How to Create a Dope Life of Travel and Growth as a Global Citizen

You will only grow locally as far as the environment or community will allow you to

Remember in high school when you graduated and your teacher said, “The world is your oyster?”

This corny but effective quote does have some validity.

There is a popular phrase among travelers: “Getting out of the Matrix.” This mindset is shared mainly by Westerners, particularly in the United States.

However, the matrix is everywhere, particularly in large cities.

On the flip side, the world is a vast place with an infinite amount of knowledge and resources.

Whether you take one vacation a year, become a digital nomad, or live in another country, travel is a powerful tool for education and personal growth.

Once you travel, you become a Global Citizen, and you will never see the world the same way again.

“We tell people to follow their dreams, but you can only dream of what you can imagine, and, depending on where you come from, your imagination can be quite limited” — James T.Emmanuel

1. Understand the Power of Options

Travel unlocks the possibilities, dreams, and desires that lie within your mind.

One of the primary benefits of travel is the clarity and creativity it fosters. Many people come home with focused creativity and clarity. New environments can spark creativity and fresh thinking. Many people return from travel with new ideas, goals, or inspiration for work or life.

One of the most significant things people consider is the power of having options in life.

These will provoke a lot of questions:

• Where do I want to live, or do I like where I live?

• Is moving to another city, state, or country a possibility?

• Do I like my current job?

• How can I change careers?

• Do I like the people in my environment?

How to apply this to your life:

• Your high from returning from your travels will eventually turn to post depression, and this is normal. When things get back to normal, you first need to write down everything in your life that you want to change.

• Combine the possibilities of options with your current state and what you want.

“Using the power of decision gives you the capacity to get past any excuse to change any and every part of your life in an instant.”- Anthony Robbins

2. Break Free From the Local Mentality

What makes you a prisoner of your mind?

Being stuck with a local mentality.

What is a local mentality?

It is living life with a worldview that the life you are living, geographically and locally, is the only world that exists. When you operate from this mindset, it limits your possibilities for personal growth and improvement in your life.

If you are looking to improve your life with travel and become a global citizen, it will start with the small things:

• Start mentally changing your environment before physically changing it.

• Start studying another language to become a better communicator.

• Watch documentaries about the history of the cultures.

• Become friends with or date people from other cultures.

• Volunteer to join other communities.

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” — Nelson Mandela

3. Always Be in the Creation Process of Life

As each minute of your life goes by, it is either getting better or getting worse.

Every decision we make is made consciously or unconsciously. These choices are made on what we think we lack in our current life, or something we have an internal desire for. Your life is always in a state of creation.

Be in control of your life’s creation process; otherwise, your desires for things you feel you are missing will control the creation process for you.

When I was in my twenties, I spent all my money on a car. I thought I had made it; I would finally have the respect of my peers because I got a car. After digging deeper and thinking about the reasons why I wanted a car, I discovered something:

• I only bought a car to please everyone socially

• Having a car was more of a pain than it was a luxury

• Having a car ended up costing me financially in the long run

As I created my ideal life, I no longer wanted to be held down by a ball and chain of monthly payments. The need for a car came from an unconscious desire that controlled me for a while.

How to stay in the creation process of life:

• Continually evaluate what you want at least once a year, and determine if anything has changed.

• Take the time to reflect and write down everything that you want in life, no matter how crazy it may seem. This way, you can identify which of your desires are authentically yours and not something you thought you needed.

• Identify your values. Once you know your values, you can ensure that your daily actions are always aligned with them.

4. Change Your Environment

The harder it is to survive in your environment, the harder your brain works.

I once had a conversation with a homeless person. We talked about how homeless people get labeled “crazy”.

After the conversation, I concluded that their environments contributed to this. Every night, they are constantly trying to find a place to sleep while avoiding law enforcement, searching for something to eat, or finding a place to take a shower.

Under these extreme conditions and an environment that is against them, their brains are in survival mode, and this leaves them exhausted to the brink of insanity.

Nobody is immune to being exhausted by their environment, especially if it is in turmoil.

A toxic environment can be cold weather, being surrounded by a poverty mindset, too much idle time, or anything that prevents you from being your best self.

I changed my environment by spending more time in Brazil.

How changing my environment helped me:

• More healthy resources are available to me

• A social life that aligns with my personality

• Weather that aligns more with my health

How to change your environment:

• Change the type of media you consume.

• Move to a location that aligns with your values.

• Surround yourself with people who align with your values.

• Create your environment by consuming content that aligns with your ideal life until you can physically change your surroundings.

Newport News Institute states the following, but just because you’re not consciously focusing on your surroundings doesn’t mean they’re not taking a toll on your mental health.

5. Learn How to Fit in Against Cultural Friction

Anything of value will require a price to pay.

Whenever you decide to pick up your life and move to another city or country, it takes a great deal of courage and determination. No matter where you go, you will struggle at first to fit in because every city or country has its own unique culture that you are not accustomed to.

More than likely, you left your hometown or country because you didn’t fit in. Unfortunately, you won’t fit in with your new location either. More than likely, locals will know you are from there.

But embrace those differences, because they will make you stand out.

How to use moving to a new location as a tool for personal growth:

• Build independence, resilience, self-sufficiency, and transition to your new location.

• Reinvent yourself while you learn, understand, and immerse yourself in your new surroundings.

• Be free to make whatever mistakes you want because nobody knows you like they do back in your hometown.

“ Improving quality requires a culture change, not just a new diet.” -Phil Crosby

6. Focus On Your Health No Matter Where You Are

Exposing yourself to new environments without taking breaks can have a detrimental impact on your health.

Having a dope life of travel will also require using your opportunity as a global citizen to take care of your health. If you plan to use the world or other locations to improve your health, make the most of it. Many cultures have healthier ways of living that can improve your health, outside of modern Western countries.

How being a global citizen can improve your health:

• Learn from other cultures: Adopt health practices from around the world — like Mediterranean diets, Japanese mindfulness (e.g., ikigai), or Scandinavian outdoor habits (friluftsliv).

• Explore holistic approaches: Ayurvedic, traditional Chinese medicine, or indigenous wellness practices can complement Western methods when used responsibly.

International Vibes and Cuisines for Health

Greece & the Mediterranean

• Focus: Heart health, anti-inflammatory foods

• Healthy Staples: Olive oil, legumes, leafy greens, tomatoes, nuts, fish, whole grains, herbs like oregano and rosemary

• Why it works: High in healthy fats (omega-3s), fiber, and polyphenols

Japan — The Okinawan Diet

• Focus: Longevity, portion control (hara hachi bu — eat until 80% full)

• Healthy Staples: Sweet potatoes, tofu, seaweed, miso, green tea, vegetables, small portions of fish

• Why it works: High in antioxidants, fiber, and low in saturated fats

Thailand

• Focus: Fresh, vibrant, balance of flavors (spicy, sweet, salty, sour)

• Healthy Staples: Lemongrass, ginger, chilies, fish sauce, vegetables, jasmine rice, seafood

• Why it works: Uses fresh herbs/spices instead of heavy oils or creams

7. How to Work As a Global Citizen

Ever since 2020, the digital workforce has taken over.

Remote work has become a trending topic over the last 5 years. This may seem to be the only pathway to becoming a Global Citizen. However, there are other options; I will focus on the digital options because they offer the most freedom, flexibility, and creativity.

One trait that most working global citizens possess is creativity, especially when it comes to digital entrepreneurial endeavors, which is also prevalent among the remote workforce.

There isn’t a straight path for this kind of work.

Ask yourself three questions to guide you on your remote work journey:

1. What will fit your lifestyle? Are you seeking full-time work to support yourself, such as a remote position or a job with a company, and desire stability? Or do you want flexibility, such as working as a freelancer with multiple clients and contracts?

2. What skills are you going to need to develop to work remotely? In-Demand Skills for Remote Careers

• Asynchronous communication (e.g., Slack, Notion)

• Time management and self-discipline

• Remote collaboration tools (Zoom, Trello, Airtable)

• Writing & documentation

• Self-marketing (for freelancers)

3. Which industry will help you achieve your goal the fastest, and where do you have the most experience?

Tech

• DevOps / Cloud infrastructure

• Cybersecurity

Creative & Design

• Graphic design

• Copywriting / content writing

Business & Marketing

• Digital marketing (SEO, PPC, social media)

• Brand management

• Content strategy

• Affiliate marketing

• E-commerce (Shopify, Amazon FBA)

Customer & Client Services

• Customer support

• Technical support

• Virtual assistant

Education & Training

• Online tutoring (e.g., English teaching)

• Course creation

Finance & Legal

• Accounting / bookkeeping

• Financial analysis

Project Management & Operations

• Product/project manager

• Operations manager

8. Create Multi- and Dual-Cultural Personalities

Different environments bring out various aspects of a person’s personality.

When I first started to travel to Brazil, my introverted tendencies held me back a bit because Brazil has a strong extroverted culture. There are some Brazilians who are introverts, but you may not be aware of this due to the country’s strong social culture.

When I return to the United States, I am my usual calm and introverted self. When I am in Brazil, I am more expressive and a bit more social.

I don’t do this to appear cool or weird, but because it’s a necessary tool I need to become a global citizen and to adapt to my surroundings.

How to create your dual personalities in different countries:

• Develop cultural competence

• Encourage identity integration

• Promote empathy and adaptability

• Avoid cultural appropriation and foster authenticity

• How do your personality strengths align with your location?

• How do your weaknesses hurt you in your location?

• Study the social culture of your location

• How do your home location and new location differ when it comes to your identity?

9. Stay Long Enough to Build Real Connections

The best things in life always take time.

This is no different when it comes to building friendships. Patience and time will be your best friends in building any connection. As humans, we are very complex, so building friendship usually involves a ton of time and familiarity with each other.

Slow travel will help you build better and stronger friendships with a solid foundation. The longer you stay in a location, the more solid the friendship will become.

Fast travel can hinder deeper relationships. Staying 1–3 months in one place allows:

• Friendships to grow

• A sense of rhythm and belonging helps develop

• Be Proactive and Open

• Sometimes, the community starts with:

• Saying yes to an invitation

• Asking someone for coffee

• Returning to the same café or park regularly
  Consistency builds connection

• Volunteer or Join a Local Cause

• Websites like:

• Workaway

• Worldpackers

• WWOOF
  Let you exchange work for accommodation, and connect deeply with locals and fellow volunteers.

• Take a Class or Workshop

• Language courses, dance, cooking, yoga, or art classes are all great for:

• Immersing in local culture

• Meeting both locals and fellow travelers

10. Build Short -term Financial Stability

Financial and emotional well-being as a global citizen are closely intertwined.

You can’t have one without the other. The travel part is often the easiest, but maintaining and building financial and emotional health will always be the most challenging. It takes a lot of grit, creativity, discipline, and growth to improve this part of your life as a global citizen.

Creating an extraordinary life involves possessing both financial and emotional acumen. You can achieve it by doing these things:

• Choose the right place to travel to or spend time in. Remember, you aren’t picking destinations based on a vacation mindset, but for long-term financial and emotional growth.

• Choose from various digital nomad insurance options to alleviate the financial burden of medical bills. Digital Nomad Insurances = World Nomad, Safety Wing, Genki, or Allianz Care.

• Track every penny and know where your money is being spent. Money tracking apps = YNAB (You Need a Budget), Monarch Money, Mint (now part of Credit Karma)

• Make sure you have multiple bank accounts for backup purposes.

Creating a fulfilling life of travel and growth as a global citizen isn’t just about travel, but about connecting the power of cultural connections with people, your purpose, and using it to serve others and create a dope life.