Posted by Yara Coelho on Mar 2, 2014 in Inspirational |

Travel inspiration – Can traveling really make you a happier person?

A travel inspiration article that will brighten your day. Can traveling bring happiness into your life?

Nowadays there’s a boom of travel bloggers and lifestyle design has never been so popular, inspiring others to quit their jobs and chase the dream. But will that really make you happier?

NO, IT DOES NOT!

Wait… traveling the world and living adventures will not make me happy? How come?

I have been traveling for longer than most travel bloggers and during these 16 years I’ve experienced most of the good and the bad of living an unstable, unpredictable life. I admit that probably 95% of it is wonderful, but then there is a downside to it too. And it’s not for everyone, specially the long term, nomadic lifestyle.

Ayurvedic medicine – the classical and traditional Medicine from India – is very clear as far the 3 constitutional types of people, which includes the physical, mental and spiritual structure of each individual:

* The fire type

*the earth type

* the wind type

The Wind types, are the nomadic, the travelers, the explorers. They need to move like the wind and expand their horizons. Those are the ones who feel the pressure when they’re stuck in a place for a long time. They need the free movement and constant fluidity to be happy. They get bored easily, so excitment and creativity are vital for them. These are the types that burn out the fastest, usually slimmer than all the other types and sometimes hiper active.

The earth type – These are the folks who love stability and routine. They love to gain roots, just like a tree and feel extremely happy to be part of a small but tight community. They need to plan their life and have security in all areas. They’re not really into traveling or epic adventures, they’d rather find enjoyment in every day life. They have a very solid structured life. They tend to feel lonely and lost out of their comfort zone and have a hard time adapting to new situations.

The fire type – The fire types are the natural born leaders. Highly intellectual and organized, they’re the typical tourist who carries their maps, GPS, lists of things to see and do, a total travel plan and itinerary. Everything is planed to the minimum detail to make sure nothing is left unseen. They love to see new things, but need a stable home to come back to.

Traveling brings excitement and stimulation, but not happiness. Happiness is a state of mind, a peaceful inner state that doesn’t require any geographic location of stimulation to be present. Many people travel to escape something. Happiness has to come from within, there’s no country, culture or exotic food that can offer happiness. That is something you have to work out yourself.

Can traveling enrich, fulfill you life and make you grow as a person? Definitely! No questions about it!

When you travel you’re more likely to meet like-minded folks who will turn into good friends. You’ll be exposed to other realities, other cultures, other ways of viewing the world. You’ll get out of your comfort zone and get your boundaries pushed every single day and that’s where growth comes from. From the challenge! From the adventure and from feeling deeply alive!

The world is a big school, probably the most dynamic one you will ever stumble upon. But if you’re unhappy and empty inside, it can actually add more loneliness to you life and make you feel lost, drifting from place to place.

Happiness is deeply rooted in inter-relation with other people. Traveling can help you understand it and work on it. Some of the happiest people I’ve seen in my life , were Indians. Some of them living in extreme poverty, but always seemed to be happy somehow. They live in tight communities and have no idea what loneliness and isolation means. Some of the happiest people in the world are not the wealthiest ones, nor the ones that travel the most… the happiest people are usually the ones who understand that without deep relations of friendship and love, nothing else will matter.

“Happiness is about finding your place in the world and within your community.”

Although most travel bloggers don’t talk about it, there are lonely times during our travels. Sometimes, I feel like I know people all over the world, from all walks of life, but… I actually have very few long term friends, because I never stay long enough in a place to form that deep bond. And it’s hard sometimes. It’s hard to go back home and realize all your friends married and have kids, have no time for you anymore, that life moved on and you’re far from you fellow travel friends. Sometimes I do feel un-rooted.

I’m definitely the wind type. I thrive out of my comfort zone, I adapt extraordinarily easy, I need the freedom of movement, but… That comes with a price.

Overall happy people are the ones who cultivate their dreams, follow their passions, find meaningful and strong connections with others and appreciate life no matter where they are, or what lifestyle they choose to life.

And you? Which constitutional type are you? Do you think you need to travel to be happy?

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