The journey being the journey of life and pursuing goals, dreams and desires.

– career goals, business goals, health goals, weight goals, marriage, kids,…

Are you finding joy in this journey?

I don’t always find joy.

Becoming a wellness practitioner, life coach and RESTART instructor has helped me to see this and to become keenly aware of the value of finding joy in the journey.  Of being open to the lessons I am learning along the way, versus the end goal. 

It’s in the PROCESS of becoming that we gain great value.

Becoming the person you want to be –

• a good wife, mother, sister;
• a person who honors her commitments
• a person who’s punctual
• a person who feels good in her body
• the person who reversed her diabetes

I’m going to use RESTART to explain this concept.

In RESTART we talk about setting intentions versus expectations.

An expectation involves having a fixed outcome.  For example, I want to lose 10 pounds. The problem with setting expectations is that if the expectation is not realized, we are disappointed, frustrated. We feel like we failed.

On the other hand, with an intention, we define a direction and we’re open to how it plays out. This requires trust and letting the experience happen. That’s what we do in RESTART.

We set intentions.  The results, more often than not, are better than if we’d set an expectation.  And likely better than anticipated.

Expectations can be limiting because you’re focused on a predetermined outcome.

Whereas, intentions can be liberating because you’re open to learning something new.  Something new can be revealed that you might not have anticipated.

An example I use to explain the difference is going on a hike.  I can go with the expectation of going for a hike in the woods and completing the hike in a record time of two hours or I can go with the intention of going on a hike and enjoying nature and being outside.

When I go with the expectation of completing the hike in said time and I am delayed getting to the trail because I ran into a neighbor on the way out the door who I hadn’t seen for a long time and he wants to talk and then I encounter a downed tree blocking the trailhead and I have to take a long detour and it takes me four hours instead of two, I am highly disappointed.

However, when I go with the intention of getting good outdoor movement and fresh air and I encounter my neighbor who I hadn’t seen for a while, I’m grateful we connected. And when I see the downed tree, I look at it with wonder. What happened here?  And I am grateful for the extra physical effort I have to spend getting around or over it.  And then I happen to run into my friend Sara out hiking with her dog. And we decide to hike together.  And I spend four hours utterly delighted and grateful for the time with Sara, the extra physical activity and being outside in the fresh air and sunlight.  No disappointment, just gratitude.

Taking this explanation, my students then set intentions for RESTART.  An example from one of my RESTART classes is Jessica.

Jessica came to RESTART addicted to sugar.  She desired to no longer be a sugar aholic/a slave to sugar.  She set the intention of learning to listen to her body and becoming a warrior for her health.

By opening herself up to change without setting expectations, she’s becoming that person.

And she’s valuing the health benefits along the way:  less mucus, less burping, head doesn’t click when she turns it, and more awareness of the triggers that drive the desire for sugar.

It may sound like I am saying we shouldn’t set goals or expectations.

That’s not so.  I think it’s good to have measurable goals and I think it’s good to set expectations of what we want to accomplish in a set frame of time.  For example I think it’s important if we set an hour to clean our desk, we know what we want the outcome to be. That in a sense is setting an expectation which can be important in this case.  Otherwise we futz around for an hour and don’t necessarily accomplish anything.

At the same time, I’m valuing setting intentions.

An intention is not a way of copping out so you don’t have to set any goals.  Rather it’s being present in an activity and seeking to learn and grow from the process.

The result?

I feel more complete and satisfied.

And more importantly, it opens my eyes and heart to see and appreciate the wonders of how God is working in, through and around me.

He is ever present.

I value what life is teaching me and how I’m growing through the rough and smooth trails – the ups and downs – the twists and turns.

And I’m reminded to find joy in the journey.

I don’t consider myself a good writer. I struggle to get my thoughts out onto paper.  But in writing blogs such as this I’m becoming more proficient at expressing myself and I’m pursuing my dream to educate people.

I have valuable information people want and need and I long to share it with them.

I have not gotten to the point I’d like to be in my abilities to write and share the information I think is important. This blog being a clear example, as I don’t feel like I’m quite conveying what’s in my head.  Hopefully, you’re tracking with me.

Instead of feeling defeated for not being the eloquent writer I dream of being, I want to value my progress and delight in the person I am becoming.

If you’re not already doing so, I invite you to do the same.  To evaluate your intentions in pursuing a goal, dream or desire and to value the progress you’ve made.  

Perhaps it’s related to health. You’re part way there. What have you learned along the way? How have you grown as a person.? What have you learned about yourself? How has your health improved? Is your sleep better?  Do you feel lighter?  Cleaner?  All that’s important and valuable.

And I invite you to find joy in the journey.

It’s not something I’ve mastered, but something I’m practicing – by setting intentions and noting progress.

When I’m able to set an intention of looking to the day with expectation and anticipation of how God will show up, I’m rarely (never?) disappointed.  

As I write this, I’m reminded of an intention I set after having an acute case of Lyme meningitis. I want to see every encounter I have with someone as a gift from God, even when it’s difficult.

And I want to show up in love and service to anyone God puts in my path.

If this article resonated with you at all, I would love to get your feedback.

What are ways you find joy in the journey?  

Perhaps it comes naturally to you, or perhaps you’ve had to be intentional about it like I am learning to do.

Or perhaps you’re struggling finding joy.

Either way, I would love to hear from you.

You can leave a comment or you can book a free consultation so we can discuss your joys, struggles, and challenges.  Let’s talk about how you can find more joy and completeness.

Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation.

May God’s peace and grace be upon you.

Thank you,
Karen