Solo Travel Brought Me Home to Myself
“Sometimes, you must lose yourself to find your true self.”
Embracing Solitude: The Journey Begins
Before I began my healing journey in 2019, the idea of going to the movies, let alone a trip by myself, brought on immense anxiety and fear.
“What would people think of me if they saw me alone?”
“They would think I was a loser.”
“They would think I had no friends.”
“They would think I was weird and unlikeable.”
All of these thoughts about what others would think of me if I was out alone riddled my mind. When in reality, these thoughts belonged to no one else but myself.
The Subconscious Mind: A Trickster
Our subconscious mind is a manipulative little trickster. The negative self-talk we project onto others is often how we feel about ourselves. The truth is, most people are too consumed with themselves and their world to even notice you. But in our self-absorbed state, we believe that everyone is judging us. While some people may judge others, I’d argue that this isn’t the case most of the time.
Think about yourself when you’re out. Unless you're intentionally observing, how often do you really notice the people around you?
Facing the Fear of Being Alone
The fear I felt about being alone in public was simply that—a fear. It wasn't factual. It was rooted in the negative belief that I was a loser, friendless, weird, and unlikeable. For decades, these self-imposed beliefs stopped me from doing something that has since proven to be one of the most impactful decisions I’ve made on my journey.
My First Solo Trip: Sedona, Arizona
In November 2019, I took my first solo trip to Sedona, Arizona. At the time of booking, I had just deleted my Instagram (you can read more about this decision in my last post), and I felt an intense desire to get away. I didn’t fully understand why, but I knew I needed to be somewhere remote with just myself and my thoughts.
The desire to get away outweighed my fear. As I clicked the purchase button to book my flight, a sense of relief washed over me. Without knowing exactly what I needed, I just knew this trip would give me the feeling I’d been yearning for, and I knew I would receive exactly what I’d been missing.
Discovering Freedom for the First Time
When I landed in Phoenix and stepped off the plane by myself, there it was—the feeling I’d been missing all along. Freedom. I had been suffocating in a blanket of codependency for so long that I didn’t know what it felt like to be free to my own plans, time, and decisions.
Falling in Love with My Own Company
On that trip, I realized something profound: I liked being by myself. I liked having autonomy over my decisions—what time I woke up, what I wanted to watch, where I wanted to go, how long I wanted to stay, and what adventures I wanted to get into. It was liberating in a way I hadn’t realized my soul desperately craved.
That trip brought me back to my center in a way I didn’t know I needed. When you answer the call from your soul and take a chance on something unfamiliar, it opens you up to new worlds and possibilities beyond your imagination.
Solo Adventures as a Path to Self-Discovery
Since that day, solo travel, dates, and adventures have become non-negotiable in my life. It’s who I am and who I always was. In these moments of complete immersion into my unique energy, I am home. I receive. And I exist in full union with the person I was created to be.
Reflection: Do You Solo Travel?
Do you solo travel? If so, what is your favorite thing about it?
If not, is it something you’ve considered? What’s holding you back from taking the leap?
Hi, I’m Michelle Breana,
The Transformation Doula behind A Healing Dose. AHD was born from my own journey of transformation—one that required breaking free from limiting beliefs, reclaiming my inner power, and aligning my life with my highest purpose.
I created A Healing Dose as a sacred space for visionary women seeking clarity, empowerment, and a deeper connection to their truth.
Let’s walk this transformative journey together.