Categories International, Moving | Posted on 07/25/2018 | By: Laura MuellerTags: international move, moving to a new city, moving to a new country, new city, new country, reasons to move
The world is filled with new and magical places. But for many of us, beyond a vacation here and there, we spend most of our lives in just one place. It can be scary to take the leap and move to another city or country, but sometimes getting out of your comfort zone is the best way to learn and grow.
There’s a lot to be gained by making the move to another city or country, especially when it comes to learning more about yourself and other people and cultures. Such a major life change can be intimidating, but as they say: you only live once. Here are 9 reasons you should consider packing your bags and moving somewhere new.
Test your limits
Sometimes we just need to take a leap of faith in order to find out what we’re capable of. While it may be impossible for you to imagine saying goodbye to a place you’ve called home for a long time, making the move to another city or country is a great way to see just how far your limits really go. And if you can do that, who knows what else you can do?
Foster independence
There is comfort in familiarity, but it takes real courage to build independence. There’s nothing wrong with spending your life surrounded by people you know, love, and trust, but with that familiarity comes complacency. You may be surprised how much you rely on the people around you for comfort and validation, and how scary you find unfamiliarity. Heading out into the world on your own, without the security of those you’re used to having around you, is a huge lesson in independence that’s hard to come by in other ways. And while it’s an overwhelming prospect to be on our own, it’s not all black and white—your support system will always be just a phone call away.
Broaden your horizons
The best way to experience something new is to immerse yourself in it. And you don’t have to move across the globe to do that—even making a move to a new city in your own country can provide you with access to an entirely new way of living. Being around a new culture has the unique power to broaden our perception of the world and our place in it, in turn opening our eyes to a clearer perception of both other people and ourselves. The benefits are multi-faceted and, even if you don’t move to a new a city or country for the long haul, will last with you for life.
Learn to be alone
There’s something very freeing about the ability to be alone. Some of us are born being comfortable with it, and others have to constantly push themselves to do it. Even if you already have friends or family members waiting for you when you move to a new city or country, you will inevitably experience some feelings of solitude. It comes with the territory of being a stranger in your environment. But if you embrace these feelings, you can really grow from them. Learning to feel safe and content in your own company is a lesson you can take with you wherever you go—you may even learn that you really love it.
It was easy to make new friends as a kid, when your new BFF may have just been the person eating lunch next to you in the cafeteria. As we get older, however, forming new friendships becomes more difficult. There’s nothing wrong with being content in our existing relationships, but there is something to be said for continuing to form new bonds and connections as we get older. Moving to a new place forces you to do just that. Whereas you may not have had much incentive before to get out there and meet new people, getting settled in a new city or country requires that you branch out and make connections. If you’re nervous about it, start out by just trying to meet your neighbors. As your confidence builds, you’ll feel ready to expand your circle.
Choose your optimal place to live
If you’ve always wondered why your parents chose to live in the suburbs when there are so many great cities to explore or why anyone wouldn’t want to live near the ocean and palm trees, making the move to a new city or country is your chance to find somewhere to live that checks all the right boxes for you. In addition to the scenery, you’ll be able to choose somewhere to live that aligns with how you like to (or would like to) go about your life—from cost of living to amenities to the food scene, and more.
Gain valuable experience
Schools and employers like to see that you’ve stepped out of your comfort zone. It builds character, which in turn builds better students and employees. Don’t move just to satisfy what you think somebody else might want, but do chalk up a move to a new city or country as a great resume booster that can help you out in the future. Will it get you a job? Probably not. But will it set you apart from the competition? Definitely.
Learn a new language in the best way possible
Learning a new language is incredibly difficult, especially as we age. But there’s no doubt that the very best way to become fluent in a new language is to immerse yourself in it. So what better way to do that than to move somewhere where you really have no choice but to learn to speak and communicate in an entirely new way? It’s the best sort of language lesson there is. It will probably be incredibly hard at first (learning a new language always is), but if it’s all around you you’ll learn it faster and more proficiently.
You’ll start to appreciate where you came from
Distance makes the heart grow fonder. It’s easy to take the things around you for granted if you never experience another way of living. Making the move to a new city or country will challenge your assumptions about where you came from and enable you to look at your roots from a brand new perspective. Even if you never move back to the place you previously lived, you’ll always have a more open minded vantage point from which to view it and an appreciation for what makes it different and special.
There’s no right or wrong age to pack up and make your move, so if you’ve got the itch to try out life in a new place and the flexibility to make it happen, go for it. You’re more likely to regret not doing it than taking the plunge. Bon voyage!