August 25, 2023

It’s Not About the Destination

It’s not about the destination. It’s about the journey.

Photo by Vlad Bagacian on Unsplash

I am sure you have heard these statements before. Recently, I was in a yoga class and the teacher said to lower your head towards the floor. Then he said, it’s not a destination, just think about how you might head that way. Hmm, I thought. This statement resonated with me. 

I used to function under the premise of working by setting a goal and achieving it. Then I would set a new goal and achieve that. Almost like jumping hurdles in a track race. I moved along in my career and in parenthood like that for many years. I would go through the routine for work and home day by day, accomplishing tasks and meeting goals.

FOCUS ON THE JOURNEY

Now further along in my career and in parenting with two children over twenty, I do things a bit differently. I still create goals and work towards achieving them. Now, I add a few crucial steps. 

  • Create long-term intentional goals: goals that have meaning to you both personally and professionally and are grounded in your values and the mission of your institution 
  • Add in smaller goals: Make smaller landing points of achievements as you head towards your long-term goal (in yoga, maybe your head reaches your knees before your toes)
  • Look for the WE in your goal journey. Who can be a partner, a co-owner, or a consultant in this process? This is similar to using blocks in yoga. You are bringing the earth closer to you, closing the gap, and seeking support.
  • Reflect before, during, and after. Reflecting on partnerships, processes, the goal itself, and anything related is a powerful tool for growth. 

The journey is the key. You can decide what that journey looks like in the space between setting the intentional goal and achieving it. There are options in that space and opportunities for growth. Will you see them? Will you seize them? It’s not about the destination. It’s about the journey.