Finding Your Inner Traveler

Do you see yourself as a traveler or a tourist in life? G.K. Chesterton once wrote that “The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.”

In Zen, you could say that the traveler embodies the idea of Beginner’s Mind. A beginner’s mind is like an empty cup. It has no expectation for the future or baggage from the past. It is alive only in the Now.

Just like a child at play, the traveler sees limitless opportunities for adventure at every turn. According to Suzuki Roshi, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.”

On the other hand, tourists have lots of baggage. They alternate between the past and the future, rarely if ever setting foot in the present.

Tourists never deviate from a pre-planned routine. They avoid stepping outside their comfort zone at all costs. They think everything looks the same so they tend to grow bored quickly.

Tourists can change the scenery, but they can’t change the eyes through which they see and experience it. Most people live like tourists every day – at home or on vacation!

So how do you find the traveler within? It starts by emptying your cup or unpacking your bags. When you let go of the past as well as your expectations for the future, you begin to lighten your load. You allow yourself to open up to new experiences. You see the world with new eyes. You realize that the traveler is not out there, but is available right here, right now, wherever you are.

A daily mind ~ body fitness practice like Yoga, Martial Arts, Tai Chi and Meditation is a powerful way to help you find your inner traveler. These practices are designed to emphasize process over results. They encourage mindfulness over mindlessness. They also help slow you down!

Imagine going through your daily routine as if you were a traveler in a foreign land. Think about walking down a street in your neighborhood - a street you've walked hundreds of times - and seeing it as though for the first time!

Choose to be a traveler not a tourist in life and you will see everything in a completely new light!