Understanding identity after travelling the world with Jema Patterson.

Travelling for 8 years continually teaches Jema about patience, letting go and forming her identity.

About Jema

Jema spent 8 years as a full-time international travel writer. This year - 2018 - she's experimenting with part-time travel life and having a home base.

She spends her time writing about transformational travel at halftheclothes.com and co-hosting a podcast about how to be a content creator without losing your mind or selling your soul.

She blames all her failures AND all her successes on being struck by lightning at the age of 18.

“I wish that I would have been more willing at the time to ask for help.”

— Jema Patterson

When coming home...

Emotions Jema faced - Joyful as well as jarring.
What changed for Jema - Had a different perspective on things like ‘how big the roads were,’ ‘What she could and couldn’t find in the grocery story,’ ‘driving on the other side of the road.’ Having an identity shift.
- Jema explains the Theory of identity development
  - Identity Diffusion - have not created an identity.
  - Identity Foreclosure - absorb the culture around you and you.
  - Identity Moratorium - unsure of what is really happening.
  - Identity Achievement - coming to terms with who you are.
How Jema supported herself - Accept and realise that her identity has changed. Journaling on some questions that spring to mind. Ask your friends to help you. Have faith. Trying to find podcasts or videos or structures to support you.
- Ted Talk - How to quit your life and reboot.
- Ted Talk - How to find your life purpose in 5 minutes.
How Jema used her mindset - More patience with herself, more willing to change expectations. Learning to let go.
3 Lessons learned from travel and reverse culture shock