Living a life on the move, whether as an expat or a global nomad, offers unique world perspectives. It allows for rich experiences across different cultures, but it also brings with it a sense of transience. Today I explore the concept of Transient Mentality among intercultural expats and global nomads. Also called Temporality Mindset, I go into the subject of its implications, challenges, and rewards.
Transient mentality is the mindset characterized by a constant readiness for change and a focus on one’s current situation temporality. For intercultural expats and global nomads, this mentality is often a necessity. It is driven by frequent relocations, varied job assignments, or a personal choice to explore the world. This mindset is marked by flexibility, adaptability, and an openness to new experiences. Nevertheless, it can also entail a lack of long-term attachments and a sense of rootlessness.
Another term used for the group of Expatriates and Global Nomads is “sojourners” It describes individuals who travel abroad with a specific goal and a defined timeframe. These cultural travelers intend to return to their home country after completing their assignment. Unlike permanent settlers, such as immigrants or refugees, sojourners have a temporary perspective, which shapes how they interact with and adapt to the host society’s culture.
The Intercultural Expat Experience
Intercultural expats, who relocate for work, educational opportunities, or personal reasons, often experience a profound transformation in their worldview. Their transient mentality starts when assimilating new cultures quickly, understanding local customs, and building social networks in unfamiliar environments. While this fosters resilience and cultural sensitivity, it can also lead to challenges such as maintaining relationships and a stable sense of identity.
If we add to this the fact that assignments typically less than three years, much is expected in that time. The work assignment is usually tough, and the pressure is enhanced by the above-described cultural unfamiliarity. Distance from family and friends means that normal life events put even more pressure on the individual. As an example, a death in the family changes enormously when one is in their home environment.
Global nomads, who choose a lifestyle of perpetual travel without a fixed home base, embody the transient mentality to the fullest. They thrive on the novelty of new destinations and the freedom to explore diverse cultures. However, this constant movement can also bring about issues like the difficulty of finding community, and managing logistics. This turns out in the end to be an experience and perpetual sense of temporariness.
Benefits of Transient Mentality
Transient or “sojourner mentality” is encapsulated by the Chinese phrase “luo ye gui gen” (a fallen leaf always returns to the root). This mentality reflects a strong connection to their hometown, influencing their behavior and inhibiting local integration. Nevertheless, it has its benefits:
- Enhanced Adaptability: Both intercultural Expats and global nomads develop a high degree of adaptability, which allows them to navigate different cultural contexts with ease.
- Cultural Intelligence: Exposure to various cultures enhances cultural intelligence, making them more empathetic and effective communicators.
- Broadened Perspectives: The transient lifestyle fosters a broadened perspective, encouraging open-mindedness and a deeper understanding of global issues.
- Personal Growth: Continuous exposure to new challenges promotes personal growth, resilience, and a sense of adventure.
Challenges of Transient Mentality
As when faced by diverse changes, Expatriates and Global Leaders and Nomads encounter challenges when going through their new assignments:
- Rootlessness: A constant sense of temporariness can lead to feelings of rootlessness and a lack of belonging.
- Relationship Maintenance: Maintaining long-term relationships can be difficult, as frequent moves disrupt social connections.
- Identity Struggles: The lack of a stable home base can lead to struggles with identity and a coherent sense of self.
- Practical Difficulties: Logistics such as housing, healthcare, and legal matters can become complex and stressful. Look at this quick illustrative example of “To paint or not to paint?” when faced with the decisions in transient world.
Strategies for Managing Transient Mentality
- Mindfulness Practices: Engaging in mindfulness and self-reflection to stay grounded despite constant change.
- Creating Rituals: Establishing personal rituals or routines that provide a sense of stability and continuity.
- Staying Connected: Using technology to maintain connections with loved ones and building a support network of fellow expats or nomads.
- Building Portable Communities: Leveraging online platforms and global networks to create a sense of community that transcends geographical boundaries. Expats and Global Nomads can shape the urban landscape through their transient mentality, influencing part of the city’s development and social networks. Their preferences lead to investments in specific areas, with businesses opening cafes, boutiques, services, and retrofitting houses to cater to their needs. The rise of pop-up galleries, restaurants, and cultural amenities reflects this transience. These mixed-use neighborhoods result in dynamic urban spaces, creating transnational patches within global cities like la Condesa and Roma in Mexico City, Mérida, Lake Chapala, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Puebla, and Queretaro. Malaga, Valencia and Alicante in Spain. Look at a complete list here in Forbes’ World’s 20 Best Cities To Live, According To Expats.
Conclusion
Embracing a transient mentality as an intercultural expat or global nomad comes with a unique set of benefits and challenges. It fosters incredible growth, adaptability, and cultural understanding. Additionally, it requires managing the inherent instability and emotional complexities of a life in flux. As I described in a previous blog on The Big Changes, the Loss of everyday Life, there are many exciting changes but also some not so nice ones. By finding balance and employing strategies to stay grounded, those who live this lifestyle can thrive amid constant change and uncertainty.
With an Intercultural Executive Coach, the Expatriate and Global Leader can live a strong focus on collaborative goal-setting and action. A caoch will work quickly and challengingly, supporting clients to expand their skills and uncover blind spots.
With an Intercutural Executive Coach, Clients can reflect on their actions’ outcomes, take new steps, and adjust plans based on what works towards their goals. This action-oriented strategy is particularly effective for expatriates and global Nomad, helping them overcome adjustment challenges. In the ever-changing expatriate environment, a pragmatic coaching approach is crucial as it allows clients to test different options and adapt without established guidelines, making the most of their unique situations.
Further reading
- Daniel de O. Vasconcelos, Julie T. Miao, ‘A stop on the train’: the transient mentality of creative expats in Beijing, China, Mobilities, 2024, ISSN 1745-0101, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1745010123001406)
