How to Travel with Purpose from the Inside-Out?

Hello friends,

This is my first blog post aligned with the reel series "Travel with Purpose", which was long overdue.

If you're wondering where I've been, a lot has happened, but you can also scroll down into the topic if this is less relevant to you. After starting a new job 6 months ago, I'm finally reaching the end of my probation. Yes, this is a thing in Germany, and during these months, you are practically being evaluated if you are suitable for the job, which also means less job security. Sincerely, losing my job has not been a big fear, especially because I find myself responsible and dedicated when taking on a new challenge; however, what has been more important to me is ensuring that I am good at what I am doing. In my day-to-day corporate job, I lead teams of 10+ people, so the mix of leading self and leading others requires a lot of focus, which in turn has taken a toll on my time to grow my retreats business in parallel and provide you with the relevant info.

Additionally, traveling hasn't been at the top of my mind either, except for occasional weekend trips or business trips to the US. In a way, I never stopped traveling, just for different purposes. Still, equally, a part of my travel was inside myself. In 2024, I had a big year of exploration around who I truly am and what I like; I improved my self-awareness massively and eventually stepped into 2025 with a lot of curiosity and optimism to continue this journey - and a bit of healthy fear every now and then because that is human too! Oh, and yes, I made mistakes on the way, but what would life be without mistakes? It's fascinating how each mistake opens up a different little box inside us and paves the way to evolution and a better self. 

Here I am, finally feeling that I have my groove back! So let's get into our topic - Travel with Purpose. 

What does Travel with Purpose mean?

Traveling with purpose involves aligning your journey with a deeper intention. It's about going beyond sightseeing to engage in activities that are personally meaningful or have a meaningful impact.

How do I define what type of travel with purpose suits me?

Asking yourself thoughtful and introspective questions can help clarify what type of purposeful travel aligns best with your personal goals, interests, and values. Here's a guide to help you discover the ideal travel experience for self-growth and fulfillment:

Understanding Your Intentions

1. What do I hope to achieve through this trip?

   • Self-discovery, healing, relaxation, connection, skill-building, adventure, or giving back?

2. Where do I see a gap in my current life that this journey could help me address?

   • Balance, clarity, inspiration, or a sense of purpose?

Aligning with Your Values

1. What aspects of life bring me the most joy or fulfillment?

   • Nature, culture, learning, spirituality, creativity, food, sports or community?

2. Are there causes or values I deeply care about that I'd like to explore further?

   • Sustainability, mindfulness, social justice, or wellness?

Exploring Your Current Needs

1. Am I looking to disconnect or reconnect?

   • Disconnect from technology/stress or reconnect with myself, others, or nature?

2. What type of experience would nourish me right now?

   • Physical healing, emotional renewal, mental stimulation, physical activity or spiritual grounding?

3. Am I seeking solitude, community, or a mix of both?

Evaluating Interests and Comfort Zones

1. What types of activities have I always wanted to try or explore?

   • Yoga, volunteering, creative arts, cooking, hiking, or learning new skills?

2. Am I open to stepping out of my comfort zone, or do I need a more familiar experience?

   • International travel, immersive cultural experiences, or a local experience?

Understanding Practicalities

1. How much time and energy can I realistically commit to this trip?

   • A weekend, a week, or longer?

2. What are my budget constraints?

   • Luxurious, moderate, or minimalist?

3. Are there specific locations I've always felt drawn to?

   • Mountains, beaches, cities, or remote wilderness?

Aligning with the Purpose of Travel

1. Do I want to give back or contribute during my travels?

   • Volunteering, teaching, or conservation work?

2. Do I want to learn or gain new skills?

   • Attending workshops, joining a retreat, or participating in cultural exchanges?

3. Am I seeking to heal or transform in some way?

   • Through wellness practices, spiritual guidance, or self-reflection?

Identifying the Best Fit

Once you've answered these questions, reflect on the patterns and themes in your responses. They will help you identify the most suitable form of purposeful travel, such as:

• Wellness Retreats: For healing, self-discovery, and relaxation.

• Adventure Travel: To explore and step out of your comfort zone.

• Volunteering or Impact Travel: To give back and create meaningful connections.

• Creative Journeys: To nurture artistic passions and self-expression.

• Cultural Immersion: To learn from and engage deeply with a new culture.

• etc.

Internal and External Experiences

Sometimes, my friends, the right external experiences can send you on a deep internal journey toward yourself. There is something I've been told by a friend, and that is that we, as humans, are born perfect. Various experiences in life from childhood to who we are today make us feel, at times, flawed, and maybe we are. The real problem is when we're unaware of those flaws; consequently, we allow them to affect our lives and maybe others. Eventually, it comes down to reaching that self-awareness where you genuinely see those flaws and understand the triggers behind them. I am sure you have heard of attachment styles if I am to give here an example. But this is not what this post is about. Specific external experiences are the right environment for those AHA moments - So why am I like this, and does it benefit me and those around me? Finding ourselves requires a great foundation, which leads me to this trend of 2025, which will be Holistic Healing. The best way to explore your inner world is when you go back to your true essence - embrace nature, clean eating, community, and time with yourself with little to no distractions. It is only then when you truly become your authentic self, when no one is watching. Another way is to blindly continue your path through life and experience, which will trigger you in many ways and forms. Still, sadly, without the right tools, you may find yourself in a perpetual cycle of making the same mistakes over and over again and losing your true essence. So there we go, traveling with purpose is an additional way to give you the right tools to run a meaningful life, on top of your therapist (yep, you might still need that, especially nowadays with so much going on).

What do I love the most about traveling with purpose?

It's difficult to explain as you must live such experiences to understand truly. After days of clean routines, the internal peace you are feeling is so great to the degree that it gets emotional -  wow, I never felt like this. And with such an empty mind, you create a perfect environment for creativity and a better self. It becomes clearer to you what you want to do next. You love yourself more, accept yourself more, and realize that you are happy enough. When you are happy enough, people and careers are things that can make you happier. Still, once they are gone from your life for whatever reason, you are back to happy enough instead of feeling miserable because, as a human being, you are fairly complete.

Note here: I am not promoting solitude, nor do I believe it isn't beautiful to be surrounded by friends, experience a great partner's love, or have a great job. That is absolutely beautiful and ideal. If someone or a situation disappoints you or you lose your job for whatever reason that is not under your control, your universe isn't scattered into pieces because you have a beautiful, harmonious life. 

My friends, to be honest, a retreat or a solo trip won't solve everything, but it's a means to an end. I've been working on myself for years—through holistic nutrition courses, yoga, therapy, a lot of reading, and retreats. But you gotta start somewhere! 

The Coming Back 

This is one of the most important steps that most of us disregard but is not less important than the travel with purpose itself. When doing my yoga certification, I remember how our teachers emphasized the importance of keeping certain routines in your daily life. And take this with a pinch of salt, of course, you can't wake up on the most beautiful tropical island every day unless you're one of the lucky ones who does, but if you are like me, living in a bustling city, you must bring that beautiful island to your life, internationally. Stop running all the time in the search for dopamine. No matter how busy you are, you can still ensure your house is a little corner of happiness with nice plants and great smells. You can still find time for a morning workout, yoga, meditation, or a quick, healthy, and nutritious salad. You make sure you do that "YOU" type of stuff at least a few times a week. Nowadays, many yoga studios offer beautiful rooms for relaxation if you can't find that space at home. Treat yourself to a sauna, with a massage every now and then. And leave that FOMO at home because the most important thing is YOU, and it all STARTS with you, my friends.

Love,

Your Retreatwanderess