Even after many journeys, my stomach still flutters with butterflies of excitement and anxiety when I travel. Each time my flight is booked and my bag is packed, or when I emerge from a train station or sleep in a new bed, I feel my world shifting. Those butterflies are my cue to pay attention to the opportunity to learn, stretch, and evolve.
Travel has always been considered a wonderful teacher, and intentional travel is a masterclass in self-discovery and confidence. Every new experience improves problem-solving, builds acceptance, strengthens creativity, widens perspective, and instills self-trust. But this personal growth requires us to courageously step out of our comfort zones.
About the Author
Love to travel?
So does Tracy Smyth, the enthusiast behind Travel Bug Tonic!
As a certified travel coach and solo travel advocate, she channels her insatiable curiosity and passion for well-being into crafting joyful adventures.
Follow her @travelbugtonic on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook and find all her writing and travel resources on her website – www.travelbugtonic.com.
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The Brain Science Behind Comfort Zones
Your comfort zone is like a protective bubble: cozy, familiar, and predictable.
Feeling safe is not a bad thing, but getting too comfortable inside your safe bubble can make you feel stagnant and stuck. In our efforts to get unstuck, though, leaping too far or too fast into the unknown puts our brain into panic mode.
The sweet spot is learning to dance between comfort and panic.
You have a hidden superpower that helps!
Your brain’s remarkable ability to rewire itself with every new experience (neuroplasticity) is a kind of magic that occurs just outside your comfort zone in what’s known as your “growth zone”, where you might feel slightly uncomfortable, uncertain, and even a little anxious.
This discomfort isn’t a warning sign; it’s your brain expanding and your resilience blossoming. Time spent in your growth zone causes your comfort zone to stretch naturally.
So, how does travel tap into this neuroplasticity superpower?
Travel Transforms You From the Inside Out
Travel is a powerful paradox: your brain craves comfort and safety, yet thrives on novelty.
That’s why stepping into the unknown can feel both unsettling and exhilarating at the same time.
When you travel, you’re invited into the growth zone.
Whether you’re deciphering a train schedule, ordering from a foreign menu, or standing in awe of a breathtaking view, your brain is actively problem-solving, adapting, and improving emotional regulation. Research shows that travel can also enhance memory, resilience, and your ability to handle change.
I’ve experienced this firsthand…
Stepping out of my comfort zone
My solo trip to Versailles was a week of constant negotiations with my comfort zone which included embracing the French custom of shopping at the weekly market instead of the more familiar supermarket. Being alone amplified my anxiety about the market, but Versailles’s large market was highly recommended, and I was determined to experience it authentically.
I had pictured myself confidently strolling through the stalls, blending in like a local. But reality hit hard – so many people, so many choices, so much rapid-fire French!! My language skills quickly evaporated, and my confidence plummeted.
I circled the entire market – not once or twice, but three full times – observing where most people were shopping, what was being offered, which vendors seemed friendly, and where I could communicate simply by pointing. Finally, the butterflies in my stomach settled.
I was now solidly in my growth zone. Taking a deep breath, I approached a stall.
The vendor’s warm smile instantly calmed me, reminding me that while this felt monumental, it was simply a food market! I probably overused “s’il vous plait” and “merci,” but I walked away victorious with a basket brimming with fresh fruits and vegetables. With my confidence rebuilding, I bought a roasted chicken for a complete dinner!
I headed back to my apartment, already feeling a shift – more relaxed, more open. That’s when I saw them: a mountain of fresh figs. With my comfort zone freshly expanded, I didn’t hesitate. I bought the most delicious figs I’ve ever tasted. It wasn’t a planned purchase, but after stretching myself at the market, I felt bold enough to embrace the unexpected, and it paid off in sweet, juicy delight.
Everyone’s comfort zones are different, and they can expand with experience. So, how exactly can your travel choices lead to this kind of transformation?
Travel is fuel for the brain
It starts with your brain getting a good workout – every unfamiliar sight, sound, and new flavour sparks brain connections. Then there’s the confidence boost from travel triumphs: navigating the London Underground without getting lost, striking up a conversation with a local in a tiny Lisbon café, or catching the correct ferry to a quiet Greek island without a schedule in English.
Even everyday tasks like riding a bus, grocery shopping when you don’t understand the labels, or making coffee in an unfamiliar kitchen demand more attention and adaptability.
Each small success proves you are capable and resourceful. Meanwhile, all that uncertainty—the butterflies, the not-knowing—builds your emotional resilience muscle. You learn to sit with discomfort and find your footing anyway.
Perhaps most powerfully, travel expands your perspective through cultural immersion. Immersing yourself in different cultures invites you to see the world with fresh eyes. It gently challenges old assumptions and awakens a deeper sense of understanding and flexibility. This perspective helps you navigate life’s twists and turns with more grace and confidence.
Why your next trip should require some courage
Ultimately, courageous travel isn’t about eliminating anxiety or fear: it’s about learning to dance between comfort and panic. Invite the butterflies in your stomach to emerge as a signal that you’re standing at the edge of a meaningful journey. Like butterflies stretching their wings, you will grow by exploring and nudging the boundaries of what feels familiar.
There are many resources to help you practice getting out of your comfort zone and implement ways to dance in your growth zone.
A travel coach can help you notice where those edges are – the subtle spaces of challenge – and support you in stepping through them with intention. The real magic of travel isn’t just about the places you go, it’s knowing that the butterflies are a key part of the journey.
Work With Tracy Smyth
Tracy is one of many certified travel coaches you can hire at hireatravelcoach.com.
Click here to learn more about what it looks like to work Tracy.
And if you’re ready to work with a travel coach, you can book a time in with her directly from the website.
Listen to the Travel Coach Network Podcast
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Free Resources for Future Travel Coaches
Check out these other free resources for aspiring travel coaches:
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