As we travel the road to our dreams, let us occasionally take our eyes off the destination. Let’s savor the experience. Let’s keep tabs on what the journey is making of us. For some, the journey to success brings out the worst, revealing a side no one ever saw before. For others, it brings out the best, humbling them to realize that they are no better than any other, just blessed by God.
We can monitor what we are becoming, making adjustments as we go. But the true wealth in success is the lessons we learn as we get there. If you keep a journal of those lessons, you can look back on them often. Not only will you achieve your goals when you are mindful of these life lessons, but you will become a better person for it.
On my journey, I have found that I can do a lot more than I thought I could. I have also learned that I am not as “tough” as I’d like to believe! I have weaknesses to work on, and that keeps us human, needing God.
Another exciting thing I learned, as I journeyed toward weight-loss, is that nothing is impossible! We all “know” that, but I experienced it in an area that is personal to me.
Achieving and sustaining a goal that many others find impossible or not likely, has taught me a lot about life: If no one’s ever done it before, there can always be a first time, and the first person could always be you!
I lost weight fast, and it’s been permanent, because I took the time to find out how it works, then I “got with the program!” Most people don’t know how things work, how to get what they want, and couldn’t be bothered to find out. The few who know-how, are too lazy to follow through.
When friends ask me how I stay in shape, and I tell them of my (grueling, but fun) workout sessions, and of the foods I now “forbid” (junk items, really), they run away! They’d much rather have a magic potion and a fairy godmother do it for them!
Everything has a price, a map, and a system. Even salvation does! Whether it’s wealth-building, or relationship-building, an education or a transformation, succeeding as a writer or a speaker, there is a route to it. And if we find the route, and take it, we’ll get there!
These are some of the lessons I’ve learned on my journey. Knowing that the journey is more important than the destination gives me strength when things look rough. It’s like grueling workouts! When I’m sweating it out, I encourage myself with a look in the mirror!
At this stage, the quitters quit. The prize isn’t a big enough incentive for them. But we aren’t quitters! And we don’t care what the critics say! When we get “there” they’ll be our praise singers!
© 2005 Oma Edoja
Oma Edoja is an author, speaker, and Women’s Business Growth Mentor who is passionate about empowering women
