Finding yourself whilst travelling: is it a myth?

When I returned from solo travelling for the first time, many people rolled their eyes and jokingly asked if I had ‘found myself’. It was clear, however, that the person that had left was not the same person who had returned. Before travelling, I was in the midst of experiencing my first heartbreak and was lacking self-esteem. Afterwards, I had a newfound confidence, became more self-reliant and felt a new lease of life run through my veins. 

Whilst I think you can find yourself along the adventure, I firmly believe that the experience is what you make of it. If you take the opportunity to go travelling then that is great start, but if you fail to go outside your comfort zone, make new connections and embrace cultures whilst you’re out there, then how can you possibly grow or gain an organic, full experience? 

It is vital to remember that travelling is not all sunshine, parties, and new friends. Sometimes you will have to sit alone, reflect and ask hard questions: why do I feel this way? When I return how can I become a better person? What are my values? How does my privileged life back at home differ to the people in this country? Can I make a positive difference in this world? 

Whatever the questions may be, travelling provides you with a solitary opportunity to address the person you present to the world versus your inner monologue. It opens a portal to explore the potential person you could be. There is a prospect to regain perspective so that when you return home you have a new way to approach the challenges that arise in life. 

Those who discourage the link between travelling and self-discovery may ask if it’s possible to truly discover who we are, or do we just become improved versions of ourselves overtime? Rene Girard’s theory of memetic desire teaches us that our wants are not truly our own but an imitation of others; therefore, the desire to go travelling to ‘find ourselves’ could be a desire to find inner peace we have seen others adopt along their own journey. So, is it about self-gratification or a desire to become a better person in society?

Is finding yourself a myth? I don’t think so. As social creatures we have a natural desire to improve our interpersonal relationships, and travel provides an opportunity for individuals to explore new avenues and live outside ‘normal’ day to day structures. How could one connect with these new experiences and not find new parts of themselves?