I tend to think in terms of goals. Stuff I want to achieve. Not necessarily just personal goals, but the social goals too.
So I’ll invent the idea of AFC Liverpool then make it happen.
Or I’ll invent the idea of the Working Class Music Festival and then make that happen.
Or I’ll decide I want to play festivals, then work to make that happen.
All the focus is on the goal.
I now think that this outlook is a mistake.
Life is not a collection of goals and milestones. Well, not until someone writes your obituary perhaps – but what good is that to you then?
While it’s happening, when it matters, it is a collection of journeys.
And that’s a big difference in outlook.
The arrival at the destination lasts just moments. And once you’re there, what then? Often a new goal!!
But the journey is how you spend the bulk of your life, traveling from goal to goal.
So why is the goal the focus?
Is it really good enough to achieve something fab, but really not enjoy the journey?
Sure, goals are important. You may as well travel to where you want to be.
But they’re not as important as the journey.
After all, the Working Class Music Festival lasted 4 days, but it took me 9 months graft to get there. So how can 4 days outweigh 9 months in importance?
Well, it can’t.
So there’s a flip change in my head now. I won’t be getting excited just by coming up with great ideas. I’ll be checking how much fun I’ll have getting from here to there.
And it will mainly be the journey, not the goal that will make me decide whether to go ahead with them or not.
This song of mine kind of fits this posting:
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Congratulations. It takes a certain amount of enlightenment to get to that stage in life. I’ve certainly been happier for the last few years since I came to the same conclusion.
Watch this – you’ll enjoy. x
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERbvKrH-GC4
That vid is FAB!! It sums it up perfectly. How cool. I must blog separately about that one!!
Love this blog and Clair thats a fab Video so true. Alun id forgotten all about that song made me SMILE…x
You’d forgotten? How very dare you. You inspired it and all. Tsk
[...] 18 months ago I wrote a blog about how the journey is more important than the goal. You can read it here if you’d like a [...]