Food, Travel and the Quest for Joy

WHAT IS IT ABOUT great food and travel experiences that bring us so much joy? Is it the element of surprise? The exploration of new sensory stimulation? New tastes, smells, sounds and sights? Is it simply the differences that delight us? Or is it something else?

As a psychotherapist, I’ve spent my entire career helping people discover health and happiness. After thousands of hours working with my clients I have a theory on where the foundation of joy can be found. I believe it has a lot to do with being present and connected. Being in the moment. Being mindfully awake and aware. It also has a lot to do with our sense of gratitude. And without a doubt, happiness comes from community and connection with people and places that allow us to be the best versions of ourselves.

Where do all of these things exist simultaneously? In our experiences with food and travel.

When we travel, we are free from the pressures of our everyday lives. Suddenly the weight of our responsibilities lifts from our shoulders and we feel a sense of lightness that allows us to “be here now.” Staying in the moment, rather than perpetually being preoccupied with what’s next on our to-do list is the first step in bringing us back to a sense of mindful presence that helps us feel awake and alive.

Traveling to new places also demands our attention. We cannot be on autopilot when we’re navigating unfamiliar territory. When we arrive in a new place, we are forced to lift out of the distractions of our phones, move away from the numbness of our everyday routines and habits and pay careful attention to what we’re noticing, where we’re going and who’s around us.

This captivation of our awareness helps us feel noticeably alive and invites us to reconnect to lost parts of ourselves and to connect with others in new ways. What I’ve noticed about travel is that it’s as much about what you’re experiencing and seeing as it is about discovering really important things about yourself too.

Therapists know that one key to increasing self-esteem has a lot to do with taking healthy risks. When we push ourselves to try new things, our sense of confidence increases and so does our sense of self-concept. Having the courage to surrender our level of comfort and explore something new can be beneficial to our psyche and our soul.

NEW TRAVEL EXPERIENCES also bring new culinary opportunities. Think of what you typically eat every week. Do you find yourself making the same breakfast on a regular basis? Do you rotate the same three or four dinner ideas every other week? Humans are creatures of habit. We feel a sense of security and safety when our lives are predictable and routine. But if we never break that up, we can become afraid of trying new things and that level of fear can inhibit our personal growth and expansion too.

When we explore cultural norms that are different from ours, it can turn our worldview upside down. Discovering how people in other places eat through regional dishes and the use of hyperlocal ingredients can be a very healthy exercise in self awareness. It helps us remember that the world is a very large place with millions of people who think, act and carry on their everyday lives very differently from the way we do. It moves us out of our ego and expands our compassionate awareness and sense of humanity towards others.

Think back to the most amazing meal you’ve ever had on vacation. I bet you could tell me every detail of that moment. The sights around you, the colors, the setting you were in, the people you were with. I bet you remember the feeling of that moment, what sounds you heard, where you were sitting, who served you or who prepared that meal. I bet you remember what that dish looked like, how it was plated, what the first bite tasted like. I bet you could tell me what you loved about it and how you felt at that moment. All of it was imprinted in a very distinct way.

But if I asked you what you ate last Wednesday, you might have trouble recalling the details.

When we’re in a new place, experiencing new foods, we are operating on a different sensory plane. We’re taking in so much new information that it locks into our memory in a very different way than our everyday life experiences do. And while I’m not suggesting we try to emulate these “peak experiences” on a regular basis or that one is better than the other, I am reminded of the powerful “joy infusion” that great travel and great food experiences offer us.

My husband and I lived in Europe and we have been hosting culinary tours there for several years. He’s the chef and I’m the organizer. As a therapist and international retreat leader, I live for opportunities to build community and deepen people’s understanding of themselves through experiences that expand their ideas of what’s possible. And what’s remarkable to me each time we host is how life-affirming these food and travel experiences are for our guests.

HOW CAN YOU replicate this in your own life right now?

Start by bringing your full awareness to the experience in front of you. Whether you’re shopping at a farmers market or preparing a simple homemade soup, allow yourself to awaken your senses. Notice the beauty of your ingredients, the uniformity, the texture, the scent and taste. Be present with your experiences around plating and eating what you’ve made. Allow your dish to be your central focus, rather than eating while you’re doing something else.

When we bring mindfulness to our lives with great intentionality, it increases our sense of gratitude and fulfillment.

Invite others to your table. Sharing a meal with friends and family strengthens our sense of connection and reduces isolation. Social relationships are one of the biggest factors in unlocking happiness and what better way to do this than around the dinner table sharing something delightful to eat?

Of course, traveling to beautiful places and immersing yourself in new foods can be one of the most joyful experiences of our lives. That said, making simple shifts in the way we move through our everyday actions can also have a profound impact on our quest for joy.

Learn more at www.gunnellinnovation.com