In every Spiritual journey, we often set out to discover something. And not just anything but what life is about and who we truly are. It’s a quest to answer the big uncomfortable questions in life. Spiritual travel provides us with mental and spiritual sources to deal with suffering which we encounter in our common day-to-day lives.

According to Camille Hoheb, Managing Director and Founder of Wellness Tourism Worldwide, spiritual travel of today is regarded differently by the travel industry. While traditionally it was for religious pilgrimages, today it encompasses wider experiences. It’s more secular and about balancing the mind, body, spirit, and exploring outside of yourself.

Peta Panos, the Founder of Spiritual Quest Journeys, says that today’s spiritual travel is about the traveler’s inner journey as it is about the travel destination. It is in essence growth both on the outside and inside. Because the needs and interests of each traveler are usually unique, the level of transformation is often highly personal.

Here are several keys to unlocking growth by going on a spiritual journey:

Acute Seeking

In a poll of U.S. travelers, the majority of the respondents indicated the importance of psychological and emotional health to be equal to or even more than physical health. What travelers seek are uniquely different, of pure curiosity and cultural interests to what is known as “intense seeking.” According to Halle Eavelyn, co-founder of Spirit QuestTours, this is the quest for emotional healing in the wake of trauma or extreme changes in one’s life.

If you seek a vacation to go for some acute seeking, you will not only be connecting with others and nature, but also with a higher purpose in life. In a paper by Carol J. Lysne and Amy B. Wachholtz, they suggest that “people who are self-efficacious and more religiously and spiritually open to seeking a connection to a meaningful spiritual practice and/or the transcendent are more able to tolerate pain.”

Practicing Gratitude

Sometimes the hardest thing in life is to not be grateful for the hardships we may face. You may get worn out and burnt out while traveling but come to think of it, a lot of people who would love to travel like you and be in that similar scenario and place. Spiritual travel can make you begin to feel more grateful. You can introduce gratitude slowly in your life by:

• Keeping a gratitude journal that lists the things you are grateful for every day
• Have a gratitude album of one picture a day of what you appreciate
• Being grateful for the food you have

A Technological Fast

It is not uncommon for you to see people these days staring at screens and ignoring the person right next to them. Technology is lovely as it allows us to connect with people all over the world. But have you ever thought of staying away from it? Travelling is one golden opportunity to redefine your relationship with technology.

We should all become more mindful of our surroundings. In fact, there are places on this planet without electricity, phones, Wi-Fi, and tech whatnots. Seek out these places and see where your limits with technology are. Try going a day without technology and you will begin to appreciate others and the world around you which will translate into growth.

Be Rooted In The Now

You should allow yourself enough time to explore and experience the world around you whenever you travel. When you stick to one place for some time, you really absorb it. Sometimes it is difficult to leave your family, friends, or even your job for long. However, even if it is only for a week or so, go somewhere.

A style of travel that has become quite popular today where you go to 10 locations in 10 different countries within a ridiculously short period of time is not quite spiritual travel. But when you are calm in one place, you begin to learn a few things you would have missed if you were in a hurry. These things often turn out to be the answers to the big questions in life albeit not all of them.

Take your time to use these four keys and watch as your spiritual journey transforms your life. Make a commitment to your growth and your life will become smoother and happier.