Have you ever wondered whether travel shapes your identity or whether the converse holds more water? Well, as studies show, both ideas are true. On the one hand, travelling exposes us to new perspectives, thus giving us room to redefine who we are. On the other hand, our identities determine the choices that we make when it comes to travel. This guide looks at the dynamic relationship between the two, thus helping you understand how they influence each other and to what degree.
Does Travel Shape Your Identity?
Travelling is more than just moving from one place to another. Instead, as any traveller will tell you, it soon becomes a part of how we define who we are, from frequent flyers to wanderers to migrants and digital nomads. All these identities come down to the journeys we undertake. Of course, none of these would be possible without the invisible support systems that keep aeroplanes in the air, such as engine stands, which enable the ground crew to repair, maintain, and overhaul the plane’s engines. You can learn more here. Thanks to these amazing systems and other infrastructure, we get to see the world, and this shapes who we are. How so?
To start with, travel exposes us to different ways of life. From new cultures to languages and landscapes, we get to broaden our perspectives from what we already know to what else is out there. Not only does this challenge the assumptions we have about the world, but it also teaches us to be more empathetic towards others and to adapt to new ways of life.
Secondly, travel resets us. Away from home, we no longer have to conform to societal roles and routines. So, we finally get to ask ourselves who we really are when we are not following the paths others have carved out for us. As such, we can use these opportunities to live more authentically.
Most of all, we learn to be resilient. Travel tests us in all sorts of ways, and we have to think on our feet to solve problems and deal with uncertainty. This resilience shows up in our lives long after we have come home, as we soon realise just how capable we are.
The Impact of Identity on Travel
Did you know that the way you define yourself influences the travel decisions that you make? Let’s start with your choice of destination. If you see yourself as a backpacker, you may choose to take the road less travelled. Yet if you see yourself as the kind of person who wines and dines in high-end resorts, you are likely to seek out destinations that offer such luxurious experiences. These decisions come down to your values, interests, and background.
Additionally, your identity plays a role in how you perceive cultural experiences. Say you are a certified foodie. You may choose to check out the restaurants in town, whereas an artistic person may gravitate towards museums and art centres. As such, you may both be in the same location but will have entirely different experiences.
And last but not least, your identity determines who you travel with. Introverts will happily go solo while extroverts are more likely to choose group trips. These choices determine the experiences you have while away, which can either help you in your self-discovery journey or hamper your willingness to go down that road.
The Dynamism
At the end of the day, travel and identity have a cyclical interplay. We travel to learn more about ourselves, yet who we are determines the decisions we make while travelling. It is quite the interesting interplay, don’t you think?
Photo: Freepik via their website.
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