Written by: Natasha Zo, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Connection across various cultures is a critical element in fostering empathy and love on a global scale. As such, broadening your horizons and stepping out of your experience is crucial to develop an understanding of others. To achieve this goal, Freeman Fung, an international author, inspirational speaker, and certified life coach, motivates people to dive head-first into global citizenship. As a conscious globetrotter, he advocates new global citizenship at TEDx, world tourism forums, Mindvalley, and more.
However, you must first understand the concept of global citizenship and what is a global citizen. Let’s look into Freeman Fung’s life journey and experiences to learn how he became a global citizen and how you can become one!
What is Global Citizenship?
Global citizenship is how we speak about the social, economic, and environmental actions of people and communities who understand that every individual is a citizen of this world. It shows how the decisions in one area of the planet can influence people living in a different area.
Additionally, global citizenship is about how people share a common humanity and are equally worthy. It’s an effective way to engage positively with other cultures and identities and to recognize and challenge societal stereotypes. As a global citizen, you’ll know how to use and share the planet's resources fairly and sustain the human rights of every individual.
What Does it Like to be a Global Citizen?
New global citizenship is more than just a title; it’s a mindset. In this emerging digital world, the international communities are getting closer, yet if you choose not to act, it’s very easy to stay in the bubble.
You must ask yourself, what community am I a member of? Your answers could be your home, work, school, or literal neighborhood — expanding it into the different world communities strengthens your overall global citizenship.
In such small communities, you might exchange certain ideas with your friend or help your coworker with any problem.
Being a conscious global citizen means showing a willingness to do these simple things with people from various nations and diverse cultural backgrounds. Freeman Fung, in his best-seller, Travel to Transform, explains how he became a global citizen and how it influenced his life that he stepped onto the path as a certified life coach. He is now helping other people transform into thriving global citizens.
He further added that sometimes you think you have little to offer. It’s tempting to feel you must travel to a new country each month or fight for social justice to prove yourself a “global citizen.” That misses the mark.
A new global citizen definition you must consider is more about connecting and garnering empathy for different cultures beyond your own. It would look different for different individuals since we all have a unique path. Being a global citizen could mean becoming the best version of ourselves through travelling and offering the world what we do best.
Helping to solve our mutual global challenges is so crucial. Also, the drive to create a positive impact is most powerful when it stems from a feeling of new global citizenship and being a part of the conscious international community.
How Do You Become a Global Citizen?
How does an individual transform into a global citizen or enhance their new global citizenship skills? What does getting that kind of world mindset and diverse global education take? Freeman, in his book, explains that if you’ve decided to become a global citizen, you have already come to a step closer to the right direction towards expanding your global awareness.
He further stated if anybody at any point in time asks you, “But how do I become a global citizen too?” Remember the acronym for TRAVEL:
T for Transform
R for Reprogramme
A for Aware
V for Value
E for Evolve
L for Love
However, there are a few small and large things that you can do to develop new global citizenship in your own life. Keep reading to know!
Learn About the World
Before you hop into any international travel, there’re certain ways you can use to learn about this emerging world. The internet and AI are among the wonderful resources, and a massive web of data is available with only a few finger taps.
If you cannot travel to specific cultures or countries, with the internet, you may still have a chance to learn about their experiences.
It could be easily done through reading, but also by connecting with people across the globe and exchanging your contrasting and shared life experiences. Freeman, originally from Hong Kong, left his home alone at age 19 to settle in Romania for a Global Village project. He traveled and experienced life in over 30 countries and is still continuing to do so.
He believes it’s amazing to get closer to people from diverse cultural backgrounds, understands problems that we don't regularly face, and explore things beyond our usual purview. With the latest technology available, it’s easy for people to improve their global citizenship.
Learn About Yourself
Being an active member of the one global community means giving and receiving. As you understand the world, you must notice certain mindsets change and may find new interests and reasons to explore.
What are your true passions and ultimate goal in life? Realizing what you actually care about and what you like to offer to this world will help you live through your own new global citizenship, just like Freeman did. While enjoying exploring this world, he is a great Shaolin martial artist, a DJ/musician, a passionate photographer, an integral thinker, a Mindvalley ambassador, a biohacker, and a lucid dreamer. Like Freeman Fung, you can also find that you have something unique to offer and the potential to impact this world positively.
Traveling as a Conscious Globetrotter
Among the best ways to improve your global citizenship and become a conscious global citizen of the world is to get out and explore it. Throughout his book, Freeman has shared a recollection of his travel stories with everyone, along with some most valuable lessons he learned from his experiences.
He believes he is designed to become a catalyst for people to spark their own insights about their lives. His thoughts about global citizenship are to provoke your reflection, mindset, reflection, and awakening.
Natasha Zo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Natasha Zo is a former journalist from Siberia turned international media relations specialist. She is a founder of Cosa Famosa media – a boutique PR agency on a mission to amplify messages of conscious leaders, health, and wellness entrepreneurs through earned media. Known for her connector skills, she guided a number of authors to Amazon bestseller status, booked national TV, top-tier media, and over 400 podcast interviews.
