In the world of travel internet celebrities, two stories are very famous. Whenever I heard them, my mind automatically started pedestalizing that person. I felt I could never be so bold. Worst, I felt I could never travel for long. I am sure you have heard them as well.

After traveling for many years, gaining some wisdom and life experience, and developing the ability to see nuanced points, I realized that they are the biggest bullshit travelers tell. They are neither true nor required to travel. It is simply an approval-seeking mechanism. The “ I am so cool and bold “ mental disorder which most of us have.

Let’s analyze both these bullshits. If you are one of those who thinks traveling for a few years is a super brave task, you can get over it.

Bullshit 1- I sold everything and went to travel.

This is the biggest crap. Let see how.

“ So dear brave soul, what expensive crap you had that you sold for traveling and decided to hop across cheap hostels through small towns of developing countries. Did you have a million-dollar business empire that you sold? Most likely, No. If yes, then you have more money to travel. Oh, I am sorry, you sold that empire to go on a spiritual journey, to find the meaning of life.  Really….hahaha. Most likely, No. If yes, then why are you bragging about it. “

Does it make sense? I guess so.

“ What else? Did you own multiple properties in the most expensive cities in the world? Most likely, No. If yes, good for you, you have more money to travel. Actually, you are dumb, you could have rented them, and created a passive source of income.

What else? Your 5-year-old car. Yeah, that’s very sad. What a sacrifice to travel. After all, you were so emotionally attached to it. That was your dream. You always thought that once you buy that car you will get more happiness, sex, status, and whatnot but you got nothing. You just kept paying insurance, car loans, got stuck in traffic, and the car got old. More cars came in the market which you could not afford. Good, you sold that shit. It gave you nothing but pain.

Oops, you sold that furniture, paintings, and other crap which you never used. In reality, all that crap was irrelevant stuff you possessed which you never needed in the first place. What else? Your old underwear, never used clothes, shoes? “

Hmmm…. See what I mean.

Most likely the real story of this brave soul is this. He got bored of life, was not happy with his job, did not get laid enough, had bad relationships, divorce, the clock was ticking, or got disillusioned. Finally, he said “ what the fuck, I am educated, I have some savings, many people travel. It’s not that expensive. I CAN TRAVEL. I can always get a job back. Worst, I can travel for some time and see what happens. I will not die”. That’s all.

Of course, he took a bold step going into the unknown, letting go of all the crap but there was nothing super brave. He took a sensible planned decision. There was no decision taken that was life-threatening.

Bullshit 2- Few years ago, I took a one way plane ticket to X place.

Wow…. How brave! Though, it is just stupid to even think it is bravery. I have traveled for leisure and work for more than 10 years across the world. I have found that the difference between one-way and two-way tickets is not more than 500 dollars even for the farthest distances. Sacrifice your social media time for 15 minutes and google for yourself. So if the brave soul is not sure when is he going to return or from where is he going to return, the most sensible decision is to take a one-way ticket. That’s all.  But it seems like wowww….he took a one-way ticket. Our brain says “what if I get stuck in a new place….what if something happens to me…. what if I run out of money….how will I return home. This is too risky. I can never do it. This guy is amazing”.

See what I mean.

You have to sell nothing to travel. In reality, you have nothing to sell which is so valuable that it is a sacrifice to let go of it. If you have property, rent it. If you have a business manage it on the roads and if it has become painful sell it. If you don’t have money to travel start saving money. Plan getting fired from your job. Learn investing. Cut down your irrelevant socializing. Stop smoking drinking drugging. The point is there is no sacrifice required to travel for a year or two. There is no decision you have to take which will threaten your life. Be smart, plan a bit, and try it. That’s all.

Look around in your house now and see how much useless stuff you have. Stuff which is not needed at all. Stuff you have collected for your ego. All that is just your attachment. Donate those shoes you don’t use anymore, let go of that coffee table you don’t use, throw away that stinking 10-year-old blazer that your sweet princess gifted you on valentine’s day. Let go of all the stuff which is just attached to your ego. Take this decision now. This will be the first step to prepare you for traveling and most likely for many good things in life.

Start directing your mind towards traveling. Say you can do it. Think about it. Visualize it. Research it. Plan getting fired from your shitty job. Look for options like volunteering, working abroad, studying abroad, etc. Say that many fools have done it why not me.

To travel, you need faith, not bravery, you need logic not courage, you need planning not impulse. Above all, you need trust in yourself and the world.

You need to believe that 99.99% of humanity is amazing, that you are good enough to not die of hunger on the streets, and that you will manage. Trust me, you can do it. Now go and travel.