Traveling with intention. Have you ever stumbled upon a book that made your world a little larger? Years ago, I found a wonderful book by prolific author Joseph Dispenza, The Way of the Traveler: Making Every Trip a Journey of Self-Discovery. Little did I know then that Joseph would become a valued mentor and dear friend.

In his book, Joseph says travel is an excellent means for spiritual growth and self-discovery when fueled by intention. He writes: “Travel in the outer world is a metaphor for the epic journey inward. And the reward for this sacred sojourn is the spiritual gift of grace: the grace of peace, the grace of self-knowledge, the grace of wisdom.

To guide readers along this path, Joseph offers a series of insightful exercises. One of my favorites is to pack those values you would like to take along with you on your trip.

Friday, I leave for Peru. My good friend Andrew and I are visiting the sacred site of Machu Picchu. It’s a trip that’s been on both of our “bucket lists.”

In preparation for the trip, I am following Joseph’s advice. I wrote five values in my travel journal that I wanted to accompany me on the trip. They are: openness, insight, inspiration, gratitude, and connection.

I am not sure what to expect, but this I know: I will returned a changed man.