Travel is one of the very best ways to get a huge perspective on your life. Unfortunately, travel isn’t an option for everyone. Work/school schedules and budgets can certainly get in the way of taking that big vacation to Paris to experience all the art and culture.
So what do you do when travel isn’t an option? Here are five ways you can still expand your world without having to hop on a plane to a faraway land.
Read Different Books
Well-researched and well-written books can open your eyes to a brand new world. Even fictional books can provide a new perspective on your life. The key is to vary the types of reading you do.
Pick a wide variety of books that have great literary value. Don’t just settle for the newest Christian book sensation or the trashy romance novel from the checkout lane at the grocery store. Find books that are controversial or that have polarized reviews. (Even the Bible…if you haven’t read it all the way through…it’s got some pretty huge stuff in there.) Devour the books, the thoughts, the stories, and make them your own.
Learn New Things
Up your perspective by learning new skills or concepts. Want to discover some cool things that actually increase your enjoyment?
- Learn about coffee culture.
- Learn about French cuisine.
- Discover how to brew your own beer.
- Learn carpentry.
- Buy a magic set.
The goal of this isn’t entertainment. The purpose is to shake up some things in your brain and force stuff in there that’s unfamiliar to you.
Meet New People
Jim Rohn says, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Are those people just slightly modified versions of yourself? There’s a good chance nothing about your life will change as long as you spend all of your time with them.
Want to change your perspective? Start hanging out with people who have different perspectives from your own.
Try New Things
When was the last time you tried dancing when you didn’t know the steps? When did you last look over a rock’s edge to the cold waters waiting to welcome you below? When was the last time you went to a concert of a band you’ve never heard of?
Trying new things gives you different perspectives. Especially if those new things cause your pulse to quicken.
Think Bigger Thoughts
What’s your dream for your life? Does it seem attainable?
Think bigger. Dream bigger. Pick a mountaintop idea that seems impossible. Then start climbing. Those big risks will open your world to bigger and better.
Those are my ways to get a bigger worldview without having to travel. What would you add to the list?