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“Life is about enjoying the journey and not striving for the destination” 

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The word wanders in its simplest Greek definition means “hiking”. Literally putting one foot in front of another and moving in a forwards direction. Hiking in our minds often conjures up lots of imagery of exotic locations, wilderness and travel related ideas. Metaphorically it means so much more. Wanderlust is about the psychology of who we are. The most basic foundations of the human condition.

Wanders is about our goals in life, whether physical, intellectual, emotional,spiritual, business or otherwise. The human condition requires us to pursue something as we wander this earth. Sometimes I have found that we get distracted and loose sight of the journey or we sabotage ourselves out of realizing our true capabilities on planet earth. I have also learnt that not everyone desires to wander equally and some are content to be less active and not wander far at all. This disheartens me the most, when people don’t strive to expect the best results in their lives.

The second word Lust conjures up images of romance for many. The word lust evokes images of passion, being on fire for someone or something. Dictionary defined as “pure desire”, Lust is emblazoned in our core as human beings. Lust is the reason we get out of bed in the morning. If we don’t lust after something we become depressed and directionless. This idea that we need to be romantically connected to a deep passion is essential. Most human beings have a fundamental psychological urge for self development.

Wanderlust- “desire of hiking” 

Novel and unfamiliar experiences are very important to the human condition. Hiking allows us to use all of our senses in order to immerse ourselves in any given environment at a moment in time. It allows us to learn about cultures and different ways of life. Most importantly we learn about ourselves in the process. It broadens our perspectives as it engages our neural pathways in a process of growth and developmental change. I am not saying that we should hike in a “FOMO” style which is pressured or rapid, with an “I must see everything” mentality. I know of people who do this and they often burn out by striving too hard after busyness and trivial achievements. What I am saying is that we need Wanderlust in conjunction with consistency, rest, stability and connection in order to create a holistic sense of self. 

To use the example of climbing Mount Everest. Firstly you need to have some internal fortitude, motivation, strength and courage in order to do so. Mentally you have come to a decision point about the goal ahead. If it is something you value then you will modify your behavioural response in order to plan for and achieve the hike. Having a good team of people and connections in relationships with others will be a large part of  preparation for and achieving the hike. Your ability to work alongside others and cohesively problem solve together will be key at all stages. Consistency in relationships and routines surrounding preparation will only serve to enhance success. To state the obvious your physical health will also need to be on point. You might need to consult with others who have the expertise in order to manage your physical health. 

Acclimatisation is another important factor in climbing Mt Everest. You will need to stop and rest for periods on the hike, in order to move forward. This is why different camps exist at different altitudes. If you move forward to quickly without stopping then you will not physically and emotionally have the capacity to manage what is ahead. Our bodies always need time to acclimatise. I have found that in our lives we tend to neglect care of self whilst trying to achieve a goal. When in fact, without self care in the hike we will never achieve it at all. Maybe you are at a pause in your lifestyle goals because of physical health. The biggest message here is not to try and rush the process. Just patiently wait and do what you can. 

Wanderlust is about becoming aware of our own behaviors and the limitations that we place on ourselves. I have found that the biggest saboteurs on earth breathe their own oxygen. They breathe the oxygen of their childhood experiences, the ways in which they were parented and the messages they were given about their ability to cope with adversity. If the developmental messages that you received were positive and secure, then the wanderlust outlook will be different for you. The wanderlust outlook will hold potential and dreaming for the future will be slightly easier. Your neural pathways have already been primed to pursue your passion. 

If on the other hand childhood adversity, mental health challenges poor role modeling, even perhaps trauma were part of the developmental process. This impacts an individuals ability to incorporate wanderlust in their lives. If safety and protection are not paramount in your experience, then emotions such as anxiety, shame, mistrust, guilt and depression will surface and can forego our ability to experience wanderlust. If this is the case for you I would encourage you to consider psychotherapy. Desiring or lusting to work through and overcome these challenges can be the first step in order to free up the mental space to pursue your true passion and potential.