The Destination Myth

I had the distinct pleasure of hearing Peyton Manning, quarterback of the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts, talk about enjoying the journey each day. He told us he was able to take in Super Bowl week without getting caught up in the hype. He enjoyed the bus ride to the stadium, and lived the excitement of being in the pre-game stadium tunnel. He convinced us how important it had become for him to live life each day rather than focusing on some destination.

 

We've all heard it before, focus on the journey not the destination. But are you really doing it? Peyton talked about the destination myth – reaching the destination appears to hold some reward or magic change for our lives. Believing that is precisely how we lose a significant amount of our joy and happiness in life. Real joy is only created daily in the journey itself.

 

Pastor Gary Lewis calls destination seekers the "when and then people;" whenI arrive at my destination then life will be different, better, glorious, etc. Or when I'm finally successful, then I will enjoy life and work more or everything will be significantly better. What a hoax. Manning framed it in football context; no matter what game you finally win, there's always another one to prepare for and more learning and growing to do. You're never ever done. So why not just enjoy the heck out of the daily journey.

 

A driving force behind destination focus is our desire to attach ourselves to the success upon arriving. We want to live in that success and enjoy the glory of that victory. In doing so, the victory starts to define us, and we lose our sense of authentic identity. We also tend to stop growing at this point, because we think we have already arrived. We are finally “a somebody.”

 

A real revelation to me was Manning’s discussion of the stop, learn, and let go of your failures as well as your victories. Letting go of failure is something most of us have heard before. Failure is only failure if we give up, rather than learn from it and move on. Don't let failure to define you. Don't become your failure by taking it personally and all that great wisdom.

 

But Manning says the same thing about success; don't become your success either. Don't define yourself by your arrival at the destination. Stop, learn, and let go of success just like failure. Only then can you maintain your authentic identity and grow to be the best you can be rather than basking in your success.

 

Peyton said moment the Indianapolis Colts officially start next season, the Super Bowl and everything about it is behind them. They aren’t attached to it or still living in the glory of the huge victory. The success and achievement of this lifetime goal for becomes just another step on the ladder to the next destination. Peyton will be enjoying each day along the way and living life in its fullness.

 

We all need destinations, goals, and something to move toward to focus our direction, but not our attention. We must stop being "when and then" people by identifying ourselves with our destinations. Reaching a destination does not provide lasting fulfillment. So be like a Super Bowl quarterback and live for today and enjoy the journey.

 

Oh by the way, Go Colts!