If you’ve ever accomplished a short or long-term goal, you are probably familiar with the temporary feeling of satisfaction or happiness you get from it. Not long after, your brain says, “Now what?”. We see it happen everywhere. The very next day after a team wins a championship, the media is already talking about who will be the favorite to win the championship the following season. We spend very little time in the stage of accomplishment, and the majority of our time in the process of getting to that point — for some, that can be a lifetime. Therefore, what is the point of attaching our happiness to this end date if it is only going to be short-lived?

We say things such as:

“Once I get a Mercedes, I’ll be happy”,

“Once I get a six-pack, I’ll be happy”,

“Once I get promoted, I’ll be happy”,

or things like,

“I can’t wait until I am married and have kids”,

“I can’t wait until I am done with school”,

“I can’t wait until I retire”.

What message are you sending to your subconscious mind when you tell yourself these things? Does that mean every day up until that point will be dreadful and miserable? What are you going to do when you get to that point and realize it does not feel as you had imagined?

I am not saying any of these goals or desires are bad in any way, but more so getting caught up in the idea that your happiness depends upon achieving these things. Do not forget to enjoy today.

Now, I know it can be difficult to enjoy the journey when it is not going your way. There are going to be days when we are down in the dumps, distraught, defeated. However, even when you are struggling to get over the hump and can’t seem to catch a break, take some time to soak in what that feels like because it will make your victories feel that much sweeter. Failures are a part of life, and they will occur at a much higher rate than your successes. Win or lose, at the end of the day, you can go to bed satisfied that you learned something new and will become better as a result.

We must seek the beauty and joy in the challenges of everyday life that are found in the journey. If you focus on getting better each day as you work towards your goals while also being grateful for the things that are already good in your life, I’d say you’re in pretty great shape of living an enjoyable life. If you are not enjoying each day, take some time to reflect as to whether you are on a path that is most meaningful to you, or if you simply need a change of perspective (which I hope this article has provided).

Below, are some notes on practices that have helped me find enjoyment in my life that might be helpful for you. They are not listed in any particular order. They each deserve articles of their own which will definitely come in the future.

How to Enjoy the Journey

• Be Grateful: There is always something to be grateful for: family, friends, health, food, shelter, etc. If you have ever felt pain or had an injury, there is nothing more that you desired than to be healthy again. Show that same level of energy (gratitude) for the good in your life.

• Set Meaningful Goals: Having goals that are powered by what is meaningful, valuable and purposeful to you will help you get through any obstacle you face.

• Be Compassionate: We all have flaws as humans. We all have had different experiences that have led us to be the way we are. It is likely if we were in any given person’s shoes, we would be just like them. Learn to see the best in people, and treat them with kindness and understanding even if they do not do the same. They are often the people that need it the most. Do this and see how your relationships with people will change in a positive manner both for you and for them.

• Live In The Moment: Much anxiety is built up by stressing about the past or the future. Focus on the moment because it is the only time you can ever take action upon something.

• Learn Something New: It doesn’t matter if you learn a single thing or plenty in a day, we can be better tomorrow if we learn something new today. Keep an open-mind and always ask questions with intentions of understanding.

• Do What You Love: Don’t forget to make time to do what makes you happy. Whether it’s sports, dancing, drawing, music, or video games, enjoy yourself because you only have one life.

If you got to this point, I thank you and hope you enjoyed reading this article. Hopefully there’s at least one thing you can take away that might help you live a more enjoyable life. This was my first article where I go in to depth about my philosophy, but I enjoyed doing it and plan on writing more posts like these in the future. Let me know what you think. Thank you!