How Adventure Changes You.
- Brad Christian
- Jul 7
- 3 min read
The transformative power of adventure lies in its ability to push us beyond comfort zones, challenge our perceptions, and awaken a deeper connection to the world—and ourselves. Whether it’s summiting a mountain, riding a rugged single-track trail, or navigating the unknown in a foreign land, adventure places us in environments where growth becomes inevitable.
Here’s what makes adventure truly transformative:
1. It builds resilience
Adventure introduces uncertainty, physical challenge, and occasional discomfort. Facing those obstacles—cold, fatigue, fear, risk, failure and triumph—teaches you how to adapt, stay calm under pressure, and bounce back stronger. Adapting, staying calm and bouncing back are traits that are just as critical for success in life as ever with today’s uncertainty and the radical pace of societal and global change. No one is immune from needing to stay ready to adapt.
2. It reconnects you with presence
Out in the wild or mid-ride on a singletrack, distractions fall away. You’re fully present—focused on your next step, turn, or breath. This clarity fosters mindfulness and a sense of calm that’s often lost in daily life. When I reflect back on some of my greatest accomplishments, they occurred at times when I had a powerful focus. Tapping into that ability to focus is critical and must be worked on as a skill.
3. It shifts perspective
Stepping outside your normal routine, culture, or physical environment forces a change in perspective. You see your life and priorities differently. Many people return from adventures with a renewed sense of purpose or a clearer vision of what matters most. This aspect of adventure was critical for me in navigating an especially challenging time after separating from the military. I found peace and purpose in mountain biking, whitewater kayaking and climbing mountains. The physical challenge of a 20+ mile day on a mountain bike or summiting a remote peak in Montana helped me stay connected to physical adversity which is a core part of the military life I had recently left. The technical difficulty and physical danger of whitewater kayaking on class IV & V rapids similarly kept me sharp and feeling good about doing something that required me staying “technically and tactically proficient”. Since that first transition in the 90’s, I’ve had additional transitions out of military and government service in overseas locations. I’ve maintained an active lifestyle of adventure travel and extreme sports and it's given me the ability to keep a perspective that has helped me, and many other veterans, maintain mental and physical health. Veterans aren’t the only ones who benefit from challenging adventures.
4. It reawakens joy and curiosity
There’s a childlike excitement in exploring new places and pushing boundaries. Adventure brings novelty, awe, and fun—feelings that refresh our mental and emotional well-being. Staying “spiritually strong” is not something that is taught or talked about but it is a skill you can work on and improve. We all know what it feels like when we’re not balanced. The truth is most of have incredibly stressful and challenging demands on our time. Chances are your job, whatever it is, is stressful. If you are a parent then demands on your time are more challenging today, than any prior generation has ever known. Maybe you are a business owner struggling to survive in a competitive and uncertain economic environment. All of these are normal parts of everyday life but these pressures can erode ones emotional state of happiness and well-being. Sometimes it takes more than a weekend to find your center again.
5. It reveals who you are—and what you’re capable of
When stripped of convenience and predictability and forced to face adversity and risk head on, you often meet your true self. You discover new strengths, passions, and edges you didn’t know existed. That self-knowledge can reshape how you approach challenges across all areas of life.
In short, real adventure transforms by demanding more of you—and then revealing that you are more capable than you imagined. Whether it’s a weekend ride or a months-long expedition, these experiences create space for growth that few others in life can match.
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