What If You Were Fearless: Becoming a Confident Solo Traveler

Fear is the #1 barrier to solo female travel. 

Not money, not loneliness, not doubt over figuring out something new.  Nope.  It's fear.  Women are AFRAID.  Maybe you're afraid.

• Fear of the unknown

• Fear of getting lost

• Fear of not knowing how to handle a situation

• Fear of having to make all the decisions

• Fear of being alone for the first time.

• Fear of flat-out FAILURE. 

No doubt you might add a few of your own to the list. 

Let's Talk About Fear

I'm going straight to the heart of the matter today.  It's time to rip off the band-aid and deal with it.

In my #1 Bestselling book, There's Wonder Around the Bend, I share that my very first road trip actually helped me work through some significant fear and anxiety.  It's not just the fear we may have around traveling, but all the other scary baggage we might be tempted to pack and take on the road with us as well.  Basically friends, we are all a mess.

Trading Fear for Peace

Before we go any further, dream with me just a little but here.  Imagine your life without those fears.  What would you do if you weren't afraid?  What could you do if fear wasn't ending your story before it ever begins?

It's nice to think about it, isn't it?  I bet your blood pressure came down just a bit while you imagined a moment of freedom from fear, hair whipping in the wind with your windows wide open, cruising around a corner on a back road as you drive bravely and happily into the unknown.  At peace.  

I can tell you that feeling never, ever gets old.  Even as I type the words I want to grab my keys and just go!

Let’s come back to the present now, but don’t forget that feeling.  You can imagine being on the other side, if only just a stirring of it.  You will need to deal with the wall of fear in front of you.  The only way to it is through it. 

My Road Through the Fear

In the last seven years, I have solo road-tripped over 60,000 miles and through 46 states.  I’ve written a blog, published a book, and created a business, all around the idea of helping women seek freedom and wonder by taking a solo road trip. 

Had I let my fears dictate my choices, my life and the lives of others I’ve been blessed to serve would have taken a different route.  In my case, my fears weren’t wrapped up in traveling solo, but stemmed from what was a turbulent time of my life.  Regardless of the source, my initial road trip helped me work through some significant fear and anxiety.

I chose to look my fears in the eye and go.  I decided I didn’t have anything to lose, and a ton of self-respect and confidence to gain.  The following is a reflection from that very first solo road trip:

"Taking that first trip on my own—problem solving, reflecting, seeking wonder, looking out and not in, seeking God’s glory in creation—all of these things worked quietly on my heart as the miles melted away. It wasn’t a solution I had sought out, but it was how God chose to bring my fears into the light, give me time and space to wrestle with them, and then provide me with the peace to move forward without them."  from Just Being Bing Blog

Fear is crippling. It keeps us from being who God has created us to be. It takes multiple forms and targets us where we are most vulnerable—fear of failure, fear of loss, fear of judgement, or of not being smart enough, pretty enough, good enough. We all relate somewhere. Zach Williams’ plaintive song “Fear is a Liar” personifies fear and clearly and simply call it what it is.

“Fear is a liar. He will take your breath, stop you in your steps. He will rob your rest, steal your happiness.”

You were not born afraid. It is learned behavior, and it likely took years for it to take root in your life. To move on from that fear takes intention, time, and space. A solo road trip can provide you with the freedom to begin to move forward.

Dealing with Fear Is a Process

For some of us, dealing with your fears is a nasty circle, isn’t?  You’d love to work through your fears and take the trip, but you’re afraid to commit and just do it.  Either your fears are holding you back from solo travel, or you’re walking around burdened by the weight of fears and anxieties in your everyday and can’t quite imagine a different reality.  There IS a way forward.  It’s not quick, it takes guts, but there’s a way.

Over the next weeks I’ll be laying out specific concepts and practical ideas to help you build confidence and begin to leave some of those anxieties in the rear view.  Yes, you’ll need to be brave.  But you have that baked inside of you.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love and of power and of strong mind.                                                                                                                     2 Timothy 1:7

Practically Speaking - Dealing With Fear

Our fears are connected to our emotions and negative experiences.  For example, if you’re afraid of snakes (I absolutely am!), you’re either scared of stepping on one, being bit, etc., or you have that specific negative experience in your past.  While it’s wise to be aware when you’re in spaces where they may be lurking, it goes beyond the rational decide to never walk in the woods for fear of running into one.  

To make that rational choice and deal with that fear, I need to use my head, not my emotions.  There are other preventive options I can take as well, and again those are practical decisions. 

Problem solving over running scared. 

I use this example to make a point, not to diminish whatever you very real fears may be.  (I understand that snakes are not likely to be the reason you choose the safety of your couch over embarking on a wonder-filled solo road trip.)

In the weeks to come, we’re going to name our fears, and then actively choose practical tools to work through them and potentially overcome them.

Solo Travel Fears

Let’s circle back to my opening statement about fear.  It remains the #1 reason why women won’t consider taking a solo road trip.  Using the logic I laid out above, the best way through any fears you may have about traveling alone requires using your brain, not just your emotions. 

Yes it’s still scary (emotion!), but this is where I can help in a very real way (practical help!).

It comes down to one key concept that will take you from paralyzing fear to courage and confidence. 

You need to learn practical tools to keep you safe, poised, and self-assured. 

Safety First

When women express their hesitation (fear) about solo travel, it almost always revolves around personal safety.  It’s a very real and important issue.  Equipping yourself with the proper tools and purposefully planning for your time on the road is the answer to building confidence and conquering fear. 

In the weeks to come, you’ll have the opportunity to learn practical steps to keep yourself, your vehicle, your money and your technology safe.  I can’t wait to dive into it all with you.

Before we begin, here are a few things you can do to set yourself up for success:

1. Name your fears:  Write them down, whether they be travel-related or otherwise. They’re yours.  You have to own them to work through them.
2. Watch the video at the top of the blog post if you haven’t already!
3. If you’re new to the concept of solo road tripping, download my “Going Solo” guide to learn more about confident solo travel.

You have the opportunity to use solo travel as a way to conquer fear and build a new-found sense of confidence in yourself.  I hope you’ll come along for the ride!

Stay in touch - click HERE to get next week’s post!

Want to see what it's really like to solo road trip?  Daily vlogs of my five week adventure, the Summer of Wonder,  can be found here on my YouTube Channel, WonderBing Travel.  Be sure to like and subscribe.  It helps my little business, and you won’t miss any future travels!

Want to know more about how you can get started on your first solo road trip?  Here are two great options!

  Grab “Going Solo”, my FREE roadmap to begin creating your own transformational journey.  Get it HERE.

Get a copy of There’s Wonder Around the Bend: An Inspiring Guide to Solo Road Tripping   Available HERE on Kindle, in paperback and hard cover.

For more information about Bing, check out her author page HERE.