"Finding Your Balance: Thriving as a Foreigner & Staying True to Yourself"

Living abroad is a wonderful opportunity to experience new environments and cultures, but it can also present challenges. In order to live authentically in a foreign country, it's important to respect local customs and culture while holding on to your personal values and what's most important to you. Finding the balance between 'adapting to the local way of life' and 'staying true to yourself' isn't always easy.

Know Your Boundaries

The first step in finding this balance is to identify your personal boundaries. When living abroad, you may feel pressured to adapt completely to the local way of life. But you don't have to accept everything—take time to think about what's most important to you and where you might feel resistance. For example, while integrating into the local culture is often seen as ideal, it's also okay to maintain your own beliefs and values without sacrificing them.

Don’t Worry Too Much About What Others Think (Living true to yourself with an internal locus of evaluation)

It's also common when living in a foreign country to worry about how others will perceive you. Worries such as "How do the locals see me?" or "Am I doing things the right way?" can easily creep in. While this is natural, worrying too much about what others think can make it difficult to be yourself. It's helpful to focus on what makes you feel comfortable and at ease, rather than getting caught up in other people's judgements. Prioritising your own well-being over the opinions of others can make the experience of living abroad much easier.

Embrace Mistakes as Opportunities to Grow

Making mistakes is inevitable when living in a foreign culture. With language barriers and cultural differences, misunderstandings and slip-ups will happen from time to time. But the important thing is not to avoid making mistakes - it's to learn from them and use them to help you grow. Everyone makes mistakes, and in a foreign country, this is just part of the journey. Seeing mistakes as opportunities for growth allows you to embrace them in a positive way.

Trust Yourself Above All Else

Above all, it is essential to trust yourself. Self-trust is the foundation for navigating any environment without losing your sense of self. This starts with self-acceptance. Self-acceptance means accepting not only your strengths, but also your weaknesses and imperfections. You don't have to be perfect. Accepting yourself as you are, can bring a sense of calm and allow you to enjoy and appreciate the richness of life abroad more fully.

Take It One Step at a Time

Living in a foreign country is an opportunity to look inward and discover what is truly important to you. By respecting the local culture while protecting your own values, you can build a fulfilling life in a new place. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, stay true to yourself and trust that you're moving forward one step at a time.