GirlGI | Girl Gone International Issue 9 | Page 109

3 | Diversity Through Community
After you’ve relocated and are in the process of
settling in and creating a life for yourself, it can
be invaluable to consider the role of diversity in
the community you build. The relevance of this
point might vary depending on the stage you
are at in your life and ultimate goals; but
nevertheless, it is worth bearing in mind
because within it lies the secret to creating a
rich multi-faceted experience as compared with
one that is one-dimensional or one-track.
Think about it for a minute…in your home country where your early life was rooted, you probably moved effortlessly between many different spheres of family, friends, school, hobbies
and interests, exercise, recreation and work.
This dynamic is precisely what helped you feel
grounded and truly ‘present’ to your existence
there through it all. Can you see the tremendous value in replicating this model where you
are now? It is vital you recognise the unlikelihood that just one sphere of acquaintances
and friends will support you in creating the sort
of existence required to build a balanced,
holistic new life.

4 | Your Built-In Requirement
For Self-Growth
No matter what stage you are at in your life or
where you are in the world, whether you’ve ever
consciously thought about it in these terms or
not, self-growth is a fundamental human need.
The more you are able to recognise the
various ways in which this essential aspect of
you comes to the fore, the more aligned you
will feel.
You can think of it in these terms…wherever
you are at present is integral to your process
of becoming more of your real self. For many,
moving abroad represents the first step in the
process of becoming an individual away from