A Guide to Travelling Mindfully

the motoroamers

A Guide to Travelling Mindfully

Navigating mindfully through the bad days

“We often hold this notion that when we move house, change our job or the car that magically things will shift, that life will somehow transform into the land of our dreams.”

Sat in the wilds of Transylvania, we have a moment of stillness to reflect on what has been a challenging couple of weeks and make sense of all the events that have unfolded.  It’s been a bit odd really as it feels a bit like having a favourite sandwich; some fabulous experiences in the middle of some personally and financially stretching events. The unexpected storm tonight seems to match with my mood, as my mind races erratically like a tempestuous teenager, reviewing the series of challenges we have had to deal with. It causes me to reflect on my own learning and the dualities of a nomadic life and our travel choices.

The magic of change

“It is such a romantic notion to run away into the sunset and travel aimlessly, being guided by the wind, your intuition or the warmth of the sun.”

We often hold this ideal that when we move house, change our job or the car that magically things will shift; that life will somehow transform into the land of our dreams.  And it is true, that for a time, it will certainly feel different, may-be even better. It could last a week, a month or a few years.  Although the reality is that there is no complete escape – because life still vibrates around us, the clocks still chime and the earth still revolves.

The same happens when we decide to travel.  Whether we choose backpacking around the world, an exciting sponsored-trip to the jungle or embark on a 3 month tour of Europe in a camper, we don’t escape life, we simply change the parameters within which we choose to live.

It is such a romantic notion to run away into the sunset and travel aimlessly, being guided by the wind, your intuition or the warmth of the sun. And it is a privileged and wonderful life, there’s no doubting that.  How amazing is it to swap the routine of the Home, Work, Shops triangle for the sound of wolves in the mountain depths of Bulgaria or the crashing waves of the azure Grecian seas?  I certainly wouldn’t swap.

Yet whilst we may find the courage to change our lives beyond recognition and, to use that cliché, ‘live the dream’ there is another perspective that must be packed into the suitcase of our new life choices – called the shadow.

As there is day, there too must be night, where the sun shines, the rain too must fall.  The shadow exists as part of the duality of life and is not intended as a gloomy insight, just an aspect of life that, with awareness can keep us rooted into the reality of this beautiful, challenging and crazy world. Knowing the shadow exists can maintain our nomadic sanity

Amidst the joy of waking up in a new land with evocative smells of the local street food or the prospect of walking to the local bakery for your morning’s croissant, we need to be mindful of the shadow’s role in throwing challenges, problems and crises our way.  I’m not suggesting that we keep this as such a strong focus that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, although if we can just ‘keep our heads, when all around us are loosing theirs..’ to quote Kipling, then surely our travelling experiences will be all the richer.

The problem with shadow’s presence on our travels is that it can cause us to get lost in fear, stress and anxiety, none of which are healthy places at any time, least of all whilst we are away from home.  So what if we could apply some techniques for navigating these difficulties more smoothly, which would allow us to return to the business of seeking adventures?

Tips for Travelling Mindfully and navigating the bad days

There are so many things we can do to prevent the travellers’ droop and the risk of our dreams crashing to the floor.  Here are my mindful insights, based on our recent stretching experiences:

  1. Acceptance.  Let’s face it, bad days will happen from time to time.  We could well have something stolen, a laptop damaged by a freak storm, an uncomfortable interaction, an accident that damages our vehicle or break pads that need changing in a country of a strangers. And of course Banks still need to be dealt with, Insurance firms want us to jump through hoops when making a claim and compliance to the System’s rules keep a loose thread around us.  Health issues are bound to crop up and stuff back home still needs our loving support and encouragement. Accepting that things will happen out of the blue will help you navigate this journey with more ease.
  2. Awareness.  What defines us and our happy lifestyle is how we handle what comes up.  Our typical response to a crisis is to move into a flight or fight reaction, where primal behaviours kick in and we go into high alert. This protects us to some degree although may have us acting in a way that is not natural on a day to day basis. Instead, as our martial arts friend recently quoted ‘Be prepared not paranoid’.  Know what action you will take in the event of a crisis, such as someone breaking into your space.  Have a plan about how you will go about dealing with a stolen wallet. Know the emergency numbers of the country you’re visiting and always make sure your phone is charged.  Be aware and alert without being paranoid – this pairing can carry you through a crisis or challenge with dexterity and calmness.
  3. Breathe. In the midst of the vortex we go into a instinctive mode where our body reacts chemically to protect us from harm.  In this high alert state we forget to breathe, which can instantly calm us and reduce our racing heart-rate. In stress or an event that triggers anger, sadness or disappointment, remember to breathe as it will reduce the alertness we are experiencing and creates a more rational space for us to operate in.
  4. Be mindful.  Travel and mindfulness is an art and skills we need to acquire. I’ve found travel to be my greatest teacher in the last 18 months and I continue to stay grounded in the experiences, both good and bad so that I can grow.  Keep coming back to the here and now.  It’s all too easy for our primitive, reptilian brain to scatter fear, uncertainty and doubt around our feet so that a forest of anxiety springs up, suffocating our dreams. Be attentive to how you feel, sit with whatever comes up and give it space to breathe.  Don’t feed it, just be aware of it and it too will pass.
  5. Rational thinking.  We often believe that our thinking is the root of all evil and it certainly rules the roost much of the time especially when they come from our unconscious mind or reptilian brain.  Instead when we mindfully bring our thoughts back into our conscious mind in the pre-frontal cortex, then we can rationalise what is going on and challenge our irrational thoughts. Take a step back, assess the bigger picture, see all sides and decide on appropriate action. This will hold you in the reality of the situation rather than the nightmare action movie you have just directed in your head.
  6. Be grateful for all you have, all you experience and all that goes well.  It’s so easy when there is a run of bad luck or challenges sent to try us, to get into a victim mentality. It is from this space that our thoughts of ‘home’ may return and we start to wonder if we should continue.  Gratitude is key to us being in the moment and appreciating all we have, thanks to our life choices.  Whilst ‘going back’ may be the right thing to do, listen to your heart and not your head, especially whilst it feels in crisis mode. Make decisions in the cool light of day.
  7. See things as they are, not as you think they are.  It’s that reptilian brain playing tricks with us again.  It sees a situation and starts bringing in historical events, drama and over-generalisation and, before we know it we’ve inflamed the situation.  See it for what it is.  A stolen passport, a disgruntled person or a soggy laptop.  Avoid the trap of ‘Why me?’ ‘It’s not fair’ and concentrate on creating a resolution.
  8. Take responsibility and learn from what has happened. As with everything in life, there is always a lesson.  I’m a great believer in ‘People (and indeed events) come into your life for a reason, season or a lifetime.’  Take time, after the challenge is over to explore what you can do differently to prevent it coming up again.  Take the experience positively so you can move on quickly.
  9. Let go! Whatever has happened, work through the resolution and then let go.  Releasing the tension over a challenging situation means you move on with your travels, without the shadow clouding your experiences.  We hold onto too much negative emotion that affects our enjoyment of the the moment.  So learn to accept what has happened and then move forward.

So as we throw ourselves at the mercy of our wanderlust and commit to the joys of travel, remember that travelling mindfully is the key to our positive, self-expanding experiences that will have us trotting around the globe seeking out new adventures for as long as forever may be for us.

With love and happiness Karen x

Karen is a life coach, author and travel commentator who, with her seriously entertaining husband Myles, are feeding their curiosity with full-time travel in their camper. Together they are passionate about inspiring you to travel; whenever, wherever and however you can.

Why not Pin this for later?

/Karen

Published: August 22, 2017

28 Comments

  1. Lorna

    Karen, so incredibly true. It is having the courage to step out of your comfort zone that leads to growth, and learning. It is only by facing challenges, fears and brilliant experiences that we expand inside. That is the essence of a traveller and an adventurer. We don’t wait for the experiences to come to us. We seek them out. I suffer from PTSD and yet I live between two countries, travel in our motor home with Gloria Garmin who can at times have a wicked personality and yet despite some really frightening experiences, I do come back for more. For me, gratitude for the day, meditation, journaling and some quiet time for reflection have all helped me over the years. Whether trekking to Everest Base Camp, climbing Mt Snowden, hiking the Inca Trail or walking the Camino across Northern Spain, I get up the next day, feet on the floor and face the next unknown. I have been known to curl up in the foetal position and howl my eyes out too. That is all part of the experience that good and bad enriches our soul.

    Reply
    • Karen Davies

      Hi Lorna, thanks for your comments. Your story is amazing and your spirit comes through in your writing. Life is about how we face our challenges, whether they be physical, emotional, mental, financial or spiritual. I believe there’s a inspiration for our growth in each one and they always inspire us to release and let go just a little bit more. We wish you and Gloria Garmin safe and happy travels and if you ever feel like writing a Guest Blog post for us, to inspire others to travel, despite whatever challenges you may experience, we’d love to hear more. Be happy and safe. Karen x

      Reply
  2. Catherine - Red Door Ponderings

    Thank you for this post. Really enjoy the practical tips you have provided. Remembering that changing our context doesn’t change everything else is so important, and that we carry our own stories with us wherever we go. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Karen Davies

      Hi Catherine, you’re welcome – it was as much a post for me to consolidate what I was learning from our experiences and put everything into perspective. Even as a meditation teacher, I need to be reminded about being mindful as it is too easy to slip out of this state. Happy ponderings. Kx

      Reply
  3. Mae-Gene

    Hi Karen, this is such a deep post – it’s so important when traveling to take care of yourself and maintain a positive mindset, no matter what life throws at you! Your post is a good reminder for me, as I have recently had some bad news from back at home while traveling. While I can’t control everything, it has been really important for me (and my sanity) to practice mindfulness. Thank you for sharing this!

    Reply
    • Karen Davies

      Hi MG, thanks for your words. You’re so right, we often forget to self-nourish whilst we’re travelling as we get so wrapped up in exploring. Mindfulness is a key thing to pack when we travel! Kx

      Reply
  4. Victoria

    Thank you for all of your kind words. It is true that even if you change your location it does not change all the problems within your life. Bad days still come and go but it all in how you CHOOSE to deal with them that makes all the difference between a good and bad experience. I always try to choose the positive. These are great tips

    Reply
    • Karen Davies

      Hi Victoria, I’m glad you enjoyed it. For us when we left UK 18 months ago, we always knew it was going to be as much an inner journey than simply the miles we covered physically. Choice and mindfulness is key to a traveller’s suitcase. Kx

      Reply
  5. Kristine Li

    Love this deep, reflective post! Perfect as I was counting my blessings this morning too 🙂 It’s so amazing that when we find the power to change our thoughts, things are actually not too awful, we have plenty more things to be grateful for.

    Reply
    • Karen Davies

      Thank you Kristine Li, everything we experience is shaped by our choices and mindsets. Kx

      Reply
  6. Lenka

    Very good read, Karen, it is interesting to read opinions of full-time traveler! As this is something I can not imagine right now, I do love traveling but returning back home is one of the best parts to me 🙂 But never says never, right? Anyway, I will keep your tips in mind for the future because something bad, unexpected can happen also on short trips and vacations.

    Reply
    • Karen Davies

      Hi Lenka, thank you. Our philosophy is travel when you can, however you can, for as long as you can. So whenever your next trip happens, whether a day, weekend or week, have an amazing experience. Be safe and happy. Kx

      Reply
  7. Ana Ro

    This is a very thoughtful post. I’m happy you write about the bad days. It is too often we ignore them and not present them online, so it seems travelling is just one happy sunny experience. It is very good you speak about that.

    Reply
    • Karen Davies

      Hi Ana Ro, thank you. Travelling is not a Utopia although it is an incredible journey of ups and downs and we learn as much from those downs as we do the ups. Kx

      Reply
  8. Rachel Silverwood

    What a wonderful and thought inspiring post! Its so true that you can’t always just jet off and leave your problems behind. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen Davies

      Hi Rachel, thank you for your comments. Kx

      Reply
  9. perri

    Everything you listed above.. I am working on. I am trying to remain mindful, grateful and just accept what is going on around me. I have so far to go.. but I have come such a long way. Thank you for these tips.

    Reply
    • Karen Davies

      Hi Perri, thanks for your comments. Mindfulness takes attention every day to retrain our brain muscle. It’s great that you have come so far and lovely to hear you appreciating your journey so far. I wish you happiness along the way. Kx

      Reply
  10. Zoe

    I really love this list and I believe your points are so important! I’ll soon be leaving home again to travel for a few years and I’m going to make sure I remember all your points. It’s so true to remember that there will still be bad days, and to stay in a positive mindset and to create a resolution and learn from it to try and prevent it from happening again. It’s so true that travel is a big teacher in helping your mind grow 🙂 thanks for this post!

    Reply
    • Karen Davies

      Hi Zoe, thanks for your comments. How exciting to be going away for a couple of years. I wish you safe and happy travels and the collection of a basket full of memories. Kx

      Reply
  11. Chandrika

    I love the way you wrote this, Karen. So beautiful and thoughtful! I personally definitely try to practice being grateful for everything and also letting go of negativity 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen Davies

      Hi Chandrika, thank you for your comments. Here’s to more positivity in the world.Kx

      Reply
  12. Steph

    Great advice here for life in general, not just travelling. The notion of accepting your shadow side really had an impact on me when I came across it whilst travelling long-term in Greece last year. Mind you, it does feel a little bit more poetic when you’re surrounded by the crashing waves of the azure Grecian seas 🙂 I found long ferry trips were excellent for meditation!

    Reply
    • Karen Davies

      Hi Steph, I absolutely agree. Life and indeed ourselves are a blend of light and shade and loving acceptance of this relieves us of a whole heap of suffering. Happy travels. Kx

      Reply
  13. Julie turner

    What a well thought out piece, I dream of packing up and taking the road less travelled, it may happen, it may not, I have other dreams too, they might win over , only time will tell. I so enjoy your updates, and in some small way feel we are sharing in your journey.

    Reply
    • Karen Davies

      Hi Julie. Dreams are what life is made of, balanced with enjoying the moment. However it is for you now and the future, keep your dreams in your heart. So glad you enjoy the blogs. Glad to have you along for the ride. Kx

      Reply
  14. John Mitchinson

    HI karen and Miles
    Loved your thoughts .So True in every respect,this is our twenty sixth year of long duration touring, like life you get so many trials and tribulations the trick is how you Handel it our experience has taught us to be much stronger in dealing with adversity,crossing so many borderers and not speaking the language has taught us to be responsible,resourceful,creative,but above all love the friend’s we have met along the way .my family keep asking when are we going to settle Down at 74 we have and enjoying every moment like meeting you up a mountain in Bulgaria ,its experience like this that keeps us going.
    We are enjoying an evening in Chester UK many fire engines,and Police and ambulance are here someone on the bridge
    Ready to jump .we hope they don’t what a waste of life ,enjoy what ever its amazing what we can overcome enjoy

    Reply
    • Karen Davies

      HI John and Cath, lovely to hear from you, thanks for getting in touch. You’re absolutely right – coping is the key – not just in travelling – in life in general. We’re so happy that you are enjoying your lives – mum has just bought a motorhome at 75 and I’m as proud as punch. Glad you’re safely back in UK – hope that mum is doing ok. Keep on travelling and we look forward to meeting up again one of these fine days. Lots of love to you both.

      Reply

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