blog
Learning to Enjoy the Journey
We are all on a journey of discovering who we are. Every second of every day is an opportunity to learn more about ourselves, our likes, dislikes, what brings us joy, our 'shadow' sides, and what lights us up. This process of revelation doesn't end, but continues ever deeper, revealing more and more of our true divine essence.
It's easy to view self-discovery as having an end point, a final destination, because that's the way most of us have been conditioned throughout our lives. For example, we go to school to study and pass exams, then we are encouraged to go to university and specialise into a particular career.
Once we are in a career, we're encouraged to believe that we have basically defined who we are and the rest of the journey will be used to refine that identity.
Have you ever noticed that when we're asked, "What do you do for a living?", most of us reply, "I am a..." ?
Furthermore, the process of education or career development is often regarded as a means to an end, something to be endured until we can achieve the end goal, whether that is a qualification, a respected position, a comfortable salary or retirement.
Life, though, is not about pursuing your career or defining yourself by what you do each day.
Life is about the continual expansion of self through the expression of divine aspects such as joy, love, creativity, compassion, kindness, wisdom, and inspiration.
Of course, a career can play an important part in this process. However, at the same time, we can embrace the journey of self-discovery and expansion by cultivating an attitude of curiosity and following what we find interesting, exciting or joyful - often described as 'listening to our heart'. Life then has a way of opening up to other exciting possibilities that we had never previously considered.
"The self, the true self isn't discovered by thinking more, but by thinking less, by looking inward not with judgement, but with wonder" - Alan Watts
That said, sitting with the uncertainty of who we are often feels uncomfortable, especially if we are in the habit of putting pressure on ourselves to 'succeed' according self prescribed expectations.
"I should be successful by now!"
"I've worked so hard to get here so why do I feel stuck?"
"Why isn't this working for me?"
If you're currently feeling uncertainty, doubt or discomfort about who you are, where you are going, or your role in this world, then try gently reminding yourself to relax, release and surrender into the process of expansion, and to allow change to happen as and when it needs to.
"Have you ever seen a flower straining to bloom? Have you ever seen a tree hurrying to grow? They just do it. They unfold because they are that unfolding." - Alan Watts
Grasping and struggling to achieve a goal usually doesn't get us anywhere apart from frustration, fatigue and disillusionment. Instead, once we have taken what action we can, we can then learn to let go of the outcome and 'hand it over' to the Universe.
Combine this with focusing on what brings us joy, and we will be nurturing our own personal state of 'flow'.
Gradually, we'll notice that life begins to work out in easier and more joyful ways, all because we are learning to enjoy the journey by appreciating the present moment.
It's okay to simply 'be' in the moment like this. We are, after all, human beings, not human doings. Practising the art of being can be as simple as acknowledging and accepting how you are feeling at this moment without judgement, with compassion, and by inviting in a sense of curiosity.
Simply ask yourself, "I wonder what happens next?" and enjoy the wonder of the journey as it unfolds moment by moment.
