Debunking 5 Myths about 'Transformational Travel'

by TTC Co-Founder, Michael Bennett, Ed.D.

—

The term ‘transformational travel’ (or TT) has become more and more  commonplace in the travel vernacular over the past several years.  Thanks in large part to the tremendous work of organizations such as  The Transformational Travel Council, more and more people are  beginning to shift how they see, approach, and engage with a travel experience. 

Still, there is a degree of confusion about what ‘transformational travel’ is, who it’s for, and, perhaps most importantly, how to ‘do it.’ This  article is a brief attempt to define what I believe transformational  travel means and dispel some of the myths about it.  

Before diving into debunking the myths, let’s start by defining what I mean by the term ‘transformational travel.’ From where I sit, any travel  experience that inspires people to create positive change in their lives,  their communities, and the world is worthy of being called ‘life changing’ or ‘transformational.’ 

I also believe that taking a more ‘mindful’ approach to travel – being  more intentional, preparing both our mind and body for the journey  ahead, practicing curiosity, and taking time for reflection and meaning making – significantly increases the likelihood that we realize the  growth or change that we may be seeking.  

That is how I define the work that I do: My personal mission in life is  to guide people on an exciting and inspiring ‘Inner Journey’ of learning,  growth, and change as they embark on this wonderful ‘Outer Journey’  of exploration and discovery that we know and love … the adventure  of travel.  

With all of that said, let’s begin tackling those myths, shall we?

MYTH #1 

You have to be a spiritual guru or deep into the ‘woo’ to have a ‘transformational travel’  experience. 

There’s no doubt that there are many people that are more  spiritual than others and who are looking for a deeper level of  change or transformation in their lives as a result of their travels.  We call them ‘Seekers’ and love working with them! But most  people who are interested in TT tend to fall into 2 buckets.  

First, there are those who are feeling some degree of discontent,  frustration, stuckness, confusion, or any other unwanted emotion  and are looking to disconnect, hit the RESET button, and find  answers to the questions they have been pondering at home ...  and they look to travel to help create the space needed to do this  work. Mind you, they are regular folks like you and me: Not  spiritual gurus, per see, but people who are looking for a more  meaningful experience of life ... the experience of being alive! 

The second group we get often are those who don’t have any  specific challenge, opportunity, or question that they are working  on but instead simply love to travel because it always gives them  the opportunity to learn and grow. These people see travel as an  art form and are constantly looking for ways to deepen their  practice; the tools, resources, and expertise we provide are just  what they are craving!  

The bottom line: Anyone looking for growth, learning, and/or  change can have a life-changing travel experience if you are  willing to go a little deeper and travel a little more intentionally.

MYTH #2 

You need to create dramatic changes in your life in order for a travel experience to be considered ‘life-changing’ or ‘transformational.’ 

Many people who come to us believe that in order to have a  ‘transformational’ or ‘life-changing’ travel experience, they need  to quit their jobs, end their relationships, abandon their loved  ones, move to Nepal, shave their head, become a Buddhist monk,  and start a non-profit.  

Obviously, this is not the case.  

In fact, most people that have a transformational travel  experience do come home feeling inspired to make changes in  their life … but these are overwhelmingly small changes to their  daily routines or lives that ultimately lead to BIG impacts for them  and for those around them. Some common examples include  beginning a meditation practice, signing up for a cooking class or  joining a yoga studio, launching a side-hustle business that has  been a dream for years, or simply committing to spending more  time with nature, loved ones, or even themselves.  

The bottom line: Most people make small changes in their lives  as a result of their travel experiences, and these small changes  often have really positive impacts on their overall experience of  life, their families and communities, and the world!

MYTH #3 

Travel can transform who you are. 

This one may be a little more hotly debated, as there are many  people out there who believe that travel can fundamentally shift  who you are.  

I believe that travel doesn’t change who you are – your values,  character, strengths, etc. – but rather helps reveal who you are,  something that has likely been covered over with layers of  expectations and ‘shoulds’ and conditioning and other crap for  years and years.  

And, as we become increasingly aware of not only who we are  but what we want in life and what our passions truly are, etc., we  begin to re-prioritize everything from work to relationships to our  overall feeling of aliveness.  

The result? We end up making small changes (see Myth #2) that  have big impacts on our lives and the lives of those around us.  And these impacts shift the experience of life we are having from  one of ‘Meh’ to one of ‘Hell Yeah!’ 

The bottom line: We don’t believe that travel changes who you  are as much as it helps you transform who you are being in your  life and, ultimately, the experience of life you are having!

MYTH #4 

Travel will automatically shift perspectives and  transform your life ... Sit back and enjoy the ride! 

Yes, traveling does expose us to new cultures, people, ideas, and  ways of living. And, yes, those new cultures and ideas, etc., can  very well form the foundation of what we would call a life changing experience. But simply hopping in your car or on a plane  and relocating yourself from one place to another will not  automatically lead to life-changing shifts in perspective or any of  the other amazing benefits of travel.  

If you want to experience any degree of learning, growth, or  change from travel, you need to more mindfully engage with the  experience. My favorite travel practices include following the  PATH (Preparation, Adventure, Think, Honor) and traveling with  HEART (Humility, Engagement, Awake, Resilient, and Thankful).  

Note: You can learn more about these practices on the TTC website. 

In doing so, we give ourselves the best chance to not only have a  fun and exciting travel experience but a life-changing one as well! 

The bottom line: You need to approach and engage with a travel  experience in a deeper and more mindful way if you want to reap  its full benefits!

MYTH #5 

You need to go on a ‘transformational travel’ trip to create real change in your life. 

Just as travel will not automatically transform who you are or how  you are living, going on a trip marketed as ‘transformational  travel’ is neither necessary (nor sufficient) to have a life-changing  experience.  

First of all, we all make changes in our lives each and every day  that have nothing to do with travel, so no, travel is not a  prerequisite for change.  

Secondly, let’s not lose sight of the fact that many people have  used travel as a catalyst for creating powerful new behaviors,  perspectives, and actions in their lives without ever going on a  ‘transformational travel’ trip.  

TTC offers you the tools and resources (ex: The Transformational Travel Journal), all inspired by a healthy mix of ancient wisdom  and modern science, that can guide and support you as you  embark on your Inner Journey.  

The bottom line: While you can have a transformational travel  experience without traveling with a TTC Ally, embracing basic TT  concepts and traveling more intentionally certainly increases the likelihood that you will have the life-changing experience that  you are looking for, whatever that means for you. 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

There is no doubt that travel offers increased opportunities for  us to have ‘disruptive’ experiences – experiences that invite us to  question long-held beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world.  As a result, travel is ripe with the potential for not only  excitement and adventure but also personal discovery, learning,  growth, and change.  

But at the end of the day, it is up to us to embrace this ‘Inner  Journey’ as much as we do the ‘Outer Journey.’ It is up to us to  travel more mindfully and to make the most of our time on the  road by implementing small but powerful changes in our lives  when we get home.  

When we do, we will not only be deepening and developing our  own travel practice, but also doing our best to change our lives  and make an impact on the world around us! 

—Michael Bennett, Ed.D.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michael Bennett, Ed.D. 

Once described as “a disarmingly earnest combination of spiritual  guru and travel agent with a strange obsession with Joseph  Campbell,” Michael is a seasoned traveler, speaker, consultant,  educator, and entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to  inspiring, guiding, and supporting others in becoming the Hērō of  their own story. He is a recognized thought-leader in the travel  industry and has been quoted in The New York Times, The  Washington Post, Forbes, Skift, Shape, Vox.com, USAToday, and  Seattle Met among other publications.  

Michael earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware and his MBA and Ed.D. from Pepperdine University. He is a Co-Founder of the Transformational Travel Council and Explorer X.

—