THE TWO JOURNEYS
In his book Travels, Michael Crichton says: “Often, I feel I go to some distant region of the world to be reminded of who I really am.” This nugget of wisdom perfectly captures what we believe to be true of travel: That there is always the opportunity to go on Two Journeys, equally important and powerful, in any travel experience … The Outer Journey and the Inner Journey.
THE OUTER JOURNEY
In the Outer Journey, we travel to distant lands, meet fascinating people, have mouthwatering meals, take dramatic photographs, and create memories that can last a lifetime. The Outer Journey of discovery is a crucial part of travel and can be incredibly exciting and fun. It is, indeed, what most people think of when they hear the word ‘travel.’ But it is insufficient if we want to make the most of our time away from home. To do so, we also need to go on an Inner Journey.
THE INNER JOURNEY
The Inner Journey of travel is the process of discovery, learning, and growth, that we experience as a result of the Outer Journey. It is taking time to reflect and go inside ourselves as we travel outside of our known world. In many ways, the Inner Journey is much more difficult than the Outer Journey: It challenges our beliefs, invites us to see ourselves and the world through new eyes, and calls us to take inspired actions in our lives and to make a real difference in our communities.
In the Outer Journey, we are spectators enjoying the show. In the Inner Journey, we are — in the words of Theodore Roosevelt — the ‘Man in the Arena.’ We must face our fears, confront our true selves, and slay our dragons. Our prize? Confidence. Knowledge. Wisdom. Clarity. Perspectives. Inspiration. Learning. Growth. In other words, the Inner Journey is where the real power of travel lies.