In life, in business, in everything, there comes a time when goals must be set, and the journey to those goals must be set out on. Too many people who are in search of various successes in their lives choose to focus on the goal instead of the journey towards that goal. In doing so, they miss out on the myriad lessons to be recognized along the way.
When you begin a journey toward a goal, there is always a period of excitement, of renewal, of momentum and motivation. And when you accomplish the end goal, there is a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment. The starting point and the ending point are to be celebrated, but so is the journey in between!
To ensure we don’t miss the many lessons along the path from beginning to end, here is a helpful technique to use:
Depending on the goal in mind, whether it be weight loss, something business-related, better relationships…really does not matter…keep a journal of the process you are going through.
A written journal (either paper and pen, or online) can help you discover thought and behavior patterns, positive and negative habits, and can help you discover things about your thinking and the actions you take. Some of these things will be obvious to you – they will not be surprising, at all. But some things you learn about yourself will come as a total surprise, and herein lies the valuable lessons.
By learning what works, what doesn’t work, how you tend to react to when things go well and when they do not, you begin to learn to adjust your course based on where you are at that moment. And being “in the moment” is a life lesson that can’t be underestimated!
When you take the time to examine the how and why of your process, you learn valuable lessons about your action and reaction. These lessons can be used in all areas of your life to facilitate achieving higher, stronger, more important goals. When you are aware of strengths and weaknesses, you can utilize that knowledge to play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses.
But if you are unaware of the intricacies of your journey, you will miss these incredibly valuable insights and lesson.
Keeping your eye on the goal while becoming aware of the journey is the fastest way to embracing the success you’re after!