Growth is your strongest Travel Motive!

Definition

• development from a simpler to a more complex stage

Those with the Growth Motive for travel are looking to be deeply and personally engaged by their experiences. There is often a desire to search for clarity, personal insight or a renewed sense of wonder through travel experiences. When reminiscing, those driven by Growth share travel stories steeped with transformation, changed perspectives and inspiration. 

Several studies confirm that the brain does indeed get its growth needs met while travelling. Studies out of the University of Southern California suggest that the opportunity to engage with people and places with different backgrounds and histories help to build a strong and acculturated sense of self. I had to look up the term acculturated! It means the process of learning and incorporating the values, beliefs, language, customs and mannerisms of a new place - a concept that promotes both acceptance and tolerance of diversity.

Opportunities for personal growth are everywhere while on the road. Travellers have more freedom to test out slightly altered versions of themselves without the expectations or obligations of daily life. This opens the door wide to learning and, as Rick Steves says, creates an appetite for the world. This motive may resonate for you uniquely.

I’ve noticed that my travel stories are usually steeped in personal growth and learning about myself and who I am in relation to others. Sometimes they are related to successful problem solving or stellar planning, often they are a result of spectacularly unsuccessful situations that I survived somehow! I find myself seeking or creating experiences that have the potential for self-discovery and I also am learning how to simply be open to them as a natural part of being on the road.

At this point, if Growth doesn’t seem to fit for you, there are probably other motives that are also quite strong.

• If pushing your comfort zone in unfamiliar situations is a trend for your growth - your companion motive may be NOVELTY.

• If your need for learning is intertwined with a focus on building NEW authentic relationships and connections with other cultures - you may equally be driven by CONNECTION

• If you like to fully disconnect from your everyday reality to see what that feels like or to provide you some headspace to think - ESCAPE is what you’re after!

Growth and Well-Being

For some, growth might mean creative growth. Many artists, musicians and writers throughout history have gone in search of inspiration for their arts on the road. There is now science supporting this with links between travel experiences and increased levels of creativity. 

For others growth may be less expressive and more inward. One study of older adults found that travelling generated meaning in their lives, created more introspection and clarity about themselves and, in doing so, helped them better understand others.