We’ve all been there before. You’re packing for your trip to [insert exotic destination here] and suddenly all the articles you’ve read on packing light have been thrown out the window as you sit in a pile of things that weren’t even on your packing list to begin with!

Physical what-if’s

You have a family-sized box of bandages, 5 locks, 3 books and a vintage maxi skirt that you’ve never worn before (but would look sooooo cute in a picture by the Grand Canal in Venice).

Been there? I know I have.

Next thing you know, you’re back from your whirlwind trip and you’re stashing the family-sized box of bandages back in your bathroom drawer and hanging up the vintage maxi skirt that you still never wore. You realized that you only needed two locks (one for your bag and one for a locker) and the books you hauled across the globe barely got read and instead were ditched in your hostel/hotel/guesthouse because they took up too much room in your pack.

This might sound like an over packing issue but this is what I call a ‘physical what-if’. We become so consumed by the “what if’s” of our trip – the ideas we create in our constant worrying minds – that we end up doing/thinking things that in the end, don’t really make THAT big of an impact.

“What if I need ____ and don’t have it?”

“What if I run out of cute clothes to wear? My photos are going to be ugly!”

“What if I have nothing to read?!”

What if, what if, what if… If we keep starting our sentences with these two words, of course it’s going to create a bunch of things to worry about before we even check in for our flight! Instead, the time we spent on the potential “what if’s” could have gone to researching your destinations or simply being excited for your upcoming travels rather than wasted over worrying.

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Mental what-if’s

While worrying over lack of items when on your trip is more of a preparation issue, the mental “what if’s” are just as bad — or can be even worse.

“What if I don’t like the city/country/ I’m traveling to?”

“What if I don’t meet anyone to hang out with?”

“What if I miss my family/friends/significant other too much?”

“What if I can’t speak the language?”

“What if something absolutely horrible happens to me?”

Negative thinking leads to negative thoughts, which lead to you to ANTICIPATE bad things to happen. While I am not saying that your travels are going to be trouble-free (you should be ready as much as possible for common things to happen), should you really be expecting something bad to occur?

The obvious answer is no.

Safety should always be your main concern no matter where you are or what you are doing. Becoming a seasoned traveler comes with experience and the desire to experience new cultures, lifestyles and people. If your desire to travel becomes triumphed by your anxiety of all the potential bad things that could happen, you might want to reevaluate if you ready for this type of endeavor.

The key is to let go all of the negative ‘what ifs’ and instead welcome curiosity. Learn to say “YES” to opportunities that arise when you least expect it, even if you are a little bit scared. Focus on the positive “what if’s” – making new friends, experiencing authentic local culture, your trip turning a corner you had never even planned with something amazing on the other side. Travel is about stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying new things that only further who you are as a person and enrich your experiences.

Let go of the negative thinking and worrying and instead embrace what could happen. You will be grateful that you spent your mental time during your trip on the wonders of travel and you’ll come home with a deepened understanding of why you went in the first place and which direction you want to take next.