Are you yourself when you're miles away from home, or are you a different person entirely? For most of us, traveling brings out a version of ourselves that we don't always recognize: someone braver, bolder, and more willing to try new experiences. But why does this happen?
As you'll see, the answer is right in front of us. After all, being so far away from home means not only is everything unfamiliar and new, but we're also an unknown face to everyone we meet—and that combination of freedom and anonymity can push us to new heights.
Different Cultures and Etiquette
When we're halfway across the world in a country we've never been to, we're in full exploration mode. Everything we're used to at home could be completely different, from the things we eat to the way we dress and the way we talk. And what are we to do abroad if not immerse ourselves in the local culture?
Because of this mindset, we're naturally much more open-minded and curious. We might, for one, try to converse with locals in their mother tongue, despite our limited knowledge of it, or adjust our manners to fit into the accepted customs. Take, for example, taking off our shoes indoors or sleeping on futons (Japanese-style bedding) in ryokans (traditional Japanese inns). Stepping into an entirely different place forces us outside of our comfort zones, making us more likely to lean into the adventure than shy away from it.
Chasing Experiences
When everything feels new, we're more determined to chase after the experiences they bring us, good or bad. Plus, if you're only in a city for a two-week trip, you have limited time to enjoy yourself. Why spend so much time caring about doing something wrong or right, when you should be more focused on doing them at all? If this is the only time you'll ever get to visit your bucket-list destination, you might as well make the most of it, even if that means potentially embarrassing yourself.
So you take the detours. You go on scenic hikes. You hop on a Vespa and weave around heavy traffic instead of taking a taxi. After all, when the opportunities are there for you to take, why wouldn't you follow where they guide you?
Distance Makes the Heart Grow...Bolder?
Another reason why you often feel bolder when you're traveling abroad? You're a stranger there. You barely know anyone, save for maybe your hotel's concierge staff. And when you're practically invisible, you feel more invincible.
Because of that, you're much more likely to say "yes" to things you'll normally decline. You're more likely to strike up conversations with other people, attend a local event on your own, and be ourselves more freely. Even if you embarrass yourself, no one knows you, anyway. After you leave, you'll never have to worry about it again, either. (Unless, of course, you fall in love with the city so much that you start visiting it frequently.)
All of this means you'll have better, once-in-a-lifetime stories to share once you're back home. But there's another thing to take away from all of this: If traveling abroad gives you the space and freedom to tap into different parts of yourself and step into the version of you that feels braver, what's stopping you from bringing that courageous side home and letting it shape how you live your everyday life?
