It seems like everything that we do, or engage in, often is really only to get us to somewhere else. We're working on projects to complete them. We read books to finish them. We watch televisions shows to see how they end. There's a certain finality about things that provides us some sort of closure, or success - success in that we've accomplished what we set out to do.
So what happens when we don't see our results right away? We might get anxious, nervous, frustrated. We start to question what we're doing wrong, what we aren't getting that's prohibiting us from getting to where we need to be. We feel like we've wasted time, wasted energy - having nothing to show for the work that we put in can create a serious since of aggravation.
What's the answer? How do we get around this feeling of anxiety when we don't see the results right away? Well, for me, I realized today what's happening on the way to getting my results. I'm learning. I'm experimenting. I'm practicing a series of skills that I'll need when the real deal comes around. What I realized is that we have to enjoy the journey, the process, the hard work, and even the frustration, just as much as we'll enjoy the end results. It's strange, because I've known that before - running the marathon is a perfect example. All the training runs, all the practice, all the work that was put into the final event was just as great, if not better, then the real thing.
So while I'm working to get my results, I'm going to try and embrace the spectrum of emotions, savor the learning experience, and making the most of each situation. Because it's the journey to the end that makes things worth it - and besides, instant gratification overrated.
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