If you're anything like I used to be, you're probably chasing the next big thing. The next goal, promotion, celebration, achievement—whatever that shiny “finish line” looks like to you. I used to live that way too, eyes fixed on what was ahead while life quietly passed me by in the background.
Then one day, I paused. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to. Everything I thought I wanted—career boxes checked, degrees earned, milestones reached—wasn’t giving me the joy I thought it would. That pause? It led me to a powerful truth: joy doesn’t just live at the end of the road. It lives all around us, especially in the spaces in between.
Let’s talk about how to find joy not just when you “arrive,” but while you're still very much on the journey.
Life’s Not a Race—It’s a Ramble
We’ve been sold a story that joy is a reward you get after the work is done. But what if it's actually waiting in the middle?
1. Seeing the Path Differently
I used to think life was about progress—clear steps from here to there. But it turns out, it’s more like a winding path, full of unexpected turns, rest stops, and scenic overlooks. Once I stopped obsessing over what was next, I finally noticed the beauty of where I was.
2. The Gift of Mindful Moments
There’s real magic in the ordinary: sipping your morning coffee slowly, the way sunlight filters through your window, a spontaneous laugh with someone you love. I started noticing those tiny sparks of delight once I let go of the pressure to always be “achieving.”
3. Small Joys Are Still Real Joys
If we only celebrate the “big stuff,” we’re missing most of life. When I started acknowledging micro moments—completing a task I’d been putting off, walking my dog without my phone—I realized those little joys are just as powerful as the big wins.
Redefining What Success Looks Like
Success doesn't have to mean trophies, titles, or finish lines.
1. It’s Not Just About the Goal
Running a marathon is a great achievement—but the joy? It’s in the training runs, the sore muscles, the personal milestones along the way. I've found that shifting my view of success toward who I’m becoming instead of what I’m producing leads to way more fulfillment.
2. Gratitude Changes the Game
A friend once suggested I keep a “joy journal.” At first, it felt silly. But writing down one thing that made me smile each day—even something tiny—helped rewire how I saw success. I wasn’t just building achievements. I was building awareness.
3. Success = Meaning + Growth
True success, at least for me, comes from experiences that teach me something—especially about myself. Even so-called failures now feel like progress, because I’ve started measuring success not by how far I’ve gone, but how deeply I’ve grown.
Staying Present Is a Superpower
You don’t have to escape your life to enjoy it.
1. Anchoring to the Now
The future always seems shinier. But the truth is, this moment is the only one we ever get to live. I started using small mindfulness rituals—like lighting a candle before I write or pausing to breathe before a meeting—to make now feel more like a place to live, not just pass through.
2. Mindfulness Tools That Actually Help
Grounding doesn’t have to be complicated. Some of my go-tos? Stepping outside for two minutes of fresh air. Putting my phone in a drawer for dinner. Taking five deep breaths before opening my inbox. These tiny shifts keep me rooted in the day I’m living.
3. You’re Not Falling Behind
This one took a while to believe: I’m not late. I’m not behind. I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. That mindset shift alone lifted so much weight. If I could offer only one piece of advice to someone overwhelmed by “what’s next,” it would be this: settle into now.
Your Story Is Already Worth Sharing
Your ordinary days are someone else’s inspiration—and your own, too.
1. Connection Lives in Vulnerability
I started telling my story online—not because I thought it was dramatic or groundbreaking, but because I craved connection. What I found? People relate to the messy middle. They connect with honesty more than polish. Sharing from where you are is powerful.
2. Storytelling Nights That Changed Me
Once a month, I host a storytelling night with close friends. No pressure, no judgment. Just people sharing slices of their lives. Some of the most joyful, healing moments of my year have come from hearing a friend talk about their journey—and realizing I wasn’t alone in mine.
3. Your Voice Builds Bridges
Telling your story doesn’t just help others—it helps you. Reflecting out loud (or on paper) helps you recognize your growth, your strength, and the joy you’ve quietly been building all along.
Goodbye, Perfection—Hello, Peace
Trying to “get it right” all the time will wear you out.
1. Embrace the Beautiful Mess
For the longest time, I thought joy came after I perfected my schedule, body, home, or work. But the more I loosened my grip on “perfect,” the more freedom I found. Life is too full and unpredictable to be neat. Embrace the chaos—it’s where the magic is.
2. Mistakes Are Part of the Map
I’ve missed deadlines, forgotten appointments, said the wrong thing in important moments—and survived all of it. In fact, I’ve grown more from those stumbles than I ever did from getting it “right.” Imperfection doesn’t make your life less joyful. It makes it real.
3. Let Progress Be Enough
You don’t have to master every habit. You don’t need the perfect plan. If you’re moving, learning, or even just staying afloat—you’re doing great. Let your journey be more about the direction than the speed.
Detour Signs
Let these prompts guide you back to the joy hiding in plain sight:
- Pause and list five things you're grateful for right now.
- Write a few lines about a small win you experienced this week.
- Swap “I should” with “I get to” today—and see how it shifts your outlook.
- Connect with someone who understands your story—share it with love.
- Embrace one imperfection today. Let it remind you that you’re human, not a machine.
Joy Isn’t Waiting at the End—It’s Right Here
We all want to feel like we’re getting somewhere in life. But what if here is where the joy lives?
The in-between seasons. The quiet Tuesday afternoons. The messy, lovely middle. That’s where we grow. That’s where we connect. That’s where life happens.
So yes, dream big. Set goals. But don’t hold your breath for joy. It’s already in your hands—in the people you love, the lessons you’re learning, the steps you’re taking.
Exhale. Smile. You don’t have to reach the finish line to be proud of where you are.
You're already on the path—and that, my friend, is something to celebrate.
