5 Reasons You Should Leave Your Hometown Now

When you grow up in a small town, you need to encounter the big-wide world.

For many people, the notion of leaving their hometown behind gives them?shivers, sleeplessness, and goosebumps.?That’s why many people never leave their hometowns — it’s a step outside of your comfort zone, a surrender into unknown territory, and a leap into adulthood.

But, in most cases, it’s always the right move for you. When I decided to leave my hometown — which was many years ago — I wanted to figure out what?the world was, and most importantly, figure out who?I was.

I’ve traveled to over 40 countries worldwide, lived in Australia for two years, lived with Sydney for 20 months, lived on a rural farm in Queensland, Australia for 4 months, lived in Ho Chi Minh City, and lived in my beloved home city of London whenever I’m not traveling.

It was the best decision I ever made.

Nonetheless,?statistics?suggest?that?55 percent?of British people live within 15 minutes of their hometown, and?31 percent?of people still live in their hometown. Furthermore,?72 percent?of Americans?live?in or close to the city where they grew up.

Here are five reasons why you should perhaps consider leaving your hometown behind

1. You don’t feel challenged

You don’t need to travel across the world to feel challenged. However, you’re?unlikely?to feel challenged in your hometown. That’s because?you know where everything is. You know where the local corner shop is, where the nearby restaurant is, and where the nearest park is.

The moral of the story — everything is comfortable for you.

Not everyone wants to experience everything the world has to offer, and that’s entirely fine. But if you’re feeling?somewhat unchallenged?and bored with life, it’s?absolutely?time to leave your hometown and experience the unknown.

According to?research, our biggest three regrets in life are?career, education, and relationships.

• 32 percent of people regret their education
• 22 percent of people regret their career
• 15 percent of people regret their romance

In all 3 cases, you’ll probably have to leave your hometown to fulfill your potential and challenge yourself.

2. You’re bored with everyone knowing you

Perhaps my most significant gripe with visiting my hometown — which I barely ever do — is everyone knowing who I am. As human beings, we’re supposed to grow and evolve. If we’re the same people we were 12 months ago — we’re?not?living our lives properly.

However, the people you grew up around will always see you as the same person, regardless of?who you’ve become.?If you made mistakes a decade ago, people would?still recognize?you for those mistakes.

It sucks.

That’s the incredible thing about world-class cities like New York City, London, LA, Sydney, and Melbourne. You’re in a?crazy?mixture of cosmopolitan diversity, hustle, ambition, and personal growth.

In turn, your past means nothing, and you can become?anything you want.?So if you’re fed up with people seeing you as your former self — and all the negatives of your former self — it’s time for a fresh start.

3. You wonder what life’s like elsewhere

Many people dream about a?better life elsewhere, and that’s an excellent thing. After all, what’s the point in living if we don’t have dreams? If you’re wondering about leaving your hometown and living in a major city, traveling the world, pursuing a career elsewhere — whatever it is, you should do it.

Most people with the desire to leave their hometown and?pursue their dreams?never do it. In most cases, it’s because of family, fear, laziness, self-doubt, peer pressure, negativity, or financial excuses.

In other cases, people are just happy where they are, which is?entirely okay. However, if you’re unhappy and wondering if you can find a better life elsewhere — it’s time to leave your hometown behind.

4. You feel like there’s no opportunity in your hometown

Opportunity is often down to your mindset, and the most incredible people?see opportunity?in the worst situations. The Beatles grew up in working-class Liverpool and became the world’s most successful band (I’m a?huge?Beatles fan, might I add.)

Unfortunately, some people blame their hometown for their lack of accomplishment. In many cases, it’s their?negative mindset?that stops their progress.

But you won’t become a?Hollywood movie star?living in Barnsley, England, you won’t become a?world-class investment banker?in Detroit, Michigan, and you won’t become a?fashion model?living in Sunderland, England.

Although success is often in your mind, nobody can shy away from the truth that you’ll have to leave behind your hometown to find success in?many?careers.

You should leave your hometown if you have career dreams that lie elsewhere, and most times —?your career dreams will lie elsewhere.

5. You’re surrounded by negative energy

Firstly, negative energy is everywhere. I’ve encountered?negative losers?in some of the world’s greatest places. If you find yourself surrounded by negative people, you probably need to take a look at yourself. The?Law of Attraction?is?brutally real.

But, more importantly, you need to?make new friends. You can do that in your hometown, but you’ll find it far easier to make new friends in a different city with fresh surroundings. Small towns, although generally cheaper and more relaxed, tend to be a boulevard of broken dreams.

You can’t let negative people?spoil your dreams. Sadly, for many people reading this, their family will tell them that they can’t travel the world, they can’t start a business, they can’t achieve career success, or they can’t have a happy relationship.

Sometimes family — although an important part of our lives — can be your?worst nightmare. Leaving your hometown for?even a short time?can leave you refreshed and free of negative energy.

Once you begin to see a world that’s?free of negative voices, you’ll feel?liberated. As a result, you’ll grow, develop, and prosper into the person you were supposed to be.

Final Thoughts

I once read an incredible book called The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter — And How to Make the Most of Them Now. As I reach the latter years of my twenties, the book continues to resonate with me more and more.

Your dreams probably aren’t in your hometown. If, like me, you felt frustrated in your early 20s — go and experience the world before it’s too late.