Tatiana Khodakova
Have you noticed how, when you’re abroad, you become a completely different person? And no, it’s not about a relaxed vacation mood. This transformation phenomenon even has a scientific name — travel self-expansion, or the expansion of one’s self through travel.
Travel isn’t just a change of scenery or a chance to take beautiful photos (though in our social-media era, you can’t go far without that). It’s, first and foremost, about expanding the self through new impressions and experiences.
Travel changes us in the most surprising ways. At home, you’re a night owl, but on a trip you suddenly enjoy waking up at dawn to see the city come alive, head out on an early excursion, or watch the sunrise on the shore and get a morning tan — safely obtained in the early hours. At home, queues irritate you, but on travels you patiently wait for a ticket to a famous museum or for a serving of gelato in Italy, seeing it all as part of the adventure.
Most importantly, you start trying new things without fear or doubt, whereas in familiar life your rule is to “measure seven times, cut once”.
Travel teaches us to break out of autopilot, to be spontaneous and open to the world. It transforms our habits and our attitude toward things that once seemed unshakeable. Far from routine, we gain ease, curiosity, and a willingness to change that gradually becomes part of our new, more flexible personality.
On travels, our brain works at full capacity: it absorbs new scents, bright colors, unfamiliar tastes, and the melody of a language we don’t know. This isn’t just information — it’s sensory overload in the best sense of the word.
When we’re in a familiar environment, our brain runs on autopilot. It saves energy by using familiar patterns and templates. But in a new setting it has to constantly process a huge amount of information, learn to recognize new signs, and adapt to unfamiliar circumstances. It is compelled to forge new neural connections to cope with this flow.
This very process is the expansion of the self. Our brain leaves sleep mode, becoming more flexible and creative. We learn to see the world from a new angle, and upon returning home we notice that the old routine no longer seems so gray. Travel gives us not only memories but a more rugged version of ourselves, ready for new challenges and discoveries.
In travel, the oft-quoted “here and now” ceases to be theoretical and becomes a natural state. When you go from point A to point B in an unfamiliar city, your awareness is at its peak. You realize that you not only need to reach point B, but also to return to point A — for example, to your hotel.
Therefore you begin noticing every detail: you memorize signs, pay attention to unusual buildings, and orient yourself at each intersection. Your attention is maximally focused on the moment, and mindfulness develops in the most natural way.
You may notice that even after long walks you don’t feel exhausted. Of course, physical fatigue can occur, but psychologically you’re full of energy. This happens because mindfulness gives you energy. You’re present in every moment of your day, fully living it. And that is what fills you, making travel not just a rest, but a true practice of self-discovery and fulfillment.
All of the above — mindfulness in unfamiliar city surroundings and the willingness to try new things — leads to your personality feeling stretched. You experience moments you wouldn’t even dream of at home: you make new acquaintances, make new choices, and view the world from a fresh perspective.
Travel isn’t just rest. It’s a deep reboot and growth. When you return home, you’re rested and often another person: more flexible, open, and confident. In this way, travel teaches you to be the creator of your life rather than drifting along in automatic reactions. Far from your usual routine, you begin making different decisions, facing surprises, and finding exits from atypical situations. It’s in these moments that you realize your life isn’t a prewritten script but the result of your own choices and actions. You become a director who writes your story here and now, instead of simply reacting to what happens.
So travel isn’t a waste of money. It may be one of the best investments in yourself, leading to a natural expansion of your “self” and making your life richer and more interesting.
Read also:
