Traveling alone opens you up to learning about cultures, new landscapes, among other things. But perhaps the most important take away from solo travel is when you get to know an inner version of yourself and its capabilities. Here’s how.

1. Deeper self discovery. With solo travel, you figure out who you actually are when nobody’s influencing your choices and decisions.

2. Random connections that make an impact. That food server in Thailand or your seatmate on a shared car in Cusco becomes part of your story. If you’re lucky, you get to keep in touch with them through social media.

3. You become wiser and more adaptable. Difficult situations, language barriers, getting lost, etc. You handle such moments with grace (or not), and realize you solve problems better than you thought.

4. Eating alone is cool. No compromising on where to go or what to eat. You then carry this mindset back home.

5. Standards become more flexible. Discomfort becomes tolerable. Refer to #3.

6. Understanding loneliness and solitude are two different things. Being alone does not mean being lonely. Solitude can be quite addicting at times.

7. The world out there is not as scary as you think. Certain fears die down. I conquered my fear of steep pathwalks when I climbed Huayna Piccu Mountain in Peru. People refer this as the stairs of death.

8. Hyping up a braver version of yourself. You kept yourself going, and that confidence sticks with you to your next solo travel destination. The travel skill just keeps getting better.