Journey vs. Destination Mindset
Share this article:
You’ve probably heard the saying that “life is about the journey, not the destination.” But what does that really mean? On a macro level, it means that, in the end, we’re all going to the same place. How we get there, and what we experience along the way is different, and up to us to decide, notice, and appreciate.
This same philosophy can be applied to goals, and things you want to accomplish in your life, as well. This isn’t to say that the destination doesn’t matter. It does. But you may be more likely to accomplish a goal – and find the process of getting there more enjoyable – if you focus on the journey, or the steps required to get you to your destination.
Journey Over Destination
When you focus on the journey, rather than the destination, it means you’re less attached to the final outcome. However, it’s important to have a final outcome, destination, or goal in sight, because this is the way you’ll stay focused on the steps you need to take along the way (the journey) to get to your goal (the destination.)
Some people refer to these two different mindsets – focusing on destination vs journey – as the difference between a tourist, and a traveler. Basically, a tourist goes to see a new place, takes it in, and ultimately returns home to the city and the life they left. For them, the destination, or the place they’re visiting, is the focus. A traveler, on the other hand, may set out not knowing if or when they might return home. They’re focused on the act of traveling and seeing new places and allowing their experiences and desires to guide them.
Beginning the Journey
When you begin your journey towards whatever goal or vision you’ve set for yourself, it can seem overwhelming, especially if the goal feels especially big or intimidating to you. The way to conquer this is through focusing on the journey. The destination can feel far away and almost impossible to accomplish, but if you break it down into various smaller, manageable steps, it becomes something very possible for you to accomplish. As the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu is credited with saying, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
If you keep putting one foot in front of the other – that is, accomplishing one small goal at a time along your journey – soon you’ll be closer to achieving your goal than you even realized. Here are a few tools to help you embrace the journey and stop putting so much focus on the final destination.
Slow Down
In today’s society, it’s considered to be going, going, going, all the time. We work long hours, we load up schedules with activities, commitments, and all sorts of time-consuming minutiae. We don’t leave ourselves time to breathe, recalibrate, and enjoy life as it’s happening.
It can be hard to force yourself to slow down when you’re used to going 100 miles per hour all the time, but it truly makes a difference. When you take time to breathe and take it all in, you’ll be better able to hear your inner voice, understand yourself better, and appreciate all of the beautiful people, events, and nature around you.
Live in the Present
Living in the present can be a challenge, but it’s an important tool for living a happy and fulfilled life. If you are constantly looking to or living in the past, you’re likely to experience regret, sadness, doubt, or disappointment. What has happened in the past has already happened, though. No matter how many times you relive it, you can’t change what has already occurred in your life. Trying to do so could stir up feelings of resentment, jealousy, and discontent. Instead, let go of all that has happened up to this moment.
Similarly, if you’re always looking to the future, you may become anxious about things that haven’t even happened yet – and may never happen. Or you may get so focused on something you want, need, or expect to have in the future that you miss all of the wonderful things happening around you right now.
When you live in the present, you release yourself from the regret, the anxiety, and all of the things that you can’t control. While it can seem difficult at first, practicing mindfulness, taking time to stop and notice your surroundings, and working hard to be present in conversations, activities, and get-togethers will help you start to live fully in the present.
Manage Unrealistic Expectations
By breaking your journey up into small steps, you can focus on small goals that you can accomplish, rather than fixating on one huge goal that may or may not be realistic for you at this point in your life. When you embrace the journey, you can see value in the small accomplishments along the way, regardless of how the end result turns out.
Cultivating a Positive Mindset
No matter how good or bad you may think you have it, every single human life is a balancing act. We experience highs and lows of varying degrees throughout our time here in this life. It’s all part of the human condition.
However, when you can learn to look at life and your circumstances with a positive mindset, you’ll start to notice more good than bad. This doesn’t mean bad things will never happen; instead, a positive mindset will help you to better navigate the storms and get you back to the sunshine quicker.
What to do After Reaching Your Destination
Once you’ve reached your destination, don’t stop! Look ahead to see how this journey might be extended or set your sights on a new one. We can always continue to grow and change. If you are unsure about what to do once your goal has been reached, consider scheduling personal coaching services with a life coach, like Jonette Dyer. This is just one of many reasons people choose to hire a life coach – to keep themselves always moving forward toward living their very best life.
Jonette can help you understand what goal setting is, identify your goals, and make a plan to achieve them. To start your unique journey, reach out to Jonette Dyer Coaching today.
Connect with Us:
Imagined and executed by RivalMind.