One of the most prominently known cliches in modern day conversation is the saying, “It’s about the journey, not the destination!” You may roll your eyes dismissively when this is said, where others might simply agree just to avoid talking about such a commonly discussed concept.

This cliche speaks to a concept that many people overlook and often fail to grasp until much later – or never – in their lives. In every moment you are experiencing, there is an opportunity to react positively and mindfully to your environment according to your beliefs, ethics, morals, and experiences. The "journey" is often thought of as being followed by a destination in time where the hardship is over and life can be paradise; or it can be seen as a quest of desire where the goal is physical and everyone else can see your new car, new house, or one-of-a-time produced guitar signed by a legendary musician.

Why does it matter?

All people are living their own unique journeys all the time. Being able to recognize other peoples’ journeys is valuable because it could allow you a moment of selfless service to others you value or help you stay mindful of your own journeys. This can help you relieve anxiety, move on a positive life path, and be confident in who you are by giving your life a more defined direction and purpose. Decisions that are made always have a motivation, as shallow or complex as it may be - and that's where identifying your journeys and how to achieve them becomes critical to anyone pursuing growth and success.

So, let's say that school just started and you are trying to lead a more positive lifestyle. When you go through your day, you might see your strength tested when you get a poor grade on a test. This is a prime opportunity for you to think about your mistakes and learn from them. Why did you get that grade, and how can you improve in the future? Your ability to maintain a positive composure is also tested in this scenario because you have the opportunity to whine about the grade or move forward with a positive attitude, improve, and do better next time.

In this scenario, there are a couple “journeys” that can be identified – and their focus or value is all completely determined by you. The destination could be a stand-out grade in your class or it could be the desire to take life in a more positive light and try to be a better person emotionally. If the desire is the former, a better grade, then your test scores are a perfect display of the concepts you do and do not understand. Go read up on the topics and learn them for the next exam. If your desire is to be more positive when facing hardship, this is a great opportunity for you to take a step back, meditate on your emotions to cool down, and then move forward again with a positive attitude. Your goal could also be both of these at the same time, which means you will just need to prioritize what your focus is and then be mindful of your actions so that you can learn new things while keeping a positive outlook.

That's great, but how can I realistically apply this in my own life?

Having a destination, or something to strive for is a driving force in the human mind. Without direction, people lose a sense of purpose. The destination should always be a motivating factor for your doing things, but it’s important to remember that some journeys do not possess a finite place in time (like achieving “happiness” or “fulfillment.”) It will come down to you being able to learn about yourself. Explore concepts like what you value, where you want to be, and what you want to do. These ideas will change on a daily basis, but having a set aim to work towards every day will help you make more concrete decisions and be happier about the decisions you are making.

Take time out of your day to meditate and react to the judgments you’ve made today. Think about what you’ve done and where you can improve in your life to see specific results. If you want to create a negative, irritated environment with your roommates, you are MORE than welcome to do so! But it’s likely a better result for everyone that peace and acceptance of those around you are better for the minds of everyone in your life. After finding your goals and values, make small steps every day through the journeys you want to complete one day.