Travel Psychology: Exposing Our “Quirks” to Transform Ourselves
Javier Labourt, a psychologist specialized in travel, argues that traveling becomes “the ideal stage to expose ourselves to our quirks” —those worries, anxieties, or deep emotions we usually keep under control— because it places us face-to-face with our own limits and reactivity. In his reflection for National Geographic Travel, he explains how this intimate connection between travel and the mind can be a powerful opportunity for personal change.
Traveling as a Chance for Conscious Introspection
Labourt points out that in a world where traveling is increasingly accessible, it is essential to remember that it is not only about resting or discovering new places, but about allowing ourselves to face our emotions with honesty. “A trip is not only a journey in itself, but also direct contact with one’s own vulnerability, and therefore, a very big chance to plant a seed of personal change.”
That seed grows when we allow ourselves to feel without running away, without filling the journey with distractions until our sensitivity is numbed.
Profiling Travelers Through Personality
For Labourt, each destination “resonates” differently within each person. The Big Five personality model —one of the most validated psychological tools— helps us understand how our personal traits influence the way we travel.
For example, the trait of openness to experience often drives people to explore exotic cultures such as Asia, while those with lower openness may feel more comfortable in familiar cultural settings. On the other hand, individuals with high conscientiousness prefer well-organized itineraries, where a structured plan provides the security they need to enjoy the journey.
Traveling to Work on Vulnerability
When traveling, we step outside of our usual emotional framework. According to Labourt, this break from the familiar awakens old emotions—uncontrolled impulses, sensitivities to order, dormant fears—that usually remain hidden in everyday life. That exposure is what makes traveling so powerful: the physical landscape becomes a mirror of our inner world.
It is precisely here where traveling stops being an escape and transforms into an opportunity for growth. Recognizing that what makes us uncomfortable on a trip often points to something stagnant in our daily lives is the beginning of transformation.
Strategies for Transformative Travel
- Design trips that suit you. If you are highly methodical, choose spontaneous destinations with logistical support (such as Africa). If you are more open, embrace unconventional places with less infrastructure.
- Accept discomfort. Traveling means exposure. Use that discomfort as fuel for growth, whether by developing coping strategies or simply allowing yourself to feel without judgment.
- Progress gradually. You don’t need to begin with extreme adventures. Start with destinations that introduce mild emotional disorder and expand your tolerance step by step.
- Notice which part of you is traveling. Accompany the physical journey with internal awareness: What emotions surfaced? What thoughts surprised you? This conscious observation is key for the journey to leave a lasting impact.
Conclusion
The National Geographic Travel article highlights how traveling—by exposing our quirks—is a unique opportunity to connect with what is blurred inside us. It allows us to recognize, feel, and reconfigure emotional aspects that would otherwise remain invisible. In this sense, travel becomes a first-class psychological tool, if we are willing to see it that way.
Further Reading
This article summarizes some of the main ideas that Javier Labourt shared with National Geographic Travel about the emotional dimension of traveling. You can read the full article [here].
To explore more press features, interviews, and talks by Javier Labourt, visit the press section of his website [here].