Raise your hand if you’ve heard this one…
“Success in life is found in the journey, not in the destination.”
I would attribute a source, but I think I made that one up based on a collection of like a million different variations from just as many sources.
Search engines retrieve tons of different variations on that quote. It’s not always about success. Often it’s about “Life” or “Lessons” or some other noun that is abstract and easily applicable to everyone.
The actual value of sayings like this one is debatable. On one hand, it’s so simple and abstract that it’s crossed over into being meaningless. Attempting to take it at face value is shallow and lazy.
On the other hand, it’s so simple and abstract that it can be interpreted in many ways. This allows an active reader to make it personal and therefore more effective. The opportunity to insert an original definition for “success” and “journey” and “destination” can make it meaningful and inspiring.
I enjoy seeing quotes like these throughout social media. They make me smile. I like that others are attempting to brighten someone’s day or inspire a friend. When I have the time, I use them as mental exercises to work on how I interpret the world and view my own goals and challenges.
This one has a fundamental flaw. It devalues the act of goal setting.
We all have goals. Maybe you’re trying to lose twenty pounds, get your college degree, or find a new career. It’s great to have goals because they demonstrate a desire for growth. If the goals aren’t specific, they at least still show someone wanting to avoid stagnancy. In short, goals help us get off our butts.
I don’t want to undervalue the journey. Larger projects, such as my desire to finish my college degree, will have to account for larger journeys. In my case, the process will include individual classes, time spent studying, planning courses, and managing time. What makes it a journey is that there will inevitably be challenges that I can’t prepare for. I’ll question my ability when times get tough. I’ll push through when I don’t have the energy. I’ll change course when the unexpected becomes reality.
Lessons learned during the journey need to be applied somewhere. Otherwise, they aren’t lessons. They’re just good ideas.
Without a destination you’re just wandering around. You’ll never learn anything if you’re not looking for something. You don’t even have to be sure what you’re looking for. Maybe your goal is still abstract and you haven’t scaled it down to something achievable. Having a rough idea of a direction is still better than meandering aimlessly, because at least some of the lessons will end up being applicable to you.
By all means, enjoy the journey. Embrace the challenges. Wander off the well-worn path a few times. But try not to forget where you’re going along the way.
What do you think? Do you enjoy focusing on your destinations? Or do you have a different opinion on the value of journeys? Leave a comment. I’d love to get a discussion going!