“It’s not about the Destination but more about the Journey.”
A common phrase that is said over and over. It might be an overstated statement, but there is truth in this. Well, I believe that there is. So many times in our life, we often look at the destination and pinpoint success by where we are at rather than what we had to overcome to get there. Yes, I do agree that the destination is important, but if you take a step back and look at the journey, you’ll discover the much much bigger picture.
“What is the Destination?”
Simply put, it’sthe north star, it’s our goal(s), and it’s the “final” place where we want to go.
Everyone has a destination that they are working towards. It can be something physical. For example, working towards that house that you will call home. It can even be climbing to the top of the mountain. For others, it might be mental — finding the meaning of life or battling the inner demons of your past and perhaps present. Whatever your destination is, it is something personal and that is something that nobody can dictate, but can be influenced.
It might take sometime to locate what your destination is, but when you find it, go after it! I cannot stress how important it is. Set your eyes on the prize and get going. Do not miss the opportunity. Chances are, whatever this destination is, you’ll discover more about yourself. I only ask that when you get there, take some time to reflect and look at where you came from. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the journey and paths you took to get there.
“What is the Journey”
The journey is all the little and big things that happened on your way to the destination. Theses are the road bumps, hardships, successes, and accomplishments that you’ve encountered along the way towards your destination.
It’s everything that has happen up to this point in your life. It’s all part of your journey to wherever you going. All the different paths, the beaten off road, the unforeseen situations, it’s all of that. That is the journey. The only problem is that you might not have been aware of the bigger picture, either at that moment or even now. Think back to your goals, how did you get there? What did you do to get to that place? That is part of your journey.
“Journey over Destination”
It is important to note the difference between the destination and the journey. I do agree, the destination is important. It can tell you where to go, what to do, and so forth. However, I feel, it’s only giving you directions. The journey is about understanding all the pieces leading to the destination. It’s taking that step back, reflecting, and handling the conclusion of what has and might happen.
This is why I choose journey over destination. Having a destination is great. It has given me a sense of what I have done, goals that I’m working towards, and a sense of where I am going. But when I look at the overall journey, the destination is only a small piece of the larger puzzle. They are road markers that are building a bigger story. The journey is an accumulation of everything together.
As I think about my journey so far, I start to see all the different destinations that I’ve set out before me. Some I have accomplished, others either work-in-progress or unfinished. I’m sure that there will be future destinations for me. Again, these are just pieces of the larger story, my journey.
My journey has taken me all of the place, from one city to the next, interacting with all sorts or individuals, building and letting go of relationships, and falling in and out of love (or so I think that’s what it feels like). Throughout this journey, I have grown, learned, and developed a better sense of who I am. I believe that this is what my (even your) journey is all about. It’s about discovering who you are and what you are meant to do with your life.
As I am getting older, I’m starting to understand and realize that my journey is a roller coaster. It has it’s ups and downs, certain parts were fast, and others felt like an eternity. However, in this journey, I grew. I am willing to become a better version of myself day after day.
For all of these reasons, I choose the journey over the destination. I know that my journey will continue. It’s only the beginning, but I’m looking forward to where it’s going to take me. There will be a bunch of destinations in my future, but there is only one journey. My journey to discovering who I am, I’m only at the start.
