Expat journal

Cultural filters

Let’s play a little game. You see a tourist wearing white terry socks with sandals… what nationality do you think they are?

Come on, admit it — a specific country just popped into your mind, didn’t it?It happens to all of us: we interpret the world through our own life experiences and personal filters.Imagine that each of us is wearing a unique pair of glasses — every reflection of the world looks a little different, slightly warped or “distorted,” as #NLP would say.

When we interpret other people’s behaviors and habits through the lens of our own culture, we end up judging them. We think they’re weird, wrong.It leads to frustration, fear, or a sense of not being good enough.And it stops us from exploring the world and adapting to new life situations. It shuts down our curiosity.

So when you find yourself in a new situation — like moving abroad — it’s totally normal to look for familiar ground.You cling to what you know, to your old habits.

We all do it, for many reasons:

• to rebuild a comfort zone and feel safe

• to reduce anxiety

• to regain a sense of control

• because it’s easier (less mental effort)

• and because we’re afraid of making mistakes

To face change without feeling like a speeding train is about to hit us, we need to develop what Carol Dweck calls a growth mindset.

But what does that really mean?

It means training your flexibility. Accepting the unexpected. Figuring things out even when you don’t have all the answers.With a growth mindset, you open up. You stay curious. You look for solutions. And most importantly, you learn. Always.

📘 Mindset by Carol S. Dweck – highly recommended for anyone navigating transitions🎥 TED Talk: The power of believing you can improve – Watch here