Research shows that lasting happiness comes from five factors: possessions, experiences, growth, connection and appreciation. Interestingly, international trips are able to give you all five factors that will make you very happy.
- Possessions and experiences are the most common sources of happiness.
Nowadays the mainstream culture is telling is that experiences bring more happiness than possessions do. I think that is only partially true. Please let me explain.
If possessions such as clothes and shoes make you truly happy, there is nothing wrong with that. You don’t need to feel bad because you derive tremendous happiness from possessions that you can afford.
Also, some people visit 20 cities within one month – they spend a day or two in one city for some photos and move on to the next city. But their experiences are superficial. I’m not sure how much happiness their photos on Instagram can bring them.
By contrast, if you spend at least a few weeks in one city and explore that place in detail, you’ll have a much better understanding of that experience which is more valuable than a bunch of photos on social media.
Indeed, an international trip with more depth probably includes souvenirs and memorable experiences, so it gives you happiness from both categories.
- Growth, connection and appreciation are important elements of a high-quality international trip.
Whenever I go on a trip, I focus on growth, i.e., what can I learn from this experience? That’s why I often go to local museums and galleries for new information. In addition, I always go to a local bookstore to buy a few books so that I can learn something enlightening from a different culture. I love bilingual books.
Apart from that, I like becoming friends with people that I’ve met during each trip. Some of my closest friends are lovely people that I met while I was enjoying trips overseas. I highly value the wonderful connection with them.
Whenever I look back on my travel experiences, I always deeply appreciate the beautiful memories, the life-changing friendships, the educational information and the fascinating souvenirs. This appreciation leads to the most lasting happiness in my life.
“Which factor gives you the most lasting joy and happiness, possessions, experiences, growth, connection or appreciation?”
