5 Questions to Ask Yourself on Your Next Road Trip

We spend a lot of time preparing for a road trip.

We decide where we're going. We study the map. We make campground reservations, check the weather, pack the rig, fill the tank and make lists of all the things we don't want to forget.

But there is another kind of preparation we don't always think about.

Who am I as I begin this journey?

Travel has a wonderful way of creating space in our lives. We leave behind some of our routines, responsibilities and familiar surroundings. The scenery changes. Our days change. Sometimes, without even realizing it, we begin to change too.

The next time you head down the road, take a little time to notice not only where you're going—but what's happening within you along the way.

Here are five questions to take with you.

1. What is my intention for this journey?

Before you start the engine, think about what you want from this trip beyond reaching your destination.

Maybe you need rest. Maybe you're craving adventure. Maybe you've been through a difficult season and simply need some space.

Maybe you want to challenge yourself, reconnect with your joy, spend time in nature or discover what it feels like to be completely responsible for your own choices for a while.

Your intention doesn't have to be profound. It simply gives you something to return to when the road gets busy.

My intention for this journey is… Write it down somewhere you can find it again. Then see whether your answer changes along the way.

2. What am I ready to leave behind?

We pack plenty of things to take with us. But sometimes a journey gives us an opportunity to decide what we don't want to carry anymore.

It might be an old expectation. A worry you've been turning over and over. Someone else's opinion of who you should be. A habit that no longer serves you. Or simply the feeling that you have to have everything figured out.

You don't have to solve it today. Just notice it.

What am I ready to leave behind as I travel forward? Sometimes putting a few miles between ourselves and ordinary life gives us a different perspective.

3. What brings me joy?

This sounds like such a simple question. It isn't always.

Pay attention to the little moments on your trip that make you unexpectedly happy.

Maybe it's that first cup of coffee outside in the morning. A ridiculous roadside attraction. Wildflowers growing beside the highway. A conversation with someone you never expected to meet.

The feeling you get when you successfully back your rig into a campsite on the first try. Or maybe it's simply realizing that for this moment, there is nowhere else you need to be.

Don't judge your answers. Just collect them. Over time, those little moments can teach you something about the kind of life that feels good to you.

4. What is this place bringing into my awareness?

Every place has a different feeling. Some places make us want to explore. Others make us quiet.

A mountain can remind us how small we are. A desert can make us aware of space and silence. An old sacred place may affect us in a way we can't quite explain. A bustling campground might remind us how much we enjoy—or need a break from—other people.

Instead of rushing immediately to the next attraction, stop occasionally and ask: What is this place bringing into my awareness? There isn't a correct answer. And you don't have to make the experience mean anything. Just notice.

5. What am I discovering about myself?

This may be my favorite question of all. Travel shows us things about ourselves that ordinary life sometimes hides.

You may discover that you're braver than you thought. You may discover that you actually enjoy your own company. You may realize you need more connection than you expected.

You may find something you're very good at—or something you never want to do again. You may even discover that something you thought you wanted doesn't fit you anymore.

That's part of the journey too. Every once in a while, stop and ask yourself: What am I discovering about myself out here? Then listen for your own answer.

The Journey Within the Journey

You don't have to spend your entire road trip analyzing yourself. Please don't. There are sunsets to watch, campfires to sit around, interesting people to meet and wonderfully unnecessary roadside detours to take.

But every now and then, give yourself a few quiet minutes. Notice where you are. Notice how you feel. Notice what you're learning. And perhaps write some of it down.

Because months or years from now, you may realize that the most important thing you brought home from your journey wasn't a photograph or a souvenir. It was a little more understanding of yourself.

Take The Sacred Road With You

What if the most meaningful discovery you make on the road is something you discover about yourself?

The Sacred Road: A Guided Travel & Reflection Journal for Self-Discovery on the Road was created for women who want their journeys to be about more than the places they visit.

Through thoughtful reflections, guided exercises and space to capture your own experiences, The Sacred Road invites you to slow down, notice what's happening around you—and within you—and discover what life on the road may be revealing.

With Love for the Journey,

Cindie Bright — Founder, Sacred Sisters Travel