Taking on Life-Changing Scenarios

Let’s face it, the last couple of years have been a rough ride for many people. We’ve lost loved ones and faced difficult issues. The pandemic has put a strain on all of us in ways we haven’t likely faced before. 

While you may be hurting, grieving, or struggling with life’s challenges, you may also wonder how to bring balance and purpose back to your life. You are not alone. It’s important to have self-compassion and find ways to heal. 

Steps toward healing

Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls your life. To take control of your life, it’s often helpful to step away from stressors that exist in your everyday routine and familiar places. 

“Traveling provides our minds with time to relax and heal, easing worries and anxiety and improving mood,” Dr. Kristin McKitish, a physician at Evolved Science, said in a 2021 interview. “These benefits are not only seen during travel, but for some time thereafter, which can lead to an improvement in focus, productivity, and mental health upon returning.”

Many studies show that travel helps the healing process. In fact, a 2018 study found that even short trips can lower a person’s stress level and improve overall wellbeing for weeks afterward.

Ways that travel helps health include:

• Reduces levels of cortisol (stress hormones) that put bodies at an increased risk for chronic diseases.
• Helps heart health by reducing metabolic syndrome incidence and the number of metabolic symptoms.
• Boosts mental health by broadening the mind and providing opportunities to meet new people, understand nature, and explore different surroundings.
• Improves immune systems by exposing our bodies to new kinds of bacteria and produces antibodies to protect one from future illnesses.

“Research shows there are many health and wellness benefits during all stages of travel across generations,” said Alison Bryant, AARP Research Senior Vice President regarding their 2018 study. “Any type of travel, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a weeklong trip, can be an effective way to renew and recharge, and the benefits far outweigh the short-lived drawbacks.”

“No matter your emotional state, traveling always provides an insightful vantage point into your life, but when you’re grieving, that vantage point often widens into something much more. Grief is an isolating experience. It’s lonely and quiet, and it’s easy to sink into. Reminding yourself that there is a whole world out there still turning on its axis can be vital,” writes therapist Claire Bidwell Smith in her book, “The Rules of Inheritance.” 

Feed your soul

Thrive Souljourns are designed to blend the best travel experiences you can imagine with the health and wellness you need. Since science shows that simply talking about and planning your trip helps boost your happiness and helps reduce stress, take your first steps toward better health today. Look at our offerings to choose your next trip with a team that enables you to transform into your best self.