12 Intentions to Inspire your Next Adventure

So, what are you looking for ?

2. Liberate

Liberation has been a significant theme in my life, not only in terms of my country's history or my sexual orientation, but also in freeing myself from limitations and constraints imposed by society and myself, allowing for greater freedom, autonomy, and self-expression.

So, how can you find liberation through travel? Go on solo trips. Do something you've always wanted to do. Visit places you've always dreamed of without waiting for others to join you.

Seek out spaces and communities where you feel safe to be your authentic self, where your true self is not only accepted but celebrated. This may not be in your current city. I've found liberation in various places around the world, such as London, Brazil, Bali, and San Francisco, each for different reasons.

If what you're looking for is liberation through body positivity, get comfortable in your birthday suit and explore naturist beaches. Free yourself :-)

There's something inherently liberating about travel - visiting places where nobody knows you or where things operate completely differently from what you're used to.

I believe one of the reasons why Bali has become a haven for those going through transformational journeys is because of its freedom-based way of life, right down to the feeling of having the wind blow through your hair while on the back of a motorbike - it's simple moments like these that are truly liberating and that can, in turn, affect other areas of your life.

Being able to give yourself the experience of travel, is liberating in itself.

3. Manifest

Using manifestation as an inspiration for your trip may not be as obvious as some of the other intentions, but it's one I've relied on frequently. The key to manifesting is aligning with the energy of the version of yourself that already has what you desire. Personally, I initially struggled to shift my energy and found that traveling (along with music) was one of the easiest ways to do so.

Being part of the LGBT community 14 years ago was very different from what it is today. It was still very taboo and rarely represented on South African television screens. In my early to mid-20s, I used travel as a form of manifestation to be in spaces where I was fully welcomed and accepted as my authentic self, where I felt that sexuality or race didn't matter as much in society. While it's not perfect yet, so much has changed and improved drastically in my country and around the world. This journey was closely linked to my journey of liberation.

This intention can also apply to choosing destinations where you feel safer or places where you would love to live one day. I’ve found it easier to meet the frequency of these manifestations while in these spaces.

I believe this is also how I manifested more of my travels. Every time I felt truly in my element while traveling, I would close my eyes and affirm that I wanted more of those experiences.

Of course, it's not always feasible to do this, but it's something worth considering even in your daily life and current city - find environments that allow you to meet the energy of your manifestation.

4. Connect

The journey towards greater connection is one of the most important in our lifetime.

It has been a primary focus of mine for the past few years. There was a time when I felt so disconnected from nature, others, myself, and spirituality. Only in recent years have I actively worked on nurturing these aspects of my life. With connection comes more awareness, understanding, and guidance. Here are some of the ways we can  connect through travel:

• Connect with others through group trips, retreats, engaging with locals, fellow travellers, or using travel as a way to spend quality time with loved ones. Travel also offers a unique opportunity for intentional networking if centred around an event, city, or specific community.
• Connect with nature through adventure trips and spending time outdoors away from the city. Immersing ourselves in nature provides a much-needed break from our technology-filled lives. Take the time to admire the world's beauty, go camping, chase waterfalls, and hike up mountains. There's so much to see.
• Connect with yourself by creating space for introspection, whether through movement or solitude. Go on solo trips or retreats to deepen your self-awareness. Revisit nostalgic places that reconnect you with your inner child. Engage in activities that ignite your passion and reconnect you with your heart and your purpose.
• Connect with spirituality by visiting sacred sites and destinations or participating in spiritual retreats. Seek out places where you can connect with your ancestors. Go on a spiritual pilgrimage or connect with nature.

My ultimate journey of connection was the Camino De Santiago, which came at a time when I was perhaps the most disconnected in my life. It effortlessly touched on each of these connection points. I believe that nurturing our connections realigns us with who we are meant to be and the life we're meant to live.

5. Learn

Knowledge is power, and traveling offers us the the opportunity to learn so much. Learn more about ourselves, other cultures, cuisines, history, and life itself; the possibilities are endless. Gain a new skill or learn about certain practices or rituals in their countries of origin. This newfound knowledge may inspire us, contribute to new projects, or simply bring us pure joy. Learning something from a place allows us to carry a piece of it with us wherever we go.

It's common for me to try out cooking classes in destinations where I love the food, so that I can attempt to make it at home.

Studying in a foreign country is also an incredible opportunity to learn from a diverse group of people, gain international exposure, and make new friends and connections abroad. My experience completing my Master's degree in London was challenging, yet far more rewarding than I had anticipated.

There are also short courses that you could look into. In my second gap year, I took a short film-editing course in London, and a Web Design course in San Francisco, which allowed me to gain new skills, while also getting a feel of how it is to live in the city.

6. Release

The intention of release is a transformative one. Travel can help you to process loss and navigate your way through difficult emotions by spending time in nature, participating in facilitated retreats, or visiting special places that hold significance and may bring closure. Removing yourself from your current environment and placing yourself in one that fosters healing has the ability to help this process.

You can release energy through movement, and engaging in more active trips.

Release old beliefs, thoughts or anything that is not serving you and go on an unexpected journey.

Release could also signify letting go of control; not planning too much and letting the journey unfold naturally. Trusting the process.

Releasing typically brings more clarity, healing and renewed energy.

It should be noted that while travel can facilitate the process of release, it usually goes hand in hand with the internal work that has to accompany it.

7. Play

Play is an extremely important aspect of our lives, one that I admittedly took for granted at some point. It's essential if we want to live life to the fullest. Play reconnects us with our inner child, bringing us back to the essence of what brings us joy. It can be carefree, senseless fun. I’ve seen too many people, myself included take life too seriously. Have fun. If your heart is craving more playfulness, engage in activities that take you out of your headspace and into your heart space. Dance, laugh, and let go. Plan trips around experiences that fill you with pure joy. Let your hair down and let go of the idea of always being so put together.

Attending festivals or musical events is one way I embrace this intention. I love music, dressing up, dancing, and connecting with others who share the same desire for fun and connection.

8. Rest

Another common form of travel is rest and relaxation. This is understandable, as many people use travel as a means to escape from their busy lives. Probably the one intention that I was less accustomed to using, as I found myself more inclined to active travel. Heavy on the exploring, light on the rest. However, in my 30s, I've increasingly honoured this intention not only in my travels, but in my day-to-day life as well.

Sometimes, you just need to decompress, disconnect, and allow yourself to be pampered and cared for to replenish your energy for the next chapter.

9. Inspire & Create

I’ve grouped these two together as they are particularly similar. Creation is ultimately inspiration in action.

Being in a particular place can stimulate the creation of new neural pathways in your brain, potentially inspiring your next venture or idea. Need some inspiration? Explore a place completely different from what you're used to, or choose a specific destination based on the type of inspiration you are looking for.

Changing your environment can have a huge impact on both your creativity and your ability to create.  Your ideal environment may be unique to you and dependent on what your specific needs are at the time. It may be a little log cabin in the middle of a forest where you can finish writing your book, or somewhere where you are surrounded by like-minded people for you to bounce ideas off of. It could also be in a bustling city where you feed off of the energy, or a pilgrimage which gives you time to do deep thinking while in movement. I've noticed that my creativity flows more freely when I travel and when I am in movement, but I love being immersed in nature when it comes to creating.

Travel can also inspire you to create beautiful content if you’re a content creator or are interested in trying it out.

Another way you can think of this intention is being inspired to curate your own ideal trip, either by yourself or with a more experienced traveler. This allows for greater creativity in your travels, going beyond the main tourist attractions to get more value and a personalised experience.

10. Give Back

Feeling the need to give back to a community or inspired to engage in cultural exchange while traveling? There are numerous ways you can fulfil this desire around the world, including volunteering, participating in cultural exchange programs, or supporting local communities. Many volunteering and cultural exchange opportunities offer accommodation or food in exchange for your contributions. Giving back, doing things in service of others, and sharing knowledge often lead to uniquely memorable and soul-satisfying adventures.

11. Challenge

If you're looking for something to challenge you or push you beyond your comfort zone, go on an adventure that will test you - try something crazy, climb a high mountain, go on a Vipassana meditation retreat, skydive, walk the Camino, or explore a new style of traveling. Only you know what will truly be a challenge for you.

Sometimes, we need to place ourselves in these situations to discover what we're truly capable of or to unlock another level within ourselves.

12. Love

Love is one of the most powerful intentions. It has the ability to completely shift your energy, mindset, and outlook on life.

Activate love by immersing yourself in communities where you are cherished or in places that bring you joy. Engage in things that you love to do, indulge in delicious food, and explore beautiful destinations. Tap into gratitude and abundance as you travel.

Make time for sunsets, sunrises and beautiful views, which reminds us of the love within and around us.

Find your way back to love by going to special places, or those where spirituality and healing work is done. For many it helps removing yourself from your usual environment to do some of this work. Bali was one of these places for me, but there are many more all over the world.

When you vibrate with love internally, you attract more of it in the world.