Episode #116
This episode discusses how we must learn to focus on the journey, not only the destination. It can be easy to get too focused on where we are going and where we have been. The problem is we loose sight of what we are doing right now. In this episode, you’ll hear some of the keys that are essential to shifting your mindset to seeing your journey as the destination.
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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
DISCLAIMER: The below transcript was automatically generated and has not been reviewed to ensure complete accuracy. Any references or quotes should be taken directly from the audio recording and not the below transcript.
(00:00): Introduction
On this episode, I’m talking about how we got to learn to change our focus from only thinking about the destination and where we’re going to thinking about the journey and enjoying the process. So let’s get into it right now.
(00:12): Podcast Preview
Hey, this is Ryan S. Howard, thanks for tuning into my podcast. I call it your faith at work, because we want to get your faith out of the church and into the world. We want our faith to be active, and I’m here to help you get unstuck and fulfill all the God-given potential that you were created with. I’m going to help you find your God-given assignment so that you can advance the kingdom every single day. We’re going to do that and work in the culture and in life, visit Ryan S howard.com to learn more.
Episode
(00:41):
The journey is the destination that sounds maybe silly at first, but if you think about it, it’s quite profound. And I want to talk today about how we can get our mindset to be that way to where we’re not always just thinking about that next thing, but we’re actually enjoying what we’re, what we’re doing. And for many of us, including myself, we can kind of just get sidetracked. You know, I remember when I was a little kid I, my philosophy was you always gotta have something to look forward to. You know, we’re going to go on this trip, we’re going to go do this thing. We’re going to do that thing. And I remember just, oh, I would be excited whenever I’m thinking about that. And there’s some truth to that. You know, you can look forward to things, but that can’t be where we’re staking our hope and excitement that can’t be the source and maybe it’s relishing in something in the past or the way things used to be, or the way you used to be.
(01:37):
Well, these are things that aren’t helpful, either that now they can be helpful. They have their place, of course, but as far as where we’re staking our drive for life, our hope, our excitement, what we’re enjoying, what we want to be doing, that sort of thing. That’s not where we want it to want it to be. And a couple of things that we should really think about when we think about having the journey, be the destination, the first one is you will never arrive. I mean, your work will never be complete. Your you know, what you’re doing and accomplishing. I mean, it’s never going to be done, especially if you are someone who likes to grow and likes to learn and likes to get information and likes to have knowledge and understanding, it’s never going to be complete. And we will literally spend eternity doing that, getting to know Christ more and, and experiencing him and encountering him.
(02:31):
So one thing that you will always be on the path and so what’s enough. What will be enough? I mean, if you really think about it, when will you finally say, okay, that’s enough, I’m satisfied. I I’m enjoying that, you know, it’s like an event. And so it comes and goes. And so what we need to do is focus on enjoying the journey, the journey, what we’re doing, the process of, of living and the different things that we’re. And if we’re not enjoying it, it’s time to, to take a look at some of that. And you know, one of the keys to enjoying this is the second thing I want to talk about is, is being present. I mean, if you are living your life, always thinking that you should be somewhere else, or you should be doing something else, or, you know, you’re here playing with the kids or doing something at work, but your mind is on something else that you should be doing or that you’re forgetting about.
(03:24):
Or you just remembered, you know, not being present with what you’re doing can, can really Rob you of the joy and everything that, that you want to have and do. And so that’s one of the things that we really need to manage is what, what do we need to do to be present? And for me, it was, you know, I need to have a system in place and I just recently hired some more coaching to help me get a, a system in place in a framework so that I have that kind of consistency in my life and in my work and in this business and, and ministry, and every in my family leaders leader, leading my family and everything that I’m trying to do, you gotta have that in place. And that’s a topic for another episode, but what do you need to do to be present?
(04:11):
Maybe it’s just brain dump at the end of every day, get everything out, you know, what went well, what, what needs to go better? Take five minutes to start or 15 or whatever, and just, or all the things you have to do have a top of mind list. And then if anything is important right now, you do that. And just making sure you’re not you’re capturing those key things. So you want to be present. That’s the second thing. And you know, when we think about what is the destination, you know, Romans 8 29 says that, you know, we are being conformed into the image of Christ. We were predestined for that. That’s what
(04:43):
God is doing. If you know, Jesus Christ, you’re born again, that’s what’s happening. And that’s God’s will for you. That’s what God wants us to do. And that’s the destination. That’s where we’re going, okay, to be like Christ. But there is a process. There is a journey and we need to learn to enjoy that and to embrace that because so many things that the way God set this up, the way God created us is to be oriented toward a process towards development, towards growth, towards becoming more like him. These are all processes, you know, and there are stages along the way and milestones, and we need to celebrate those things, but we really need to enjoy the process. You know, Romans 8, 28, God uses all things for the good of those who love him. You know, he is developing you in what’s going on in your life right now. And if we’re sitting around always thinking, well, this needs to change.
(05:37):
And then I’ll be happier that needs person needs to this, or this situation needs to that. You know, whatever it is, is that really, I mean, because even if that thing did change, there’ll be something right behind it, because it’s a way of thinking. It’s a mindset, it’s a mentality. And I’m kind of preaching to myself here because these are some Epiphanes where, you know, there’s a difference between knowing something in your mind and knowing it in your heart and then taking action. You know, we kind of make a light decision and not really do anything with what we’ve learned or know, well, then nothing’s going to change. Nothing’s going to change. And another thing I did was I’m trying to get, if I’m trying to get a morning routine going and I carve out the time, but I’m not really intentional. I’m just kinda going through the motions.
(06:20):
I could spend four hours and not be in a good state, not being a good place and not have any, almost having almost no benefit from that morning routine. But if I’m intentional and I get there and I say, I’m going to get in a good state. I’m going to do these things. And even if I got 20 minutes, I can, I can get there. I can get ready for the day, you know, and just, just be intentional about it. And then I can enjoy the journey and I can enjoy what’s going on and make the changes that I see. And the thing is though, is, you know, you enjoy a roller coaster ride or maybe you do, but for some of us that, do you enjoy that? That’s part of like enjoying the journey, you know, you, as you go up and down and around and loops and all that, you’re really enjoying that.
(07:03):
You know, you’re not looking forward to the, and maybe you are, but you get to get off of it. The point is the journey is what we need to enjoy and it’s not. But what about the journey? What about it? I mean, is it the journey of people admiring you? Is it the journey of you know, getting all these accolades and accomplishments and achievements, or is it that you’re doing this journey with Christ? You know, if you really think about a relationship with your spouse or friends, you wouldn’t say that you’re in, you enjoy that relationship because you know, we’re going to achieve this thing a year from now, and I’m not really gonna enjoy this until we achieve that thing. And then I’ll be able to relax and breathe and, and, and enjoy the fact that we have this relationship. That’s absurd.
(07:51):
There, there’s no way that would be, that would fly. And it just sounds ridiculous to all of us. And it’s the same thing with Christ. It’s not, I mean, we need to enjoy the relationship, spending time with him doing the things, becoming like him, things that come up going to the word, seeing what he says about it and going deeper with him. Because when we do that, that puts us in a place where he can actually download the peace and the joy and give that to us. What can only come from him, this real peace, real joy that goes deep. And what I’ve learned is, you know, I have so much that I pile on top of it. My mind’s always busy. I’ve got all these things I’m trying to do. I got 50 steaks and in the fire at the same time and need to calm it down.
(08:34):
I need to get these things in order and be able to slow it down and enjoy that with the Lord. And now once I get that foundation in place, I’m enjoying that relationship with him and the journey. Then I can, I can add those 50 or a hundred state sticks in the fire where I can manage all of it, because God is giving me the capacity to it. And that comes out of my relationship with him. So what can you do? What change this comes to, what are you going to do about this? This is good information. But what are you going to do with it? What change are you going to make? What mindset shift do you need to have so that you can enjoy the journey so that you can not be only thinking about where you’re going or where you’ve been, but that you can actually just enjoy life, enjoy the journey with Christ.
(09:22):
I’m sure you’re well versed in setting goals, but maybe the action for you is to set a goal, not about a destination or something you want to achieve or accomplish, but a goal about the journey. What, what can you do to make sure that is a destination for you? That is an important goal for you, that you are in the moment and enjoying what you’re doing. So let me know what you’re going to do. And if you want help with that, I’ve got a free devotional 21 days, that’ll take you true kind of garden, getting some of these habits so that you can get to that place where you enjoy that journey of your life. And so you can get that by just texting faith at work 2, 3, 3, 7, 7, 7. I’m going to send you that right away. It’ll ask you for your email. It’ll send you a free download and you’ll have that. And you’ll be on your way. So make sure you do that. A text 3, 3, 7, 7, 7, just put the words, faith at work, and I’ll get that right over to you. So, all right. Well, I hope that was a blessing for you. Enjoy the journey, be present and really enjoy that time that you have here on earth with Christ. All right, God bless. And we’ll see, in the next episode,
(10:30): OUTRO
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