„When you fall in love with the process rather than the end product, you don’t have to wait to give yourself permission to be happy“ –
James Clear (Atomic Habits)
Once I reach my goal, then I’ll be happy. You may say this to yourself very often. As we all know, the happiness of having reached a goal doesn’t last long. The hedonistic treadmill is playing tricks on you. It’s the human tendency to quickly return to a stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or changes. To avoid this trap the goal itself is to fall in love with process.
Don’t get me wrong here. I don’t say that it’s not necessary to have a goal or a vision in mind. The process needs a destination. Something valuable. Something that’s worth working for.
To reach the destination the process is not an option. You have to tackle it.
The better your process works the better your result will be. The more you love what you do the more you will take time for the process and improve along the way.
Once you realize that the richness of life isn’t solely found in achieving goals but in savoring the journey, a shift occurs. The pursuit of goals is no longer a race against time but a dance with it. There’s a newfound awareness that every experience, every setback, and every little victory contributes to the masterpiece of your life. The journey becomes a story worth telling. Filled with lessons, growth, and the profound beauty of simply being alive. Embrace the path you’re on and love the process.
Some day all the things you’ve done will compound. Looking back you will be amazed that everything made sense.
Learn to love the process
In my mind are 5 stages to love the process:
- The clear destination
You have to have a vision where you want to get. Something that’s worth achieving. - Journey-Awareness
You recognize the importance of the journey. This awareness often comes from understanding that achievements are the result of a series of steps and experiences. To reach a goal you spend dozens and dozens of hours for example training in a sport. Just for a moment in time like crossing the finish line of marathon. That is not life worth living. - Mindset-Shift
Create a system that makes it easy to act and to enjoy the process. Every experience, every setback and daily marginal gains contribute to the masterpiece of your journey. With ups, there are always downs. It’s a rollercoaster ride. Measure yourself based on how much effort you put in to it, not your success. - Be consistent
Finish what you started. Don’t give up. A lot of the best work happens in what was meant to be the final stage. There’s a next peak just right around the corner. - Don’t stop after your goal is reached
“If you want to be a master in one discipline, you have to be a student in the next.”
When you don’t enjoy the process you will feel unsatisfied the whole time. I think that this is the most important thing that somebody has to learn. To be thankful and grateful where they are now.
“Most of (your) work is going to be wasted. You are going to build stuff that will not work. You will have a lot of bad ideas. I think it’s really important to measure yourself based on how much effort you put in to it, not your success. (…) 99% of your work will be wasted. (…) But the only way to get to that 1% is trough the 99%.”
Sahil Lavingia
Love the process quotes
Life is a journey and not a destination.
Learn to love the process
Fall in love with the process and the results will come – Eric Thomas
Love the process and you’ll love what the process produces – Jon Gordon
My definition of success is loving the process.
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