One Sunday afternoon before I met up with my uncle for dinner I drove past an old relic from the past – a Barnes & Noble. I had
about an hour before I was set to show and decided to wander through the store.
After a few minutes I found myself in the periodical
section and picked up a magazine with the actor Will
Smith on the cover. Will Smith’s philosophy
on life, acting, and his equally famous work ethic were always qualities I long admired.
In the interview he referenced another hero of mine, Bruce
Lee. The martial arts icon was once
quoted as saying, “A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves
simply as something to aim at.” Smith later shared that the insight helped him shift from a mindset of
goal-orientation to path-orientation.
In my own life, I've observed how we often equate happiness
with things rather than experiences.
“As soon as I get promoted things will be good,” or “The minute I get
the newest smartphone I’ll be happy.”
But the trouble with always trying to get away from where you are is, before you know it, your life has passed you by. You’ve missed many of the
important lessons offered by simply being present. And when we go from a mindset of path-orientation instead of just goal-orientation it becomes much more about who we become rather than what we gain.
“As my mentor Ken Washington once said, “Be
where you are.”
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