Focus on the Journey, Not the Destination

By Steve Gilliland

​Imagine this:

You’re planning a trip to your dream destination. You begin ticket-booking months in advance, find some of the most visited hotels and make a list of the attractions you want to visit. You constantly revise the itinerary and work day and night to ensure that you don’t miss anything. You feel excited, a little nervous, thrilled and several other emotions.

Fast-forward to the day of departure. You take a flight, there are butterflies in your stomach, and you’re impatient to touch down in your dream destination. However, when you finally do, there’s this odd disappointment.

This, my friend, is what we call the “Destination Disease,” and here’s everything you need to know about it:

WHAT IS DESTINATION DISEASE?

People who have Destination Disease tend to be dissatisfied when they reach any goal in life. This destination doesn’t necessarily have to be a place but can also be accomplishments, such as promotions or a long-awaited graduation.

​Although they might experience initial excitement toward the end of their journey, disappointment always shows up. This is a common condition experienced by people across the globe and can affect their outlook on life.

IS THERE ANY CURE FOR THIS?

The first thing to do is understand that there’s beauty in the journey. Instead of focusing on the destination as the prize, enjoy the road and all the thrills and excitement that come your way. If you focus too much on the endpoint, you’ll miss what’s happening along the way. Take your time to soak up every emotion you experience. Whatever your goal might be, focus on enjoying the journey as much as the destination.

Next, be open to change. Life may not always go as planned; this is why it’s important to avoid stressing about your chosen destination. Learn to accept where life takes you because there’s always a reason behind it. Try to be positive and find good in change.

Lastly, try to be as present as possible. Very often, when we arrive at a destination or goal, our mind wanders off to the next milestone. Take a moment to stop, breathe and be fully present in the here and now. Appreciate yourself for reaching this particular destination and don’t think about the future just yet.

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