This is a guest post by John Sherry.
John Sherry is the writer of the real simple life blog RealSimplePeople.com. John believes life isn’t rocket science but rocket salad, not to be complicated but to be viewed and enjoyed with a simple outlook. He has been on BBC Radio, worked with BBC TV and wrote a magazine column for 8 years.
As John always says, “Life is all about the FUNdamentals!”
Within personal development you will often be encouraged to have goals.
Big dreams, aspirations and hopes to aim for. To reach for. To follow, activate, hit and bring to reality. Personal special destinations that say, ‘You’ve made it. You are a winner!’
Champagne corks go off. Parties are held. Whoops for joy with smiles and laughter everywhere. Sometimes awards and rewards recieved.
You’ve done it. You are here. Journey’s end. Yes! And that’s just it. The end of the journey. The trek through time, challenges and yourself. A test. A quest. A demand of your very best. With lessons, hardships, discoveries and ‘aha’ moments on the way.
The destination is the final step where glory awaits, that’s undeniable, but the journey is the true accomplishment. The journey is where you really hit the heights.
The journey takes you there
Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome
Tennis legend, Arthur Ashe
Saying that reaching the destination is more important than the journey that gets you there is like saying that eating a meal is more important than the ingredients and artful cooking that created it. The craftsmanship in the cuisine is the joy in the journey. The authentic recipe for personal growth and life improvement. It’s the journey that makes the result all the sweeter.
By reaching a final magnificent goal your journey has been a success. Whatever the route you took (and you guarantee it wasn’t direct, straight forwards or even planned at times) the journey has had a result. Maybe on the way you got lost. Perhaps you wanted to give up. You may even have thrown any map you had away and trusted to instincts (thereby commencing another journey) but they are all part of the expedition. It’s all you’ve been through that makes the end worthwhile.
Ordinary journeys, extraordinary effects
Sir Edmund Hilary only made it to the summit of Everest by conquering it on the climb. Nelson Mandela had his journey on the long walk to freedom in jail. Rosa Parks via being thrown off a bus for daring to sit in a whites only seat in 1950’s America. Results and changes that became memorable and life changing through journeys that examined the person to see what they were made of. Yet also made heroes of ordinary folk. Everyday journeymen and women folk just like you.
The joys that are the journey
What is so good about the journey you may ask? Why does it matter more than reaching the promised land of a chosen dream?
Here are the joys of the journey:
- The discovery of what you are capable of, your strengths, untapped resources and unknown skills
- It ensures what you want and are ready to work for or struggle through to get
- Provides an amazing landscape of views, scenery and new horizons even if they are just mental or emotional
- Takes you to new territory, new people, new philosopies and new lifestyles
- It demands that you expand your outlook, update your mindset and keep an open mind
- Everyday is new, fresh and full of unexplored potential
- It changes the very world you live in, never to return
If you have a destination in mind then be prepared for the journey that comes first. For no matter where you end up, it is the discoveries on the way that will always make the difference. The road to success is being on it, not neccessarily finishing it.
The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet, our lessons come from the journey, not the destination
Don Williams Jr
If you would like to be a real simple person and learn the simple ways you can achieve it visit John Sherry at his blog today.
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hello john,
how are you?
thank you so much for taking time out of your schedule to come up with this article. it’s important we understand the lessons and the joys of the journey of life.
i look foward to the article for the magazine.
Enjoy the rest of the day
Bless you Ayo and my thanks for the cordial invite to do a guest blog for you. Life is one big journey and we may never get ‘there’, this place we are headed for, but the joureny is the joy and must be enjoyed whatever comes our way. Love to all.
John Sherry´s last blog ..Three Promises That Will Change Your Life
hello john
i have found out i fight so hard to stay afloat when my head is in the sand and the wheels of life are almost coming off. it’s not a pleasant experience but pushing through is one of the joys of my journey because there is so much will power within.
thanks for bringing this to light.
Emmanuel, some paths on the journey are rocky, tiring and testing but when you look back they made you and brought out of you something more brilliant. Keep that head up and know that your brilliance is gradually blooming.
John Sherry´s last blog ..Three Promises That Will Change Your Life
John – I so agree with you. I think many people become disillusioned when they reach the end of their journey. It then becomes the “what’s next” question or the “this is it” realization.
I know for me, that if I focus on the journey and not the end, I learn more, I grow more, and I enjoy it more. It’s kind of like having a child and not taking time every day to enjoy their newest discoveries and changes and then to suddenly discover they are 18 and moving out. You suddenly realize all the amazing moments you missed because you were too focused ahead – to the future.
Being present in the moment on today’s portion of the journey, is much more powerful, impacting, and life changing.
Thank you for such a wonderful post! It was one I needed to hear as I am walking out a sudden detour in the journey I was on!
Dominique´s last blog ..The Proverbial WALL
Hi Dominique its great to talk to a fellow joyful journeyer. Today is the day; it always will be. Why project too much to a future that may not happen? Or wheel back to a time that has long gone? Your joureny is here and now – embrace it. I wish you well on returning to your journey.
John Sherry´s last blog ..Three Promises That Will Change Your Life
Hello dear Ayo! What uplifting words you ahve for us today, thanks to John.
Sheesh, I wasn’t done with my comment…darn keyboard!
My appreciation of the journey came after a little bit of years of living. And that in itself is part of the beauty of the process of living — I felt I knew a lot when I was in my teens and 20s: I was determined and ambitious and driven. Now, I’d like to think I still am, only softer and with less tunnel vision. There’s joy, and sorrow and love and darkness and light in every day; like every page in a book. The texture of the days, the road blocks and bumps and shortcuts, that’s kind of the spice of life, isn’t it?
Belinda your journey has been one into yourself it seems. A hard one for many but a beautiful quest well rewarded. Life is the ultimate spice; variety in all forms but it adds to the taste of all we experience. My joys go with you.
John Sherry´s last blog ..Three Promises That Will Change Your Life
It is the common delights of the journey that carry us through and make life valuable. Instant gratification in the end is small time contentment once you discover the joys that take you there! Thank John, for a wonderful and simple post.
Sandra Hendricks´s last blog ..Develop the Need to Succeed
I echo your thoughts Sandra. The end is just that on a journey but the joys are never ending. To know that is to alow them to be part of your own journey through this life. May yours be joy filled Sandra.
John Sherry´s last blog ..Three Promises That Will Change Your Life
Couldn’t agree more! And in another sense of the journey being better, I often use the train and you hear people moaning about just wanting to get there etc. I love the journey, I can see what is changing in the surrounding city, do some reading, and relax for half an hour. Enjoying the journey, in all ways, id definitley the way to go!
Kate
Kate´s last blog ..Lessons from Budapest – Slow Down and Take Note
So true Kate about moaners on trains, planes etc. For them there is no journey just a final point. They have and will miss much. You, on the other hand, see the rich tapestry all around you so your journey is being an active witness in the scenic masterpiece that permanently exits. Here’s to more wonder just the same.
John Sherry´s last blog ..Three Promises That Will Change Your Life
Hi John,
I also agree! Life is the journey – its imperfections, its ironies, its ecstasies, its joys, its hilarity, its hardships, its softships. Miss that and you miss your life focusing on the destinations.
Rocket Salad – really clever!
Thx G.
Giulietta´s last blog ..Is your life a daring adventure
Hey Giulietta, great comments. Love that ‘hardships’ and ’softships’. Cracking insight in those clever words. Life has it all and the journey is where all is found. Have fun on yours (with rocket salad for company).
John Sherry´s last blog ..Three Promises That Will Change Your Life
Ayo, John,
This is a good and very important. Destination is not as important as journey and things we learn while we are finding a way! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Preeti, keep sharing that with others and we can all enjoy the view.
John Sherry´s last blog ..33 Reasons You Need Friends
A wonderful reminder. We are afraid to throw the map away because we are taught to be control freaks from a very young age. We are taught to have mountain climbing goals; but we find ourselves swimming in a pond and not climbing a mountain. It causes great unhappiness because we are not savoring the journey itself. Thanks for some good thoughts on this.
Erin I love that bit about control freaks from a young age. So very very true! We need to encourage everyone to see their life as a journey full of delights to stop and savour, not a destination to reach to ever be fulfilled.
John Sherry´s last blog ..33 Reasons You Need Friends
Hi John and Ayo,
I really enjoyed reading this article, but you’re so right – all we have is the journey. After one task is done, there’s another one to be completed. After we reach a summit, there’s another one to scale. It seems never-ending (and it can be), but you have to realize why you are on that particular path. Once you realize why, you can enjoy the journey a lot more than reaching destination after destination after destination. That path can be mindless.
Karen
Karen´s last blog ..Understanding Your Chances In Life – Guest Post
Hi John,
I am a big believer in the journey. You have to have a destination in mind, but I prefer to think of them as outposts along the way. I like to think “I want to get here, AND THEN I’d…” Why not dream it as big as you can possibly imagine it? It’s also useful to revisit those destinations as you achieve your different outcomes because your perspective is going to change as your experiences enrich and deepen your voice, wisdom, and passions. Excellent post- thank you!
I love that our journeys are constant and endless. Reaching one destination just starts the next journey. Even in their unpredictability just knowing I am always on one brings the amazing combination of comfort and excitement. Dynamite post.
Clearly Composed´s last blog .. The Life Journey- Do You Trust Your Ride
Hi John,
The journey for sure is important. Many people focus on reaching their destination quickly and forget to enjoy the journey in the process. Thanks for reminding us that we should enjoy the journey.
Dia´s last blog ..How to overcome fear permanently