What is happiness? It’s different for everyone, but we can all agree that it’s a good thing. Finding your personal happiness seems like a daunting task. A lot of people put off finding what makes them happy for all sorts of reasons. You’re here for a reason, right? Is it to work yourself to death and live out your final days unable to enjoy the fruit of your labor? Probably not. Finding happiness in adventure and travel could be the key to everything you’ve been working for.
There has been a lot of research on happiness in recent years. The World Database of Happiness defines happiness as “the degree to which an individual judges the quality of his or her life”. It comes down to how much you like the life you lead. The United States scores a 7.3 out of 10, which is not bad but still not the highest. We can do better, so let’s dig in and find out how you can find happiness in adventure and travel!
Adventure Brings Happiness
Adventure sparks the imagination. Finding yourself off the beaten path and wandering a foreign land excites the senses. Whether it’s a small town in Idaho or if you decide to hop off the train a few stops early in Poland, the thrill of the unknown keeps us intrigued and sharpens our minds.
Exploring and getting happy!
Finding your way through a foreign land, unable to speak the language, and unsure of where to head can add a level of excitement only rivaled by extreme sports like skydiving and downhill skiing. What will come next? Who will help me find my way? Should I have taken a left instead of a right back there? When you are faced with such simple questions, you have only simple answers to figure out. When life becomes simple you can find happiness in knowing that your adventure will continue.
Go Do Something NEW Even If It Seems “Mundane”
Your relationships could use a little adventure. Take your significant other on a trip to someplace random. Find a destination within your budget on Google Flights and go. Someplace you’ve never been, even if that place has nothing to see could bring happiness to your life. New Era, Michigan has a health food store with some amazing homemade soups and sandwiches. Where is that? Go find it yourself! Half the fun is having a story to tell, even if it’s one little town in the middle of nowhere.
Exploring in my backyard
Travel Can Create Happiness All on its Own
Finding your happiness is a personal journey. Eric Weiner took a journey to find out what happiness is and came to an unlikely conclusion. His book, The Geography of Bliss, details his travels around the globe in search of the happiest and least happy places on earth. Many parts of the book will give you that “Aha!” feeling as you identify with the conclusions he draws. If you’re having a hard time figuring out where to start, grab a copy and enjoy the adventures.
Mike exploring Krakow
Travel will make you happy all on its own. Dreaming of going to see the Eiffel Tower lit up at night is great. But dreams will only make you wish you had jumped on that $350 round trip airfare to Paris last year. Regrets destroy your happiness. Make time for your life instead of putting things off. It’s a lot more comfortable to get lost in the woods when you’re 23 years old than when you’re 40.
Start Traveling NOW to Create the Happiness You NEED
Recovery time is four times as long after a 17 mile forced march through the mountains when you’re old and didn’t plan on hiking for the entire day. Take that trip while you can still enjoy it, it’ll make your life happier in the long run. Starting early will also create the habits you need to always be happy!
This has been a guest post from Mike Leydet. Please take some time to explore what else he has to offer!
Mike Leydet is an avid traveler and woodworking hobbyist home-based in sunny Virginia Beach, VA. He has traveled on miles and points to over 20 countries and across the United States. He has two cats who both dislike travel, but allow him several weeks a year to be out and about exploring the world without too much grief when he returns. You can follow his adventures on Facebook: Explore the World With Mike
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I agree Mike, especially when you speak of the adventure of a new place. Navigating a foreign country when you don’t speak the language and especially when you can’t just flip open Google Map,s is really rewarding. I remember the time I figured out the Tokyo subway on my own and got to some remote spot I was trying to visit – it’s a small thing but there was still that buzz of accomplishment!
It’s those times that help you feel like a local whichever feels amazing.
This is great, Mike! I’m all for pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and it is much much easier when you’re young. Especially when it comes to physical feats. And after navigating a subway system by myself in a large city in another language, I seriously felt like I could conquer the world.
Kat,
Every action even small outside our comfort zone makes us stronger. Glad you are already having these experiences!