds flying in the air, livestock in fields, and critters playing in the grass. Instead of blasting the air conditioning, roll down the windows and breathe some fresh air.

When you get to where you’re going, do the same. Look at the scenery outside your hotel window. Don’t focus on traffic or the surrounding landmarks; concentrate on the surrounding terrain. A few years back, I went to California to visit, and the next morning, when we woke up, I could see a giant mountain in the distance outside our window. I hadn’t seen a mountain in years. If you rent an Airbnb, spend some time on the porch with coffee or tea, and enjoy the surrounding nature.

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There are all kinds of ways that travel can open us up to transformative experiences that shape our beliefs.

Being around diverse people—Being around people who differ from us helps shape or reshape our beliefs, stereotypes, and prejudices about people. We can also make some fantastic friends.

Personal Growth—When we try something new or do something new, we get out of our comfort zones and learn a lot about ourselves. We learn our limits and strengths, and learn to believe in ourselves. Also, when we face challenges like language barriers, lost luggage, double-booked rooms, etc., it challenges us to grow in how we adapt and react to things.

Mindfulness and Reflection-Travel lets us slow down and reflect on our lives, relationships, plans, and goals. In new surroundings, we can focus on what’s really important. Many people come back from traveling with a whole new perspective on things.

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Everyone dreams of the perfect vacation with no detours and no delays. Those who live in immense cities deal with that enough daily. However, this isn’t always how it goes. Instead of getting irate and frustrated by detours and delays, embrace them. The detour you need to take may take you by a restaurant you want to stop and try, or that gas station you didn’t know you needed until you looked at your gas gauge, or a shop that specializes in a passion you have, like comic books, knitting, pottery, etc. As for delays, embrace them too. God may set you up to be in the right place at the right time to help someone.

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Journaling is a powerful tool to anchor our thoughts, emotions, and reflections. Black and white entries allow us to reread our writing whenever we desire. Journaling not only helps us understand our external adventures in life, but it also helps us understand ourselves. Before you leave for your travels, grab a journal and add the following;

• Prayers for your journey.
• Prayer requests for your journey so that you can continue to pray for friends, family, etc.
• What are you looking forward to on vacation?
• How God has answered your prayers lately.
• Remember to write down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences during vacation while you’re in the moment.
• Reflect on the way home and thank God for what he showed/revealed to you in prayer and the opportunities he provided while you were traveling.

Keeping a journal will help you make sense of the blur that was your trip later.

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If you are traveling to another country and feel the call to serve, volunteer to help when you get there. Before you go, please get in contact with a U.S. organization that serves in the part of the world you are going to and sign up with them. There are all kinds of areas where you can volunteer.

• Teaching and Education
• Healthcare and Medical Aid
• Environmental Conservation
• Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Aid.

Of course, some of these areas will require more skills than others, like healthcare and medical aid. Still, your help will be appreciated.

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Traveling helps us grow by expanding our horizons, experiencing new cultures, and gaining new perspectives on life’s challenges. It can also rekindle our love and appreciation of home.

Upon returning from your trip, take some time to reflect and decide what you want to change in your life for the better. Find opportunities for change, build closer relationships, and be more grateful every day.

Travel enriches our lives, ‌fostering empathy, curiosity, and the yearning to get to know others. It also reminds us that our blessings, comfort, and calling intertwine to show us God's plans for us. As you are getting ready for your next trip, take the time to relax, enjoy the world around you, and listen closely to God’s voice.

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