Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash 

Discovering Joy in the Journey, Not Just the Destination

Hey you! How are you? Our discussion today will focus on "Discovering the joy. Not  because of the expected goal you want to achieve, but the steps it took you to achieve those goals". In our fast paced goal-driven world, its easy to become fixated on the next big thing. Be it achieving a new milestone, earning a degree, landing a dream job, or achieving financial success. What happens when we achieve those goals? What happens when we finally complete the milestone? Most times we're not even happy, in some events we're in pursuit of the next big thing again. Why so? It is because true fulfilment comes from enjoying the journey along the way, rather than arriving at destinations. Let's dive in!

In all honesty, there were events that i went through and after completion i wasn't all that glad, like the day of my graduation from high school. Initially the point was to graduate, but on completion i wasn't all that happy. I felt slight resentment, mostly because "my journey, my adventure, my montage" was finally coming to an end. Understanding that your journey is the most important phase in achieving success is key. Truth be told, life happens in the present. The journey is where growth, learning and memories are made. Goals act as a motivation, and brings direction, while the journey shapes our lives.

A certain day, I told a friend of mine "life's shit". He smiled and told me "life's not shit, we make it shit". I definitely know that sometimes it's hard to embrace joy in our journey. I know that sometimes the only thing that gets us going is our goal. That's incredible and that's being authentic. But you should also consider my mentor's advice. He said " you can never connect the dots looking forward, but what you can do is connect the dots looking backwards. You must continue living and hope for the best". This statement leads to the big question. "How can you find joy in your journey?". I've got a list just for you!

  • Embrace the present moment: Understand that there is no future without the present. Practice mindfulness to fully experience what's happening.
  •  Focus on personal growth, and celebrate small wins: Acknowledge challenges as opportunities to grow. Reward yourself for progress, no matter how small.
  • Build meaningful relationships: Participate in communities that inspires you to grow. Share the journey with others, these  are the events that makes them memorable and enjoyable.

Wrapping Up

Discovering joy in the journey is about shifting your perspective from “I’ll be happy when…” to “I’m happy now because…” Life is too short to wait for joy at the finish line. Every step, every challenge, and every moment contributes to a life well-lived.

"Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling." – Margaret Lee Runbeck