A Zen master once wisely stated, “Life gives us exactly the teacher we need at any moment.” They remind us that every experience, whether big or small, serves as a teacher in the classroom of life. It is in these moments that we have the opportunity to learn and grow, to find meaning in the mundane, and to discover the extraordinary in the ordinary. Learning begins with experience, but transformative travel can lead to a lifelong relationship between learning and discovery.
At Create Joy, we wholeheartedly embrace this transformative travel philosophy and believe that travel provides our clients access to a wide array of educational and immersive experiences. In this blog, we’ll explore how our holistic approach to transformational and Goal-oriented Travel (G.O.T) can help you to become a more active and engaged participant and student of life.
ENTRY TO LIFE’S CLASSROOM
Our journey through life is filled with countless scenarios and situations to evolve our understanding of the world in which we live. As the Zen master suggested, we can learn from “every mosquito bite, every red light, every joy, and every sorrow”. This extends to our travels. Whether we are visiting new places, or simply stepping out of our regular routines, travel brings about unique opportunities to glean knowledge and wisdom from the world around us.
Imagine how your senses come alive in different environments–that magic that surrounds you when exploring cultural sites or expansive landscapes. Or, maybe you become inspired by a street painter or a local chef, and want to branch out with training and workshops in this area of interest. It could even be the slightest interaction or connection that makes you understand some universal truth about what is meaningful to you in relationship to others.
Our travel planning approach and process aligns with the Transformational Travel Council’s foundationational framework, which is rooted in values of mindfulness and self-awareness, the development of healthy interpersonal relationships and systems, environmental stewardship and community involvement. We encourage you to reflect on what you hope to gain from your travels and how you can contribute to the places you visit. As you explore the world, you’ll have countless opportunities to learn, connect, and find purpose. In turn, your travel experiences will become not just about the destinations you have visited, but will be remembered as places deeply linked to invaluable life lessons.
THE ROLE OF REFLECTION
We have focused a lot already on our approach and process around connecting you to transformational travel experiences, but we have not fully delved into the important and necessary role reflection plays, both in your daily life and while you are traveling.
Tools for reflection come in all forms. You may prefer a pocket journal, a yoga mat, or using various art mediums. A couple of exercises that I have found useful in my regular reflection practice, is making a gratitude list, and a learning list. With a gratitude list, I write out at the end of the day 5-10 things I am most grateful for. With a learning list, I take notes throughout the course of the day of the new things I have learned, or would like to continue to learn, at a later time. This could be a new word for something, a recipe, or a historical/literary reference. What is nice about writing things down is that you can always go back to these lists when you are searching for inspiration, or want to reconnect with a time or event in your life.
In the buzz of modern life, we often overlook the profound moments and meaningful connections that are presented to us. Taking time to reflect while traveling and afterward allows us to process our experiences, understand the impact of cultural encounters, and deepen our connection to the places we visit, as well as our empathy for others. And it is through reflection, travelers can acquire valuable insights, appreciate the beauty of diverse cultures and perspectives, and ultimately find more meaning in our experiences.
Working with Create Joy, you will find that we encourage reflection as a centering practice while traveling, and we will furnish you with a journal filled with prompts specific to your personal growth journey. This journal can be used during and after your trip, or we will together find the right reflection tool that will fit your needs and preferences. We have found that having a designated tool or activity to process and document one’s feelings and experiences is impactful in its own way, but it also gives us a better understanding of how to shape your travel goals in the future, as you learn and grow.
A LIFE-LONG OF LEARNING
We come into this world primed and open to learning and growth. Travel, like reflection practices, can be a remarkable tool for self-discovery and furthering one’s understanding of the world. Create Joy’s approach and process to travel planning focuses on personal growth goals and intentions with a commitment to educating, motivating, inspiring, and preparing our clients with the most relevant resources and information. We are on a mission to empower our clients and help them to become life-long learners.
As you embark on your travels, remember that every moment and interaction is an opportunity to expand your knowledge, gain perspective, and nurture mindfulness and self-awareness. Embrace each journey with an open heart and a curious mind, and you’ll find that the lessons you gather along the way are abundant and limitless, and they can be found anywhere you look.