Whenever I come across common expressions in life, I like to try to mindfully stop, reflect, and take a deeper, closer look. Because people frequently become numb to such expressions and these don’t have the influence and impact that they otherwise might. One such common expression is “enjoy the journey.” And, while I am very supportive of this idea, the truth of the matter is that not everything in life is enjoyable. However, that does not make them less valuable. So, a more encompassing expression might be “embrace the journey.”

Sure, for the subset of activities applicable (and to the extent possible), you will want to take steps to better “enjoy the journey.” But for everything else, you will simply want to “embrace the journey” by getting started, putting in the work, addressing or dealing with challenges, learning the lessons, doing some exploring, taking steps to engage in the life experiences you truly desire, and making any sacrifices needed to create a better and brighter future. So, there is much more to life than simply “enjoying the journey.” As such, make it a point to “embrace the journey” and by all means avoiding tendencies to resist the journey. Because resisting the journey will create a lot of unnecessary stress and negativity, delay the learning of key lessons in life, and limit you and hinder progress.

Prior to beginning any journey, it’s a good idea to take some time and put in the effort to figure out what specific pursuits you truly want to work towards or engage in (whether associated with goals, activities, people, purchases, work, addressing or dealing with challenges, and such) – especially those which require a substantial amount of money, time, effort, or energy. And here’s something you can do to help figure that out. And here’s something else which can be helpful along these lines as well as this and this. And for those bigger pursuits, try to find ways to test drive or simulate those experiences first to make sure they are what you truly want before putting in the money, time, effort, and energy. You can read about how to do that here. It’s also a good investment of time and effort to come up with plans for execution – even if they are initially only preliminary plans. You can always make refinements along the way.

The journey you start out on, at any given time, doesn’t have to be perfect because you can (and should) make adjustments as you go. And even if the path you are presently pursuing is not the exact right path for you right now, simply embrace the journey anyway and make any desired adjustments along the way. You will still gain valuable experiences, skills, insights, and knowledge, and you will learn valuable lessons. And learning what doesn’t work for you is also a valuable lesson to learn which can benefit you over your entire life journey. So, do some mindful planning, set out on your path, and embrace the journey all along the way.

Now, the above being said, there are also things you can do to better “enjoy the journey” for those specific activities which apply. One thing I like to do along these lines is mindfully incorporate “enjoying the journey” into what I do on a day-to-day basis. So, I make it a point to remind myself that my focus is happiness, peace, and enjoyment for whatever I am engaged in at the time (where applicable).

For example, if I need to drive or walk somewhere, I make it a point to leave early so that I can take a nice, relaxing, leisurely drive or walk, taking in the scenery (and perhaps even taking a different path to getting there), and reflecting or perhaps even smiling and daydreaming a bit when stopped in traffic or waiting at a stoplight or intersection. Because, anytime you are in a hurry or running late the opposite happens. You become so focused on getting there that you miss out on opportunities for happiness, peace, and enjoyment along the way – creating a lot of unnecessary stress and negativity in the process. Don’t do this to yourself.

As a another example, if I am engaged in reading or viewing something, I try to mindfully slow down and enjoy what I’m reading/viewing and take a more leisurely, thoughtful pace – reflecting on what I’m reading/viewing and how I might apply it – and taking mini-breaks to relax and take in the sunshine and sip a soothing, warm beverage before continuing on with my reading/viewing.

And, as a third example, if I am working out, I try to mindfully focus on the body part I am working on (or stretching) or the specific pose I’m presently doing when doing yoga. My workouts would not be nearly as enjoyable if I focused instead on rushing things and just getting it done so that I could get on with other things.

So, the point is to always “embrace the journey” to get the most out of life, make progress, and create a better and brighter future. And for the subset of activities where “enjoying the journey” applies, slow down a bit and make enjoyment a part of your regular, daily practice. Because once you start mindfully doing this on a day-to-day basis, it will grow from there from week-to-week, month-to-month, and year-to-year, and you will find yourself making happiness, peace, enjoyment, and progress a priority and a regular practice in your life. And that will feel wonderful. So, do this for yourself if you can.

This and other happiness and self-improvement related tips are provided throughout my self-help oriented books: https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/published-books…/

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