Have you ever wondered how travel can become more than just a getaway?
What if travel could be the spark that ignites bold action, leads you toward personal growth, and helps you reconnect with your truest self? Travel as inspired action is about more than just ticking items off your bucket list—it's about listening to your inner voice and taking steps that align with your deeper values and passions.
What is Inspired Action?
Inspired action is about moving toward your goals with a sense of purpose, motivation, and trust in your inner guidance. Unlike the pressure-driven actions we often take in everyday life, inspired action comes from a deep alignment with who you truly are. It's about making choices that excite you, not just those that seem safe or expected. And travel, especially solo travel, is one of the most profound ways to practice this kind of action.
Why Travel Encourages Bold, Inspired Action
We’ve all heard the saying, “Fortune favors the bold,” encouraging us to take risks and push the boundaries of what’s possible. But what does this really mean? It’s not about taking reckless risks—it’s about trusting yourself and committing to the adventure of life, even when the path ahead seems uncertain.
We find ourselves in the midst of adulthood wondering how we ended up “here”. “Here” is a place of our doing. It can be the mundane, the uninspired, the ache for wishing we did something a little different instead of listening to someone else. But imagine if “here” is the fulfillment of our childhood dreams, our ambitions, our passions instead!
Listening to yourself sounds so simple but when your inner voice has to compete with others, it’s up to us to rediscover that small voice, the one of our inner child.
Travel is a freeing way to do dangerous things carefully, and especially joyfully. Reframing your outlook to honor your true inner thoughts and desires and choosing your own adventure can be done because there are no “norms” or “pressures” to be expected of you, allowing you the opportunity to demystify the risk of a new food, practicing a new language, or something even more thrilling.
We romanticize and assume an identify of who we want to be while abroad, but what if instead of faking it, we’re actually just allowing ourselves to be who we want to be?
Not sure where to start? Here are a few of my personal travel experiences that allowed me to feel more like myself than any experience at home:
1. Traveling Solo
Photo taken while solo traveling through the Isle of Skye, by my new Scottish friend, Jim @jimdeanphotgraphy
Solo travel is one of the best ways to experience inspired action firsthand. Whether it’s a weekend escape or a longer adventure, traveling alone means you get to make the decisions. You follow your own rhythm, whether that’s waking up early to see the sunrise or deciding to skip a museum in favor of exploring a hidden café.
On my solo trip to the Isle of Skye in Scotland, I had the opportunity to truly tune into my inner voice. Without the influence of others’ preferences, I wandered through the stunning landscapes, visited the places that intrigued me, and spoke with locals at my own pace. I connected with parts of myself that had been dormant, simply because I gave myself the space to listen.
Whether it’s just for a day or for the whole trip, doing it solo can be the rejuvenating experience your soul needs. It’s ok to separate from the rest of your travel group to do a different activity or tour. I encourage groups splitting up a little bit and then having a group meal later that day to share stories of their individual experiences.
You’re able to recharge your individual personality battery and travel in a way that aligns with your desires. The share out at the end of the day or upon your return is also an opportunity for inspirational exchange.
Solo travel is not just about being alone; it's about taking inspired action in your own life—without compromise, without guilt, and with full permission to do what feels right for you.
2. Cliff Jumping in Mallorca, Spain
Don’t jump off a cliff unless you’ve been properly trained and it’s something you want to do! But this was one of my favorite experiences while traveling.
Firstly, it wasn’t a spontaneous decision—I went through proper training, starting with smaller jumps until I felt ready. But by the end of the experience, I was confidently leaping off 30-foot cliffs into the Mediterranean, feeling a rush of joy and pride. The instructor also modified jumps for anyone who felt too far out of their comfort zone until they were ready to jump. When I reviewed the photos and videos of this experience, I was so proud of myself. For not listening to the little voice in my head that said “You’re too old for this; you’re not going to have fun.” and for listening to the voice instead that said “Little Leslie would think you’re really cool for going for it!”
It was a perfect example of how inspired action can help us overcome fear and find joy in the most unexpected places.
3. Local Performance Art
On a recent trip to Lisbon, I booked dinner at an old palace which had been restored by a rich theater patron, who elevated this restaurant with nightly performance art.
The performance was unlike anything I’d ever seen before—actors moving through the restaurant, with no script or explanation. No one tells you the plot. No one speaks to you. You and the other patrons are joined by this unique shared experience of food and art. The experience was open-ended, leaving room for interpretation and reflection. I had no idea what the performance meant, but it didn’t matter. I was completely immersed in the moment, and that’s what made it so special.
Choosing to go, despite the warnings, was a decision rooted in inspired action—listening to my gut and saying yes to something that intrigued me, even when others may have dismissed it.
Rediscovering Your Inner Voice Through Travel
Listening to your inner voice sounds simple, but in a world filled with external pressures and distractions, it’s easy to lose touch with what excites us. Travel—especially solo travel—gives us the space to reconnect with that voice. Without societal norms or expectations looming over us, we can choose our own adventures and discover new aspects of ourselves.
Taking inspired action doesn’t always mean jumping off cliffs. It can be as small as trying a new food in a foreign country or practicing a new language. The key is to follow your intuition and make choices that feel authentic to you.
Conclusion: Embrace Inspired Action on Your Next Adventure
Next time you travel, I encourage you to take inspired action. Step outside your comfort zone and try something new, something that excites you. Travel isn’t just about seeing new places—it’s about embracing bold, joyful action and discovering the parts of yourself that you’ve yet to explore. Whether you’re traveling solo, embracing a local culture, or simply enjoying the freedom to choose your path, know that every step forward is an opportunity to reconnect with your truest self.
For more on my take on solo travel, listen to this podcast episode on solo travel:
