"The value is in the steps of the journey, not the results..."
We've become a highly results-oriented society. Yet, far too many of us have gone horribly astray from achieving what we want through the misconception that the value we seek is in the results themselves.
So many of us have been so focused on our desired end results, we've overlooked the wealth to be created & gained in their achievement. We've tended to be so fixated on outcomes, thinking they alone will bring happiness, that we've often failed to consider all the value through which they are built - the value we must create along the way that makes the outcomes possible, and the immeasurable value created for us throughout the process.
For example...
The value in an amazing, intimate relationship is not that end result of "having someone by your side to share life with" itself...
- it's having made the commitment to open & expose oneself fully, exercising the courage to be vulnerable, as well as being a create of the space for another to open themselves up fully and be vulnerable - to learn, grow, and share together through each of the highs & lows, peaks & valleys, of both your individual & shared journeys
- it's the character developed through the ongoing practice of loyalty, honesty, acceptance, and patience each time one is offered the opportunity to choose a virtuous response over a habitual reaction or giving into any form of temptation to be anything less than the best they can offer that relationship
- it's the profound experiences of breakdowns & breakthroughs that can only occur within the conditions of such a relationship, and it's the ever-so-small victories made in the ongoing battle of surrendering our ego to embrace & embody unconditional love
- its not the acceptance we receive, but the self-acceptance we learn as we're challenged & pushed to our emotional limits - and the growth we endure as those limits are stretched
- it's the gift that comes again & again, falling in love over & over as one's eyes & heart grow wider & more open to seeing & feeling the beauty of their partners' perfect imperfections - the process of going deeper & deeper into our humanity as we have both our best & worst reflected back to us
- it's the moments of joy, laughter, tenderness, playfulness, and appreciation - the individual pieces in the sequence of events comprising each phase of the relationship that make it worth being in
OR... The value in owning a business is not "having a business" - a dream of many...
- it's having embarked upon the entrepreneurial path, building strength persisting on an uncertain adventure with both many rewards and much risk
- it's the character developed through doing what's required to make a business work, the satisfaction coming from growing & exercising one's capacity to overcome the obstacles on the path, and the confidence in oneself built through the string of small triumphs along the way
- it's having consistently taken action with an increasing trust in one's ability to offer value to the world above & beyond filling a job description mechanistically following orders as is typically called for in the conventional route of paid employment
- it's the internal security one creates for themselves by conquering the inherent challenges in such a journey, as opposed to seeking outer security through a "good job" with limited responsibilities, predefined roles, and predictability of what's to be expected - it's the trust built through consistently acting from faith in the face of the natural fears existing as one abandons their dependence upon the conventional ways of survival for the pursuit of their heart's desires & higher callings to serve in ways offering greater freedom
- it's not simply the time freedom that may result, but the self-worth fostered through the fulfillment of one's commitment to advancing on each step of the path with increasing faith in themselves and the value of their time
- it's not in "being the boss," but becoming the person who has again & again done what the desired result calls for, who has "paid the cost to be the boss"
OR... The value in being a millionaire is not the dollar figure in the bank...
- it's the service that's been provided to all the people who gratefully exchanged their money for one's offerings
- it's the application of discipline to consciously plan out what value one is going to deliver in the world and develop the strength to resist all the distractions arising as obstacles in the way of following that plan
- it's not the status or prestige others might place on such a title, but the self-worth solidified through every action it took from believing it was possible to create that result to having having confidently realized that possibility - submitting not to the doubts one could be worth that much, but the knowing they are, should they choose and create enough value for others
- it's not the respect received from others over one's accomplishments, it's the self-respect earned engaging in the world committed to delivering value in the world at a higher standard than most, day-in & day-out
- it's the integrity developed by following through on one's word each time they reaffirm their commitment to taking that next step and doing it, in spite of all the reasons they could potentially not
- it's the belief in oneself built at each step taken forward & challenge overcome, the confidence grown as one proves to them self they can indeed do what is required throughout each of the dozens & hundreds of phases the end result is achieved through
We've all heard and probably agreed with the phrase, "it's the journey, not the destination;" but yet so many of us have still placed whole-hearted emphasis on the end result - believing that's what is of value. It's an easy trap to fall into. However, the real value is in each stride taken forward - without which we could never make it to the destination. The real value is not in the results alone, but discovered through the experience of realizing our capacity to consciously & intentionally create the results we desire.
And, as we accumulate the value birthed at each level of advancement, the result is infused with that value - until it becomes yet it's own step in a larger journey...
Life each brushstroke added to a canvas, without which there would be no painting - so our actions culminate to create our outcomes. And as we go on to repeat the creation process again, each painting become but part of a larger portfolio, each success a stroke on the larger canvas of our life.
As our portfolio grows along with our track record of victories, we discover the value of each piece following onward as the paintings sell and our achievements become but memories with passing time. And here, we are left with what really matters most - the value imbued in ourselves through the process of developing our mastery.
Here, we discover it's not what we've built outside, but what we are building in ourselves...
~ written June 2011
Your post is very meaningful friend . keep in touch
That is an amazing photography....
That is the true aspect of a joyful life. In our endevour to succes or to reach a height we forget the importance of all simple thing that came across. Life is about living rather than leave-ing. Make simple and cherish all the golden moment that come across the journey. It is all about how mu h we enjoy the journwy rather than what we get at our destination.
Just to make it big, many have lost the love of family, and respect of others which ia not fruitful..atleast we should have someone at the end with us to enjoy our success...rather than celebrating alone.
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I'll start with commenting on the end. You said this was written in 2011. How have you done in living this for the last seven years?
I know I'm not fully valuing the journey. I've been in a place where the results have been lacking in many ways, and I've been discouraged by that, so it has pulled my focus more to "succeeding" rather than "enjoying the process." I'm working on changing my perspective to remember to focus on the process/journey. It's tough to do when the lack of "results" can mean there is no money to pay bills.
Still really good thoughts though. I appreciated getting to step back and reevaluate how I'm thinking.
I am very interested in the beginning of your writing, "The value is in the steps of the journey, not the results.
I agree, there are many people in this world who underestimate a trip or other people's business. Because they haven't seen the trip get the cusp. In fact, the final result is strongly influenced by the initial journey itself.
Yes, life is about how to respons. Because all events in this world have been created. Then the journey of life is no more than a journey. The following events and events are only reactions to our response to previous events or events. Thank you for sharing @rok-sivante
I have two major priorities in attaining a goal - to achieve the set result and to make sure I enjoy myself along the way.
This article resonates so much with my personal philosophy. Guess great minds think alike...lol
Thanks again for the great content. Appreciating the journey and the gifts they give us is something that needs to be repeated. All to often, we just want the results or the end. #resteemed
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Sometimes I choose not to see my short comings as failure rather I term them events that's contributed in teaching me life's lessons, this way it's easier for me to always take positives at the end of a journey, no matter the outcome. Beautifuly written rok
Hi rok. The journey is the most crucial part. I am not a pessimist but if something goes wrong you know how to do it again and understand every step of the way. If it is the end goal that you want it is the journey that you will remember. In a relationship it is the getting to know and falling in love that makes the end goal so special.
wow...really true,i agree with u ...the value is more in the process than in the success...most times we are blinded by that we can see and perceive and neglect other vital aspects of our life. Going to school also is a good example,what we graduate with should not only be our aim but what we learn while in school. A saying goes...pass through a school and let the school pass through you...thanks .
In my opinion, what we must understand and always should keep in mind is that these final results are nothing but mirages. Auto fantasies and auto goals to pursue that in many cases are imposed on us from outside. Imposed by an alien consumer's society in permanent competition with one another. And that these 'final results' can and they will change them far away from us within one moment to the next without our consent nor approval.
What we should never lose sight of though, is that such journey is what we'll really need to call experiences, real living and teaching experiences, concrete very vivid experiences. And it is the only thing in control we will always have and we finally will take with us after this very brief earthly journey. Therefore, every and each material final result we accomplish here, we simply will have to abandon it right there where they are at the time of our departure.
Yep! that's the duty of a consumer's society. Brainwashing you and make you believe constantly through their mainstream mercenary propaganda, advertising and even obsolete, erroneous and wrong education system that the true value is only in the final results. The material results. ¡Their materialistic results!
I've mentioned this couple of sayings many times before everywhere. And as an antidote to try combat everything that stubbornly tries to impose on us this present, current and perpetual consumer's society. I think these sayings are relevant to mention them here once again:
"Richer and happier is not who have more but who need less"
and
"Once a minimum threshold is reached, richer and happier is the one who needs the least"
Hence, at least on my list, it's wiser to squeeze the experiences's juice along the road and enjoy the journey. ;)
Beautiful, wise and very accurate metaphor mate!! A great mental picture with which I agree big time and that I couldn't have expressed it better myself. :)