No destination

I recently heard someone who I’ve followed for a while speak on the idea of no destination.

We are constantly looking for the next thing in life. A new place to live, a new job, getting in better shape… We are essentially comparing our current selves to a future self that we imagine to be in a better situation. We imagine once we get to this future self things will be better off.

There are a couple problems with this.

One, we have no clue if that future version is better off. There’s no way of knowing if moving to the new city or getting a new job will be a better situation than the one we’re currently in. And two, constantly looking forward robs us of our relationship with our current self and the reality of our lives

I’ve suffered from this.

I’ve neglected the reality of my current situation and instead fantasized about a better one. I missed out on experiences, I became unhappy, and blamed externals.

Not all is lost though.

Looking ahead is powerful. Imagining yourself in various life circumstances to dissect and ultimately decide if you approve or not is a wonderful practice. To put it simply, I believe wisdom is the idea of make decisions that will serve you in the long-term. And to make long-term decisions you need to think deeply.

So it is a balance – like all things. I think looking forward in your life is important. Planning your future is important. But use that as a way to bring yourself comfort to be okay with your current situation. Know that you are on the right path, and if you’re not, make adjustments. But once you are doing the things that seem right to you, be confident in them. Enjoy your life every day without the urge to always evolve or innovate.

There is no destination, just a journey. Plan ahead and think thoroughly of the direction you wish to go – once you’re confident in your direction, don’t forgot to be content with it.