If you read some of my previous posts on reflection and mindfulness then you know how important it is to make time to reflect on “everything” (broad terminology here) including your life journey. You’ll often hear me say that life is a journey, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. However, I don’t think I have ever deeply dived into the journey part specifically. Let me explain.
Live Life?
You see, I am the type of person that always needs to be moving. I need to go from point 1 to point 2, check it off and get it done with. Move on to the next thing and accomplish that. These things can be a variety of tasks or goals, from business related to my bucket list. Through my personal life journey, it’s always been about a variety of these labels. Progress. Ambition. Purpose. Entrepreneurship. Leadership. The list goes on. Each slice of my life has a label and timeline that goes along with it. And if you dissect yours, it’s probably the exact same. We don’t think of these things very often, because we just “live life.”
The Concept
It wasn’t until a few years ago where I began understanding the full concept of one’s life journey. You see, we are raised in a society that teaches us all in all, success. Success encompasses setting goals, being passionate and driving, executing, accomplishing, learning, norms, etc. so that in the end we can look back and say what a wonderful life. And success to each one of you can mean a variety of things. However, the point of this post is the focus on the journey.
I believe most of us (and be honest with yourself) go after goals and destinations. Most of you in one, several or most areas in life are not content with what you are doing, perhaps even who you are or what you have become. You are not satisfied and in the present.
I’ve been there and I still do, yet I now do so with a more conscious attitude and the shift in mindset that life is not about those goals and destinations, but the journey, the ride, the wave towards that endpoint. I still have goals, dreams, ambitions and a select purpose. What I have come to learn is the process of being in the present on that journey. Completely content, completely happy with where and what I am working on. You owe it to yourself to be in the moment.
You see, the universe was created and it’s not going anywhere. What you do has no effect on the purpose of the universe. You are given a finite amount of time on this beautiful earth. In that finite time, we are raised to succeed. Make progress. Keep moving forward. In other words, you have a destination to arrive at and that is what you need to work towards in life. That is your purpose. That is what we are taught. Unfortunate to a certain degree.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying you kick back and sit on the couch every day because life is a waste. That’s not it. The journey is the moment. Life is like dancing. When you dance you go from point A to point B, but it’s not about getting to point B, it’s about the here and now, the dance, the journey of getting to point B. That is what your life should be. Progress is fantastic. Goals are great. Success is beautiful. Utilize all those things on your journey. It’s not like traveling. Where the purpose is actually to get from point A to point B. Your life is precious. And like that dancer, enjoy the moments. Be in the here and now.
Be Here
We teach this to our son(s). We often take the time to reflect. We take the time to speak about the here and now. We try to convey the message that their life’s journey is the beauty of the moment, in which the end result will be the destination. Albeit being able to count his age on one hand, he is beginning to grasp the concept. I want you to do the same. I want you to dance. BUT I don’t want you to focus on the destination, focus on the steps, the dance itself. Utilize every opportunity to enjoy life. Take risks. Experiment. Learn new things. Have dreams. Have goals. Have desires. But always be in the here and now. Aware. It’s completely okay to plan out parts of life. But in doing so, don’t chase the destination. Enjoy the ride.
I know I do. I want to be here and in the now. In this very moment. Be playful and aware.
Make it happen.
