Blog #7: Journey Versus Destination- Cole Guinther

 During our discussion of C.S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces, the topic of importance between the journey of an experience versus the destination/finish line was mentioned and caught my attention! For the most part, I believe this concept is a method of finding fulfillment for the experiences within human lives, whether that be the feeling of reaching a goal or enjoying the experience that leads up to the destination. Since this is constantly discussed, I felt that my personal reflection on which aspect I'd choose could be beneficial in understanding why this conversation is so important in our lives.

Much of our life is based upon our perspectives on our own decisions we make, and how much we weigh in the consequences/benefits. For someone who finds the "finish line" or reaching the goal as the main determinant of success, this feeling of reaching the accomplishment from their hard work can help an individual strive for that feeling again. This creates a strong sense of ambition in the human conscience, where success is the most important part of their life. Although it can have its benefits, there is a downside as well: when the goal is not reached, a feeling of failure can be prominent and can make the person feel unsuccessful in their life. Whether or not they can accept the failure will determine if the "finish line" is truly worth it.

On the other hand, those who enjoy the journey to get to the finish line have a similar feeling of success in an experience, but they are more focused on the experience that brought them to that point rather than reaching the goal itself.  In a way, this is a much safer way to view life and successes, but its a much less strong feeling of ambition in comparison to the other perspective. On the other hand, even if a goal is not reached this perspective is a lot more accepting because the "prize" wasn't the goal in the first place.

I personally follow "the journey/experience is the most important part" perspective in my own life. I've seen ways in which both perspectives have allowed for success in the people I surround myself with, but I also see how the failures are reflected by their view. No matter what, it seems that the feeling people strive for the most in their lives is happiness, which can either be achieved through the journey or reaching one's goal.

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