Are you enjoying your journey through life, or do you sometimes feel like you’re drifting off course? Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, and feeling lost or adrift can happen to anyone. When that happens, what can you do? It’s never too late to adjust your course and realign your path. Let’s explore how to navigate your journey so it leads to fulfillment and purpose.
The journey through life
Ralph Waldo Emerson, the great American philosopher, once said, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” These words resonate with many of us, yet there is more to them than meets the eye.
Emerson did not suggest we abandon the idea of a destination but rather that we should enjoy and be more mindful of the journey itself. After all, what kind of journey would it be without a destination in mind? A life controlled by circumstances, aimlessly wandering with little purpose, doesn’t sound like a life anyone truly wants.
Moving to a more recent view of this journey through life, Paulo Coelho, the lyricist and author, said: “Life is a journey. How we travel is really up to us. We can just flow with the tide or follow our own dreams.”
Coelho’s words highlight two paths: one where we let life’s circumstances dictate our direction and another where we pursue our dreams. Wouldn’t you prefer a path that takes you where you want to go rather than aimlessly wandering through life?
Since each of our journeys has already begun, what do you do next? Start with the end in mind by asking yourself: “What is my destination in life?” Or, put another way, “Where am I going?”
Preparing for your journey
Once you have a destination determined and are ready to go, it’s time to start packing. Packing what? The essentials you need for the journey. Some questions to ask include:
How long will my journey last? Will it be a short trip, or is it a lifelong adventure?
Do I have a plan in place? (Have I charted the course?)
Will I need to gain more knowledge or skills along the way? If so, what knowledge and which skills?
Who will be traveling with me? Will they be with me the entire journey or only part of it?
Rumi, the 13th-century poet, wisely said, “It’s your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.” View the journey as an exciting adventure to make it enjoyable and meaningful. What kind of adventure can you create? You might be surprised by the possibilities that arise when you give it some thought.
Also, consider what you are carrying with you. Have you accumulated so much “stuff” it weighs you down? What do you need to let go of to lighten your load?
No matter where you are in your journey, one of the most important factors is your frame of mind and attitude. Is your mindset positive, open, and growth-oriented, or negative, closed, and fixed? Your attitude influences how you perceive life and what you expect from it. Do you see life as exciting and full of opportunities, or do you view it as a series of struggles? Do you expect happiness or sadness? Can you find and give love along the way?
On the journey
If you haven’t yet planned your journey or identified your destination, there’s no time like the present to begin. The sooner you do so, the more you can influence the journey, increasing your chance of enjoying it and achieving a great outcome.
As Robert R. Updegraff said, “Success is a journey, not a destination. Happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over and it is too late. Today, this hour, this minute is the day, the hour, the minutefor each of us to sense the fact that life is good, with all of its trials and troubles, and perhaps more interesting because of them.”
As the inevitable trials and troubles come, which they do for all of us, realize as the miles pass, these too will pass. View these trials as valuable learning experiences that will serve you in the future.
So long as you are alive and breathing, your journey will continue, so how do you choose to be? What will make your journey exciting and turn it into an adventure to look forward to? How can you maximize your joy and happiness along the way? While pondering these questions, consider those you love and care for. As the anonymous saying goes, “Life is a journey, and love is what makes that journey worthwhile.”
Final thoughts
You only have one life, so why not make your mind up to enjoy it at every opportunity? Can you do that? Absolutely — if you choose to!
Give some thought to the journey ahead and ask yourself:
What are my desires, wants, and needs?
What resources do I have, and what steps can I take to enjoy acquiring them?
Who will accompany me on this journey, and for how long?
Remember, it is never too late or too early to start creating the best possible journey for your life! As C.S. Lewis wisely noted, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
How do you choose to approach your life journey? I leave you with some timeless wisdom from Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss:
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