What happens when you go on vacation with a growth mindset

This was the first vacation I’ve been on where I can say I was in the growth mindset from start to finish. I didn’t go in with good intentions but get triggered part way through, I didn’t accidentally find myself over-booked and trying to squeeze it all in.  It was balanced, just as fun and less draining.  Here’s what happened.

Ultimately, I was more honest - I had no fear of it “looking” a certain way. I am able to say there were challenges, no need to spin it to be amazing.  It can be wonderful and have challenges - at the same time. 

I was more “chill” - less attached to what happens (or what doesn’t happen).  In the past I would have had all the important things to do roughly scheduled out and would have been devastated when I didn’t get to do something. Not because I desperately wanted to do it per se, but because I had to execute the itinerary flawlessly. 

I followed my own wants - less people pleasing around the itinerary. I felt comfortable speaking up for what I wanted to do, doing it solo if no one else was interested and passing when I had enough.  Going along with what everyone else wanted, being easy-going and always compromising on what I wanted to do to please others was how I used to be on vacation. Making sure everyone else was having the best time, first. 

I did things outside of my comfort zone - because failure doesn’t “mean” anything about me.  In the past I would have stayed safely within what I knew I could do without a doubt, kept myself small and made sure I could accomplish all I set out to do.  This time? I put myself out there, went on bike rides I wasn’t sure I could do, knowing if I had to bail (and let’s be honest, tell people about it) that was no big deal. 

I was proactive but also spontaneous - I was on top of booking things (no avoidance) so I could get the good deals, see the unique places.. But I also left room for spontaneity, so that I could act on whims, see what the group wanted to do, etc. Past me would have either had everything planned to the minute, or avoided booking anything until it was last minute and either too late or very expensive.

And finally, I wasn’t “all or nothing” about every aspect.  I didn’t put this one trip on a pedestal and made it feel like the one chance at adventure.  It sounds crazy just writing that, but that’s what the fixed mindset is. Maybe there is a “be an effective traveller” skill or talent that was behind that belief in the past.  But this time, I treated it like I was “developing” that skill, and knew that there would be other opportunities if this “failed”.  Of course these are metaphorical skills and failures, but it is exactly the same. I know there will be future trips, so I didn’t have to get all the souvenirs, create all the memories and do all the touristy experiences. 

The summary: travelling with the growth mindset was refreshing. I will definitely be doing it again.