"In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety."
-Abraham Maslow
There are two types of travelers: those who compare everything to home, and those who embrace the differences and revel in the adventure of the new experience. This is true throughout most of life as well. It's so easy to think that everyone lives similarly to us - humans tend to assume that how we as individuals interpret the world is how everyone interprets the world. This could not be further from the truth.
It's important to embrace new things and experiences - both as children and adults. Staying in our safety bubble makes us rigid and fearful. We all know people who go to restaurants and only ever order the same thing (this is in general, outside of eating disorders like ARFID and/or food allergies). They won't try new foods, even if everyone around them is talking about how delicious it is. At its core, that's just fear. No one ever expected them to try new things, so they didn't. As an aside, this is partially why no matter what restaurant you go into in the United States, you can almost always find chicken fingers and/or a hamburger on the menu. So how do we step away from that fear? The answer is "simple," though for many people, not "easy."
We try new things.
Challenge yourself to step outside of your comfort zone. Wear a different color than you've ever considered wearing. When you go to a restaurant, try something completely different than you usually have. When you travel, have no expectations and immerse yourself in the local culture. Worst case scenario, you don't love it; best case scenario, you discover a new favorite.
Force yourself to get up and grow.
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