Photo by johannes-plenio onunsplash
October has a way of gently nudging us to pause. The light softens, the air cools, and the trees start shedding what they no longer need. Nature doesn’t rush this season, yet everything is in constant change.
We’ve all heard that life is a journey. It might sound like a cliché until you really sit with it. Take a moment now, before you read on, and simply notice where you are in your own life.
This month, I’d like to explore what happens when we stop chasing the next destination. What might we discover in the stillness between our steps?
The Journey, Not the Arrival
No matter how much we achieve or acquire, there’s always something more. I see this in the children I teach, counting down the days to the next grade. I remember it in myself, wishing away my high school years and wanting every goal reached the moment I began it. Not in good time. Now.
In The Matrix, Neo learns kung fu in seconds when a computer downloads it into his brain. I used to think that would be wonderful. Looking back, I see it differently.
My degree and certifications didn’t make me who I am. The work did. Going to class every day, struggling, practicing, failing, succeeding, and being present through every movement and every moment. That is where the richness lives.
The goal gives us direction. The journey gives us joy.
Listening for the Inner Voice
Consciously or not, we are always heading toward something. We want to feel more content, connected, and whole. We want to feel less lonely and afraid. So we lay down tracks: a career, friendships, a family.
Yet even with the tracks in place, new fears and new wants keep popping up. The search can feel endless when we keep looking outward.
Stillness turns us inward. In quiet moments, we can hear our inner voice speaking to the heart. Sometimes it says try something different. Sometimes it says stay the course. There is no wrong turn here, because each choice teaches us and each correction moves us forward.
That voice is what keeps us on track with what we’re here for. It blossoms from how we connect with ourselves, how we connect with others, and our quest for meaning. When you feel stuck, take a moment to quiet down and ask yourself: What’s really important to me right now? The answer will help you let go of what doesn’t matter and ease the stress that comes with it.
You might not have a clear path ahead. What you need is to feel which step feels right, take it, and see what comes next.
