According to Christian Richomme, our summer choices speak for us: fatigue, quest for identity, need for control or letting go… What you plan for summer says a lot about your subconscious.
What your summer vacation (really) reveals
Every summer, we think we choose our vacations. In reality, they are the ones who reveal us. Beach, mountain, countryside or city: behind every packed suitcase, there is a hidden intention. This is what Christian Richomme reveals, psychoanalyst in Paris, specialist in anxiety and emotional disorders. Through our summer desires, it detects inner tensions, lacks or quests for appeasement that we do not always dare to name.
“Our destinations are never neutral, they express things about us that we sometimes ignore. They reflect a need for balance, escape or reconnection.”he says. This intimate reading grid gives new meaning to your vacation, and can even guide your next choices. Here’s what they say about you, without you having to speak.
The sea, or the urgent need to be enveloped
With 40% of French people who choose the sea as their first destinationit’s the great holiday classic. But not only that. “The sea embodies a return to origins, to the liquid element which carried us in utero”explains Christian Richomme. Float, swim, listen to the surf… So many simple, but deeply symbolic gestures.
This choice often reflects a want to let yourself be carried awayof regress without guilt. A desire for relief, especially after months of intense mental stress.
- A need for emotional security;
- The wish to no longer be in permanent control;
- Even an attempt to explore or escape an agitated unconscious.
The mountain or the call to surpass oneself (in silence)
Less popular but just as eloquent, the mountain attracts those who want climb to find yourself better. “Climbing, crossing a pass, dominating the valley… all this highlights a quest for identity and inner clarification“, notes Richomme. Elevation is not just a sport, it is a symbol.
This choice often reveals a desire for independence, a desire to be alone with oneself. We come across:
- A need for autonomy;
- A search for verticality in an everyday life that is too flat;
- A taste for silent introspection.
Countryside, city or inaction: unexpected reveals
Want greenery and calm? You are not alone: 25% of French people say they want to “reconnect with nature”. “The campaign responds to a desire for psychological detox, to get rid of noise“, says Christian Richomme. Getting up with the birds, cooking local products… so many small gestures that reflect a search for authenticity or inner repair.
The city, conversely, fills another void: that of permanent stimulation. For some, it’s a strategy. “Intellectual stimulation reassures, occupies, and can serve as a refuge from rawer emotions.he explains. The need to understand and structure the world sometimes takes precedence over letting go.
And then there are those who choose to do nothing at all. “This choice may seem passive, but it actually reflects a rare ability to accept the moment without trying to fill it.underlines Richomme. Naps, deckchairs, contemplation… A form of maturity that is often underestimated.
76% of French people say they want to “rest” above all else. But this rest can take a thousand faces: effort, silence, sea or crowd. Christian Richomme reminds us: “There is no right or wrong destination. Every choice tells a story, often unconscious“.
This summer, ask yourself this simple question: What do I really want from my vacation?