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The journey is its own reward.

Everything is more beautiful because we're doomed. You will never be lovelier than you are now. We will never be here again.

The stars never lie, but the astrologers lie about the stars.

Be both a speaker of words and a doer of deeds.

The difficulty is not so great to die for a friend, as to find a friend worth dying for.

There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends.

If you serve too many masters, you'll soon suffer.

Everything flows and nothing stays.

To be loved, you have to be nice to people, everyday. But to be hated, you don't have to do squat!

No man or woman born, coward or brave, can shun his destiny.

Because they're stupid, that's why. That's why everybody does everything.

Yet, taught by time, my heart has learned to glow for other's good, and melt at other's woe.

Trying is the first step toward failure.

Words empty as the wind are best left unsaid.

Let me not then die ingloriously and without a struggle, but let me first do some great thing that shall be told among men hereafter.

A guest never forgets the host who has treated him kindly.

After the event, even a fool is wise.

Wise to resolve, and patient to perform.

Hateful to me as are the gates of hell, Is he who, hiding one thing in his heart, Utters another.

And what he greatly thought, he nobly dared.

There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep.

Each man delights in the work that suits him best.

It's disgraceful how these humans blame the gods. They say their tribulations come from us, when they themselves, through their own foolishness, bring hardships which are not decreed by Fate.

Light is the task where many share the toil.

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3 Reasons Why 'The Journey Is the Reward' While the end goal can provide extreme satisfaction, how someone gets there can also be very rewarding.

By Craig Cincotta • Dec 9, 2014

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Throughout my career I have often used quotes, anecdotes, and analogies to crystalize certain points for specific reasons.

Whether it was my time at Microsoft or my latest stint at home improvement network Porch.com , I have always looked for supporting points to help articulate, color in and provide context for the goals we aim to hit and the principles we live by.

The best ones are those that are simple, direct and to the point, because there is less risk of misinterpretation.

If you are going to motivate the masses with a quote, you need to land something everyone can believe in with a high degree of confidence.

Over the last year there is one quote I have found myself using more often with more people: "The journey is the reward."

What makes the statement true? Here are three reasons why.

Related: 5 Steps to Achieving Any Goal

1. The journey is unexpected

When you set out to reach a goal you have a sense of what you want the reward to be. Perhaps you want your business to be acquired, you want to go public or you want to land a very senior position at a Fortune 500 company. Whatever the goal, you become dead set on dedicating your life to the pursuit and have a clear vision for what you want to achieve when you get to the end of your journey. And while you may think this destination is the top prize, the reward is also in how you got there.

Related: 10 Brilliant Quotes From Warren Buffett, America's Second-Richest Person

The payoffs during the journey may seem smaller, but they multiply over time. If you are making progress towards your reward the chances are you are winning and achieving something every day. These moments and results may happen at spontaneous moments in time: You never know what tomorrow holds. If it gives you something to feel great about, don't underestimate that win. Embrace it and enjoy it, because you never know when the next one will come.

2. The journey is memorable.

Even if you achieve your goal and obtain your reward, chances are you will remember the moments that got you there more than you will remember the actual reward itself -- especially if you are working with a great set of teammates. The memories you make really are the reward. The time you moved into your first office. The first hire, customer and sale; the late nights, the early mornings, the road trips, the wins and losses. The journey provides you with the Kodak moments that will endure and stand the test of time.

3. The journey is guaranteed.

When you start a business or set out to build your career, it pays to focus on a big goal. You need your North Star. You need to think about the end game, so you can create something tangible to make your vision a reality. But no matter how well you plan and execute, nothing is guaranteed. Success and the reward you working towards may never happen.

But the journey itself and what you will get out of it IS guaranteed. Everyday you have a chance to get better, to learn something new, to meet new people, to solve problems in different ways. In a world where nothing is guaranteed, living in and appreciating the present can sometimes be the greatest reward of all.

Related: The Road Less Traveled: 5 Key Steps for Entrepreneurs to Stay the Course

Senior Director of Marketing Communications at SAP

Craig Cincotta serves as Senior Director of Marketing Communications for the Business Network and Applications Group at SAP .

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

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50 Quotes About Keeping Life Simple: A Journey to Uncomplicate Your World

In our fast-paced, hyper-connected world, it's easy to get caught up in the rat race, constantly chasing after the next shiny object. But sometimes, we need a gentle reminder to slow down, take a step back, and appreciate the beauty of simplicity. That's where these 50 quotes on keeping life simple come in.

Let's explore the wisdom of these profound words and discover how they can help us lead a more focused, peaceful, and contented life.

The Allure of Simplicity

1. “life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – confucius.

Confucius had it right centuries ago when he pointed out that we often create our own complexities in life. We get so caught up in our ambitions and desires that we lose sight of what really matters. The simple life is about refocusing on the essentials and finding joy in what we already have.

2. “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci, a true Renaissance man, reminds us that there's elegance in simplicity. By stripping away the unnecessary, we can reveal the true essence of beauty and sophistication. Think about the minimalist designs that have become so popular in recent years – there's a reason we're drawn to them!

Finding Joy in the Simple Things

• “The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.” – Paulo Coelho

Author Paulo Coelho reminds us that it takes wisdom to appreciate the simple things in life. It's easy to get distracted by the noise of modern life and miss the beauty in the mundane. But when we pause to notice the extraordinary in the ordinary, we cultivate a sense of gratitude and contentment.

• “There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth.” – Leo Tolstoy

Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy encourages us to seek greatness in the simple virtues of life. Simplicity, goodness, and truth are the foundations of a fulfilling life. When we live by these values, we're able to achieve genuine greatness.

• “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – Robert Brault

Sometimes, it's the smallest moments that make the biggest impact on our lives. That cup of coffee shared with a friend or a spontaneous dance party in the living room can create memories that last a lifetime. Embracing these simple joys can bring happiness and meaning to our lives.

Simplifying Our Lives

• “The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” – Hans Hofmann

Simplifying our lives means cutting away the clutter and distractions, allowing the truly important aspects of life to shine through. This quote encourages us to prioritize what truly matters and let go of the things that don't.

• “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” – William Morris

This quote from artist and designer William Morris is a guiding principle for those seeking to declutter and simplify their lives. Surround yourself with items that are either useful or beautiful (or both!) and let go of the rest.

• “It is not a daily increase, but a daily decrease. Hack away at the inessentials.” – Bruce Lee

Martial artist and philosopher Bruce Lee urges us to focus on simplifying our lives each day. By eliminating the unnecessary and embracing the essential, we can create a more focused, peaceful, and fulfilling life.

The Power of a Simple Life

• “The greatest step towards a life of simplicity is to learn to let go.” – Joshua Becker

Minimalist author Joshua Becker highlights the importance of letting go as a key component of living a simple life. By releasing the things, ideas, and relationships that no longer serve us, we can make room for new growth and happiness.

• “In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow reminds us that simplicity is the highest form of excellence. Whether in our actions, words, or personal style, embracing simplicity allows us to express our true selves with authenticity and grace.

• “Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough.” – Charles Dudley Warner

Charles Dudley Warner, an American essayist, suggests that we should travel through life carrying only what we truly need. By shedding excess baggage, we can move through life with more freedom, flexibility, and joy.

Embracing the Simple Life

• “Simplicity is the essence of happiness.” – Cedric Bledsoe

Author Cedric Bledsoe emphasizes that simplicity is the foundation of true happiness. When we clear away the clutter and distractions, we can more easily access the peace and contentment that lies within.

• “Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.” – Coco Chanel

Fashion icon Coco Chanel believed that simplicity was the key to true elegance. This idea applies not only to fashion but also to our lives as a whole. When we pare down to the essentials, we can appreciate the beauty and elegance of the simple life.

• “Live simply so that others may simply live.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi's words encourage us to consider the impact our lifestyle has on others. By living simply, we can reduce our consumption and waste, thereby promoting a more sustainable and equitable world for all.

• “Simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.” – Lao Tzu

Ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu identifies simplicity, patience, and compassion as the greatest treasures we can cultivate in our lives. Together, these virtues can lead us to a life of harmony, fulfillment, and inner peace.

Quotes on Keeping Life Simple: Final Thoughts

• “The greatest wealth is to live content with little.” – Plato
• “The more you have, the more you are occupied. The less you have, the more free you are.” – Mother Teresa
• “The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.” – William James
• “Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” – Lao Tzu
• “I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.” – Lao Tzu
• “Simplicity is not the goal. It is the by-product of a good idea and modest expectations.” – Paul Rand
• “Simplicity is the glory of expression.” – Walt Whitman
• “Nature is pleased with simplicity.” – Isaac Newton
• “Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.” – Edwin Way Teale
• “The simple life is an authentic life.” – Kilroy J. Oldster
• “Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.” – Henry David Thoreau
• “The best things in life aren't things.” – Art Buchwald
• “Simplicity is natures first step, and the last of

art.” – Philip James Bailey

• “A simple life is its own reward.” – George Santayana
• “In simplicity, there is freedom – freedom to do less and enjoy more.” – Anonymous
• “Simplicity is the most difficult thing to secure in this world; it is the last limit of experience and the last effort of genius.” – George Sand
• “Simplicity is the outcome of technical subtlety. It is the goal, not the starting point.” – Maurice Saatchi
• “The greatest ideas are the simplest.” – William Golding
• “Simplicity reveals the pure beauty of life.” – Debasish Mridha
• “The simplest things are often the truest.” – Richard Bach
• “Simplicity, clarity, singleness: these are the attributes that give our lives power and vividness and joy.” – Richard Halloway
• “The simpler we make our lives, the more abundant they become.” – Sarah Ban Breathnach
• “The less routine, the more life.” – Amos Bronson Alcott
• “Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.” – Frederic Chopin
• “To simplify complications is the first essential of success.” – George Earle Buckle
• “The beauty of life is in small details, not in big events.” – Jim Jarmusch
• “In the rush and noise of life, as you have intervals, step home within yourselves and be still.” – William Penn
• “Keep it simple, and focus on what matters. Don't let yourself be overwhelmed.” – Confucius
• “Life is beautiful in its simplicity.” – Thomas Matthiessen
• “The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.” – Mahatma Gandhi
• “The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” – Socrates
• “The most complicated skill is to be simple.” – Dejan Stojanovic
• “Focus on the essentials. Eliminate the rest.” – Leo Babauta
• “Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication.” – Clare Boothe Luce

As we've journeyed through these 50 quotes about keeping life simple, we've discovered the power of simplicity in bringing more joy, clarity, and meaning to our lives. By embracing the wisdom in these words, we can learn to appreciate the beauty of the simple life and find greater happiness in our day-to-day experiences.

So, let's take a deep breath, let go of the complexities, and start living a simpler, more fulfilling life today. Remember, less is often more, and in simplicity, we can uncover the true essence of happiness and contentment.

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Everyone Has Their Own Journey Quotes

Everyone’s journey in life is unique, and there are countless quotes that capture this idea in inspiring and thought-provoking ways. Whether you’re looking for inspiration to help you navigate your own path, or simply want to reflect on the diversity and complexity of human experience, these quotes can be a great source of wisdom and guidance.

So take a look at some of the best “everyone has their own journey” quotes out there, explore their meaning and significance, and consider how we can apply them to our own lives. So buckle up and get ready for an inspiring journey through some of the most thought-provoking and meaningful quotes out there!

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

This famous quote from the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu is a reminder that even the most daunting and overwhelming tasks can be tackled one step at a time. Whether you’re embarking on a literal journey or working towards a long-term goal, this quote encourages us to embrace the power of incremental progress and to keep moving forward, no matter how small the steps may seem.

“Your journey has molded you for the greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. Don’t think that you’ve lost time. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time.” – Asha Tyson

This quote from speaker and author Asha Tyson reminds us that every experience, good or bad, has a purpose in our lives. It encourages us to embrace the lessons and growth that come from our struggles and to trust that our journey has led us exactly where we need to be.

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

This quote from writer and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson challenges the popular notion that happiness is the ultimate goal of life. Instead, it suggests that the true purpose of life is to make a positive impact on the world and to live a life of meaning and purpose.

This message reminds us that our journey is not just about our own happiness, but also about the ways in which we can contribute to the well-being of others.

“The journey between who you once were, and who you are now becoming, is where the dance of life really takes place.” – Barbara De Angelis

This quote from relationship expert Barbara De Angelis highlights the ongoing process of personal growth and transformation. It suggests that the journey of life is not a static experience, but rather a dynamic process of change and evolution.

This message encourages us to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come our way, knowing that they are helping us to become the best version of ourselves.

“Life is a journey, and if you fall in love with the journey, you will be in love forever.” – Peter Hagerty

This quote from author Peter Hagerty suggests that the journey of life is a source of endless joy and fulfillment. It encourages us to embrace the beauty and wonder of the world around us and to find joy in the simple pleasures of everyday life. This message reminds us that the journey of life is a gift and that we should cherish every moment of it.

“Everyone’s journey is individual. If you fall in love with the journey, you will be in love forever.” – Karen Casey

This quote from author Karen Casey reminds us that everyone’s journey through life is unique and personal. It encourages us to embrace the beauty and diversity of human experience and to find joy and fulfillment in the process of self-discovery and growth.

“Life is a journey, not a destination. The true joy is in the journey, not the arrival.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

This quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson highlights the idea that it is the journey of life, not the end result, that brings us true joy and fulfillment. It encourages us to focus on the present moment and to find meaning and purpose in the daily experiences and challenges of life.

“The journey is the reward.” – Chinese Proverb

This Chinese proverb suggests that it is the process of traveling and experiencing new things that brings us the greatest rewards in life. It encourages us to embrace the adventure and uncertainty of the journey and to find joy and fulfillment in the process of discovery and growth.

“Life is a journey and a journey requires a road. The road may not always be smooth, but that’s what makes the journey worth taking.”

This quote reminds us that life is full of ups and downs and that it is the challenges and struggles we face that help us to grow and learn. It encourages us to embrace the twists and turns of the journey and to find strength and resilience in the face of adversity.

“Life is a journey and the journey is the reward. What we learn along the way is the true reward.”

This quote suggests that it is the lessons and insights we gain from our experiences that are the most valuable rewards of life. It encourages us to embrace the journey of self-discovery and growth and to find meaning and purpose in the process of learning and understanding.

“I’m really thankful to everyone who has been part of my journey.” D. Imman 

It’s great to be thankful for the people who have supported you throughout your journey. Expressing gratitude is a powerful way to recognize and celebrate the people who have helped you reach your goals. It can also help build strong relationships that will last long after your journey has ended.

“It’s not an easy journey, to get to a place where you forgive people. But it is such a powerful place, because it frees you.” – Tyler Perry 

Forgiveness is an action that can take many forms. It is often an act of mercy, a way to show compassion and understanding in the face of hurt or wrongdoing. Tyler Perry’s quote speaks to the power of forgiveness, both in terms of its potential effects on our emotional well-being and how it can open up new possibilities for relationships with others.

“It has been great journey from where I have started to where I am today. I am really blessed with God’s grace.” – Dhanush 

Dhanush explains that when he started off years ago, it was quite a challenge as he had limited resources at his disposal. However, with sheer determination and hard work, he was able to give shape to his dreams. With every passing day, he was able to get closer to achieving his goals and this motivated him even more as time passed by.

“My career is a journey for me, and any journey is incomplete without the struggle.”- Yami Gautam 

The struggle is an essential part of any journey and it helps to teach us valuable lessons, build our character, and make us stronger. Without challenge and adversity, we wouldn’t be able to appreciate the successes that come with hard work. Yami Gautam’s quote is a great reminder of this important truth.

“Always the journey, never the destination.”- Simon Rattle 

This quote is a reminder to appreciate the journey in life, not just the destination. It’s important to take time to enjoy the moments along the way and savor the experiences we have. Life is about more than reaching goals – it’s about making memories and growing as a person.

“Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations.”- Oliver Goldsmith 

Life is full of difficult roads and uncomfortable situations, but in the end, it’s all part of the journey. We must continue to push forward and make the best of every situation in order to reach our destination. No matter how hard it may be, we must keep going!

“There will always be obstacles and challenges that stand in your way. Building mental strength will help you develop resilience to those potential hazards so you can continue on your journey to success.”- Amy Morin 

No matter what stage of life you are in, there will always be obstacles and challenges that stand in your way. Building mental strength can help you develop resilience to those potential hazards and prepare yourself to face them with confidence.

Mental strength is not something we are born with but is something that can be cultivated over time through consistent effort and dedication.

“Press forward. Do not stop, do not linger in your journey, but strive for the mark set before you.”- George Whitefield 

Whitefield recognized that there will be moments when we feel discouraged and lost, but urged us to keep going no matter what. He encouraged us to use our strength of character and determination to push through any obstacle or difficulty in our path.

We must not let ourselves become overwhelmed by the difficulties of life; instead, we should look for opportunities within them to learn and grow.

“Life is a journey. When we stop, things don’t go right.”- Pope Francis 

Pope Francis said it best: “Life is a journey. If we stop, things don’t go right.” We must keep moving forward, no matter what obstacles come our way. Life is full of ups and downs, but if we stay focused on the journey ahead of us, we can make it through anything.

“I am the master of my fate and I am the captain of my boat. While ups and downs are a part of everyone’s journey, how you face it makes you the person or artiste you are.”- Jubin Nautiyal 

Having a positive attitude during adverse moments helps us determine our own destiny. Through this process, we learn to accept our circumstances with grace and dignity which shows resilience against unforeseen difficulties in life. It also teaches us how to rise above all tribulations with optimism while believing in ourselves at the same time.

“Success is about dedication. You may not be where you want to be or do what you want to do when you’re on the journey. But you’ve got to be willing to have vision and foresight that leads you to an incredible end.”- Usher 

“To travel is to take a journey into yourself.”- Danny Kaye

While it is easy to assume travel is simply about vacationing and exploring new places, Danny Kaye’s words remind us of a deeper purpose.  To travel is not only an opportunity to explore the world around us but also an invitation to explore our inner selves. By taking that first step into unfamiliar territory, we discover more about who we are and what motivates us.

“The truth is of course that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time.”- David Bowie 

The late and legendary artist David Bowie was known for his boundary-pushing artistry, creating timeless music and influencing a generation of creatives. His quote, “The truth is of course that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time” has become a beacon of inspiration for generations to come as it embodies both Bowie’s spirit and the idea of living life to its fullest.

“Ultimately, education in its real sense is the pursuit of truth. It is an endless journey through knowledge and enlightenment.”- A. P. J. Abdul Kalam 

This quote captures the essence of what true higher learning should be – a lifelong quest to seek out knowledge and gain wisdom from it. Not only should students continually strive to learn new information, but they must also take ownership of their own learning by actively seeking out new ways of thinking and understanding their world more deeply.

“A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.”- John Steinbeck 

“In the middle of the journey of our life I came to myself within a dark wood where the straight way was lost.”- Dante Alighieri 

This famous line from Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy is a timeless metaphor for life. It serves as a reminder that at times, we become lost in our journey and struggle to find the right path. We often face hidden dangers, but it is in such moments that we learn to trust our instincts and discover the courage to continue forward.

“Despite the natural belittling of one’s self, the doubts, the insecurities, we have to wake up to the realisation that we all write our own autobiography, we are the authors of our life story. Realising that, write a good story with your life and make sure to write yourself as the protagonist. Be the hero of your journey.”- Yossi Ghinsberg 

“Come dress yourself in love, let the journey begin.”-Francesca da Rimini 

This quote encourages us to start our journey with love as our guide. By dressing ourselves in love, we can find inner peace and strength to keep going no matter what obstacles we face. Love is a powerful emotion that can help us reach our goals and make the most of life’s journey.

“The journey matters as much as the goal.”- Kalpana Chawla 

The journey of pursuing your goals is as important as reaching the end result. Kalpana Chawla’s quote emphasizes this idea – that we should appreciate and enjoy each step along the way, rather than just focusing on the end goal. Taking time to savor the journey is a great way to stay motivated and inspired.

“I’ve learned that fear limits you and your vision. It serves as blinders to what may be just a few steps down the road for you. The journey is valuable, but believing in your talents, your abilities, and your self-worth can empower you to walk down an even brighter path. Transforming fear into freedom – how great is that?”- Soledad O’Brien 

“Friends are as companions on a journey, who ought to aid each other to persevere in the road to a happier life.”- Pythagoras 

The ancient Greek philosopher, Pythagoras, was a great advocate for the idea that friends should help each other to persevere in life. He believed that friends are necessary companions on our journey through life, who should aid and support one another as we strive for a happier existence.

“Your journey never ends. Life has a way of changing things in incredible ways.”- Alexander Volkov 

Life can take unexpected turns, and it’s important to embrace the journey and be open to change. Life is full of surprises, and it’s important to stay flexible and go with the flow. It’s never too late to start something new or make a shift in your life.

“We don’t receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us.”- Marcel Proust 

Our life experiences form who we are and shape the decisions that we make. It can be easy to forget how much each experience has molded us into who we are today. The understanding of what lies beneath everyday occurrences allows us to gain true insight and wisdom about ourselves and our lives.

“You must remain focused on your journey to greatness.”- Les Brown 

Les Brown’s quote is an important reminder that it takes hard work and dedication to achieve greatness. It’s easy to get distracted by external pressures, but it’s important to stay focused on your goals and keep pushing forward. Success won’t come overnight, but with consistent effort, you can reach your highest potential.

“If all difficulties were known at the outset of a long journey, most of us would never start out at all.”- Dan Rather 

It is true that if all difficulties were known at the outset of a long journey, many of us would be too intimidated to start. However, it is often in the face of adversity that we discover our strength and courage. Taking on a difficult journey can be an empowering experience, and it can lead to personal growth and satisfaction.

“We are all born alone and die alone. The loneliness is definitely part of the journey of life.”- Jenova Chen

Loneliness can be difficult to bear, but it is a fundamental part of life. It allows us to reflect and appreciate the love we receive from others. Embracing loneliness can lead to growth and understanding of ourselves and our relationships with others.

Definition of “everyone has their own journey”

At its core, the phrase “everyone has their own journey” is a reminder that each of us is on a unique path in life. It recognizes that no two people have exactly the same experiences, challenges, or goals and that each of us is responsible for charting our own course through the world.

This idea can be particularly powerful and inspiring because it reminds us that we have the agency and control to shape our own lives. It suggests that no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, we have the ability to choose our own path and create the life we want for ourselves.

At the same time, the phrase “everyone has their own journey” also acknowledges that life is full of challenges and struggles and that no one’s path is easy or straightforward. It recognizes that each of us will face obstacles and setbacks along the way and that it is up to us to find the resilience and determination to overcome them.

Overall, this phrase is a reminder that the journey of life is a unique and personal experience, and that it is up to each of us to embrace the opportunities and challenges that come our way and to make the most of the journey we are on.

Implications of “everyone has their own journey”

The idea that everyone has their own journey can have significant implications for how we approach our own lives and the lives of others. Here are a few ways in which this idea can be applied:

• Personal development: Recognizing that each of us is on our own unique journey can help us to embrace our own strengths, weaknesses, and challenges, and to focus on our own personal growth and development. It can remind us that we don’t have to compare ourselves to others and that it is okay to move at our own pace and in our own way.
• Relationships: The idea that everyone has their own journey can also help us to be more understanding and compassionate towards others. It reminds us that everyone is facing their own challenges and struggles and that it is important to be patient, empathetic, and supportive toward those around us.
• Career and goals: Recognizing that everyone has their own journey can also be helpful when it comes to setting and pursuing goals. It can remind us that there is no one “right” path to success and that it is important to stay true to our own values, passions, and interests when charting a course for the future.

Overall, the idea that everyone has their own journey is a reminder that we are all unique and that it is important to embrace the diversity and complexity of the human experience. It encourages us to find meaning and purpose in our own lives and to be understanding and supportive of the journeys of others.

The idea that everyone has their own journey is a powerful and inspiring reminder that each of us is unique and that our lives are full of endless possibilities and potential. Whether you are looking for inspiration to help you navigate your own path, or simply want to reflect on the diversity and complexity of human experience, these quotes can be a great source of wisdom and guidance.

So take some time to think about your own journey and the ways in which it is unique. Reflect on the challenges and struggles you have faced, and the lessons and growth you have experienced along the way. And remember that, no matter where you are on your journey, you have the power to shape your own destiny and make the most of every moment.

If you enjoyed this post and want to learn more about the journey of life, there are many resources and articles available online that can provide further inspiration and guidance. Some good places to start might include personal development blogs, self-help books, or online communities that focus on self-discovery and growth.

We hope that these quotes have inspired you to embrace your own journey and find joy and fulfillment in the process of living.

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Seven Studies Show That Virtue Truly Is Its Own Reward

Doing the right thing will benefit you more than you think..

Posted August 9, 2017

Is Virtue Really Its Own Reward?

Doing the right thing doesn’t always get rewarded. (Oh, you've noticed that!?) In fact, good intentions and actions often backfire, as reflected in the saying, “No good deed goes unpunished.” To quote Ecclesiastes, “There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve.”

But sometimes justice and virtue do prevail. And virtue, it turns out, can be both its own reward and the source of other positive outcomes as well. Recent research plus a variety of studies from past decades suggest that acting on higher values not only has intrinsic rewards but will benefit your health and well-being in other ways, too.

Do the Right Thing and Reap the Benefits

Here are examples of virtuous actions that offer priceless rewards:

1. Find your purpose in life, and sleep like an angel.

Many of us think of insomnia as one of the liabilities of getting older. And it’s true that some sleep problems are more common in older adults. But in a study of 823 seniors, those who had a purpose in life, as identified on a 10-question survey, were 63% less likely to have sleep apnea and 52% less likely to have restless legs syndrome. These individuals may also have had better sleep quality because their sense of higher purpose acted as a preventive against stress and anxiety . Although the study was done on older adults, researchers believe that the results are likely to apply to the general population.

“It seems having a reason to get up in the morning may be key to helping us sleep better at night,” PT blogger Lydia Denworth writes here .

2. Even small acts of generous behavior will make you happier.

Past research studies have shown that spending money on others leads to more happiness than spending money on yourself. In fact, in fMRI images, generosity lights up the brain with a "warm glow," according to Christopher Bergland's blog here .

But how much giving does it take to feel that "warm glow?" Would people have to give more than they could really afford to get it?

No. In a recent series of studies, researchers found that even small acts of generosity produced the "warm glow" of happiness. In fact, giving away small sums of money led to as much happiness as giving away larger sums. As the researchers point out, there’s no need to be overly self-sacrificing, or to give until it hurts, to receive a happiness bonus.

3. Performing random acts of kindness boosts your happiness level.

“Random acts of kindness” are spontaneous behaviors that benefit others or make them happy often at some small inconvenience or cost to you. In a 2004 study, researchers asked college students to perform five random acts of kindness per week over six weeks. Acts could include: dropping coins into a stranger’s expired parking meter, donating blood, talking with a friend about the friend’s problem, visiting a sick friend or relative, or writing a thank-you note.

The results? The “random acts” group received a boost in feelings of happiness, while the control group actually experienced a decrease in happiness.

4. Expressions of gratitude will increase both happiness and other positive emotions.

Activities such as writing a gratitude letter and delivering it in person; reviewing “Three Good Things” that happened to you during the day; and keeping a gratitude journal have been shown in numerous studies to be reliable happiness boosters. In addition, the practice of gratitude increases other positive emotions, blocks negative emotions like envy and resentment, and leads to a more optimistic attitude. Two words to add meaning and power to your life? "Thank you." For details, see this blog .

5. Good deeds give you “the helper’s high.”

Your good deeds instantly flood your brain with endorphins, feel-good chemicals that give you a natural high. As Sherrie Bourg Carter points out here , helping others can also help you appreciate what you have, improve your health, and put your own problems into perspective. (For caveats, see here as well.)

6. Generous actions attract potential mates and sexual partners .

A 2016 study , entitled "Altruism predicts mating success in humans," indicated that generosity was positively correlated with having a lifetime sexual partner, more casual sex partners, and more sex within relationships.

7. Volunteering is linked to longer life, less depression , higher sense of control, and higher rates of self-esteem and happiness.

Many studies have demonstrated that volunteering lights up the path to happiness. According to the Harvard Help Guide , older people who help and support others live longer than those who do not. And it seems that the more you volunteer, the happier you will be.

But aren't there limits to how much helping can benefit you? The answer appears to be "yes." In a recent study of 500 older adults, those who provided “occasional childcare,” whether to their own grandchildren or to other young children, lived longer than those who did not. The researchers cautioned, however, that too much caregiving --such as by custodial grandparents--led to stress and resulted in negative effects on physical and mental health.

This study shows that we each need to find our own “sweet spot” for how and how much we help others.Too little helping, and you could be mired in self-absorption.Too much helping, and you could suffer from burnout .

The Virtues of Self-Care

In this blog, I’ve focused on well-documented studies that feature altruistic actions that help both the helpee and the helper. In another category, but still important, are self-care actions like exercising, healthy eating, and leading a smoke-free life. These healthy behaviors bring a wealth of benefits to those who practice them including a longer life, brain health, better memory , protection from premature aging, less risk of chronic illnesses, mood lift, better mental health, less depression and anxiety…and the list goes on and on.

While not strictly altruistic in intent, healthy behaviors cause positive ripple effects for those around you. Your Significant Others benefit when you are happy and healthy. Your society benefits when you are healthy enough to make a contribution.

A Happy Ending

While the injustices, hardships, and suffering of this world often seem overwhelming, it's nice to know that people who help others help themselves as well. So-called "do-gooders" are often perceived as naive, but these 7 studies validate their efforts.

The 7 studies also show that you don’t have to be a paragon of virtue to help others and get a happiness boost yourself. Small actions can have powerful positive effects. At least in these instances, virtue IS it's own reward--and more!

(c) Meg Selig, 2017. All rights reserved.

Bergland, C., " Small Acts of Generous Behavior Can Make Your Brain Happier "

Random acts. From my book Changepower: 37 Secrets to Habit Change Success , (Routledge, 2009), p. 221, describing this study: Sheldon, K.M. and Lyubomirsky, S. “Achieving Sustainable New Happiness,” in A. Linley and S. Joseph (eds.), Positive Psychology in Practice (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley, 2004), 135-7.

" Purpose in life by day linked to better sleep at night ," Science Daily

" Generous people live happier lives ," Science Daily

Carter, S. B. “ Helper’s High: The Benefits and Risks of Altruism ”

Selig, M. " Two essential habits for your health and happiness "

" Selfless people have more sex, study finds ," Science Daily

For more gems on health, happiness, and habits, scroll down to my photo. You can sample my other blogs or follow me on Facebook , Twitter, or LinkedIn.

Meg Selig is the author of Changepower! 37 Secrets to Habit Change Success .

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The journey is its own reward.

What's the meaning of this quote?

Quote Meaning: "The journey is its own reward" encapsulates a profound perspective on life's experiences and endeavors. At its core, this quote suggests that the process of undertaking a journey, regardless of the destination or outcome, holds intrinsic value and merit. It emphasizes the significance of the journey itself rather than fixating solely on the end goal or destination.

In life, we often become consumed by the pursuit of specific objectives or achievements, believing that fulfillment and satisfaction lie solely in their attainment. However, this quote challenges such a notion by highlighting the enrichment and growth that occur throughout the journey. It underscores the idea that the experiences, challenges, and lessons encountered along the way contribute immeasurably to our personal development and understanding.

When we embark on a journey—whether it be a literal voyage to a distant land, the pursuit of a career goal, or the quest for personal fulfillment—we open ourselves up to a myriad of experiences and opportunities for growth. Each step we take, each obstacle we overcome, and each encounter we experience shapes our character, broadens our perspectives, and deepens our understanding of the world around us.

Moreover, the quote suggests that the journey itself holds the potential to be a source of joy, fulfillment, and discovery. It invites us to embrace the present moment and find meaning in the journey, rather than deferring our happiness and fulfillment to some distant endpoint or achievement. In doing so, we cultivate a mindset of gratitude, appreciation, and mindfulness, allowing us to derive fulfillment and satisfaction from the experiences and moments that unfold along the way.

Furthermore, the notion that "the journey is its own reward" encourages us to adopt a more holistic and balanced approach to our pursuits and endeavors. It reminds us to find joy and satisfaction not only in the attainment of our goals but also in the process of striving towards them. In a world that often prioritizes outcomes and results, this perspective serves as a powerful reminder of the intrinsic value inherent in the journey itself.

Ultimately, "the journey is its own reward" invites us to embrace the beauty and richness of life's experiences, to savor the moments of growth, discovery, and connection that occur along the way, and to find fulfillment and meaning in the journey itself. It is a reminder that life is not solely about reaching destinations but also about the experiences, relationships, and moments that shape our journey and make it uniquely our own.

Who said the quote?

The quote "The journey is its own reward." is often attributed to Homer ( Quotes ). Homer is the legendary ancient Greek poet credited with composing the epic poems "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey."

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The Journey Is The Reward – Tao Te Ching Quote

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The essence of a tao te ching quote.

The journey is the reward 

This quote is a well-known Taoist proverb from Lao Zi. He is one of the leading philosophers of Taoism. Lao Zi is partly the author of the Tao Te Ching; the Path of Way and Virtue. It was written about 500 years BC. This book is a collection of meaningful short writings and proverbs.

Lao Zi is seen by many as the creator of this powerful meditative quote.

(click image to enlarge) 

The Road Less Travelled: A Tao Te Ching Quote and Your Journey

In the world of wisdom and spirituality, there exists a profound Tao Te Ching quote that resonates deeply with those on a quest for inspiration and enlightenment. This quote, “The journey is the reward,” hails from the ancient Taoist tradition and can be found in the timeless Tao Te Ching, a collection of teachings attributed to the philosopher Lao Zi. In this article, we will delve into the significance of this quote, why it has been a source of inspiration for travellers throughout the ages, and how you can apply its wisdom to your own journeys.

 The Significance of Tao Te Ching

The wisdom contained within a “Tao Te Ching quote” often reflects the teachings of Lao Zi. To appreciate the full scope of this wisdom, it’s essential to understand the origins and purpose of the Tao Te Ching. This timeless masterpiece was composed around 500 BC by Lao Zi, a revered figure in the philosophy of Taoism. So, the Tao Te Ching is a compilation of profound and meaningful short writings and proverbs, offering insights into the nature of life, virtue, and the path to inner harmony.  

The Wisdom of the Journey

One of these fascinating phrases of the Tao Te Ching lies in the idea that “The journey is the reward.” This concept emphasizes the profound wisdom that the process of life itself, the experiences we accumulate along the way, is the reward. In the context of Taoism, this philosophy encourages individuals to embrace the present moment, be mindful of their journey, and find contentment in the process rather than fixating solely on the destination. However, each “Tao Te Ching quote” is a window into the ancient wisdom of Taoism. This age-old book of wisdom contains much more insightful thoughts.

Why This Tao Te Ching Quote Inspires Travellers

So, why is this ancient Taoist quote so inspiring for travellers? Exploring the depth of a Tao Te Ching quote can lead to profound self-reflection. The answer lies in the universal nature of its wisdom. Because it encourages travellers to approach their journeys with a profound sense of mindfulness. Therefore, by focusing on the present moment, travellers can find inspiration in the experiences they encounter, regardless of the destination. Besides, this philosophy aligns seamlessly with the essence of travel, where every step taken, every new place visited, is an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. Moreover, from a Taoist perspective, life itself is a journey, and every moment is a unique experience that contributes to one’s personal growth. To illustrate this context, every step of your travels becomes an opportunity to learn, evolve, and connect with the world on a deeper level. 

Applying the Wisdom in Travel

So, how can you apply the wisdom of “The journey is the reward” to your travels? It’s about embracing mindfulness and presence in your journeys. Start by savouring the small moments: the smell of a local market, the smiles of strangers, and the flavours of new cuisine. Take time to reflect on these experiences, for they are the authentic rewards of your travels.

Furthermore, don’t rush to tick off destinations on your checklist. Let the journey unfold at its own pace, and you’ll find that the experiences along the way are often more enriching than the final destination.  

The Journey Is The Reward

In a world where the pace of life can sometimes feel overwhelming, the wisdom of “The journey is the reward” from the Tao Te Ching offers a timeless and profound perspective for travellers. It encourages us to embrace the journey, find inspiration in the present moment, and discover the rewards in the experiences we encounter. As you embark on your own adventures, remember that every step of the journey is an opportunity to grow, to learn, and to be inspired by the world around you. So, take a moment to appreciate the journey itself, for it is the most beautiful reward of all.

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The Complete Guide to Mastery

Begin the lifelong journey to become the best at your craft

Katsushika Hokusai’s "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" is one of the most recognizable works of Japanese art in the world. Completed in 1831, it’s Hokusai’s most famous work.

"The Great Wave off Kanagawa" by Katsushika Hokusai

What you might not know is that it took him nearly 30 years to paint it. Hokusai spent decades iterating on his masterpiece, including various attempts at what finally became "The Great Wave."

"The Great Wave off Kanagawa" by Hokusai at 33 years old

"The Great Wave off Kanagawa" by Hokusai at 44 years old

"The Great Wave off Kanagawa" by Hokusai at 46 years old

He was 72 when he finally finished painting his magnum opus.

In following the progression of "The Great Wave," Hokusai’s dedication and increasing control of the medium is evident. Hidden within his famous painting is the same intangible quality shared by all of the world’s greatest achievements in art, music, writing, sports, and technology: mastery.

The path to mastery is available to all of us. With enough effort and persistence, achieving greatness in a chosen field is within reach. We can capture genius and direct our focus and attention to a singular aim that brings both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards.

This guide is a deep-dive into understanding mastery and pursuing it for ourselves. It will distill down crucial information you need to walk the path of mastery, bringing together key lessons from works like Robert Greene’s Mastery , George Leonard’s Mastery , Josh Waitzkin's The Art of Learning , and more.

• Robert Greene is an author who has written six best selling books, including the New York Times ’ bestsellers The 50th Law and Mastery . Publications like the New York Times , Forbes , and Fast Company have featured his work.
• George Leonard was an author who served as a United States Army Air Corps Pilot and earned a fifth degree black belt in aikido, a Japanese martial art.
• Joshua Waitzkin is a famed chess player who won the U.S. Junior Chess Championship in 1993 and 1994. The film Searching for Bobby Fischer was about his early life. He went on to dominate the field of Tai Chi Chuan, winning several U.S. national medals and a world champion title.

It will include tactical strategies for discovering your call to mastery, staying on its long path, and remaining steadfast in the face of challenges.

Mastery is not a quick route to fame and fortune. This level of expertise and command can take a decade or more to achieve. You’ll save an immense amount of time and heartache by accepting this: there are no shortcuts on the road to mastery. In studying the path of the masters like Katsushika Hokusai, Charles Darwin, or Maya Angelou, there are no quick hacks to be found. This guide will help you decide if you’re up for the challenge of mastery and embarking on a path of lifelong learning, full of both obstacles and opportunities.

Navigate the Ultimate Guide to Mastery

Understanding mastery, the definition of mastery, the value of mastery, the long path to mastery, find your calling, take a journey inward, explore widely, narrow your niche, beginning the master's journey, lay your foundation, optimize for learning above all else, build a deliberate practice, find mentors, embrace failure, fighting resistance, master your emotions, ignore distraction, break through the plateau, find balance.

Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam . Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream . Alex Honnold’s free solo ascent of El Capitan. Simone Biles’s record setting triple-twisting-double-somersault-on-floor spring. We know mastery when we see it.

Michelangelo’s "The Creation of Adam"

But how do we define it?

Mastery culminates in these public displays of deftness, but it doesn’t start there. Rather, mastery is the years and decades of learning, practice, failure, and hard-fought improvement that lead individuals toward unmatched greatness.

Let’s start with what mastery isn’t. It’s not a synonym for genius or giftedness. Those kinds of words suggest that greatness lies beyond our control. That’s not to say that genetics isn't real or important — the proclivities and traits you’re born with are a natural starting point for mastery. A mind that sees the world in abstract shapes and colors may be suited for life as an artist. On the contrary, someone standing 5’7” may need to consider a back-up plan for their NBA aspirations. [See the “ Find Your Calling ” section for more on choosing your own path to mastery.]

However, mastery requires concerted and long-term effort for which genius or giftedness provide no substitute. In his book, Mastery , Robert Greene makes this distinction clear:

“Mastery is not a function of genius or talent. It is a function of time and intense focus applied to a particular field of knowledge.”

George Leonard, in his book Mastery , provides a definition that emphasizes a process:

“Mastery is not about perfection. It’s about a process, a journey. The master is the one who stays on the path day after day, year after year. The master is the one who is willing to try, and fail, and try again, for as long as he or she lives.”

It’s equally important to understand what mastery feels like. This will vary from field to field. A writer might go into a trance as the thoughts in their head tumble out beautifully onto a page as perfect prose. A seasoned software developer feels the hum of flow as lines of code assemble themselves on a computer screen, solving a complex problem that's eluded them for days.

Charles Dickens was an English writer and is widely regarded as one of the greatest novelists of the Victorian Era. Despite no formal education, he went on to write acclaimed novels like Oliver Twist , A Christmas Carol , David Copperfield , and A Tale of Two Cities . He kept a regimented writing schedule and produced 2,000 words per day, with the exception of Sundays. (Photo Credit: DK Find Out )

Greene summarizes the sensation of mastery as “the feeling that we have a greater command of reality, other people, and ourselves.” He adds that a master at work often experiences a “feeling of power”, “exceptional creativity”, and a “sense of control”. Experiencing mastery is turning away from distraction and getting lost in the feeling of sharpening our skills, honing our intuition, and applying our knowledge to our work.

These definitions can shape our expectations and help us understand the key tenets of mastery:

• Mastery is accessible to all of us and distinct from genius and natural-born talent.
• Mastery is not a destination, but a continuous journey in pursuit of excellence.
• Mastery requires focus, commitment, and dedication over a long period of time.
• Mastery is a feeling of heightened control that we can tap into repeatedly.

Recognizing that mastery is not the same as genius is a secret weapon. People who make this mistake see the people they admire as mythical figures. Those who understand that mastery is achieved through hard work see their heroes as future peers.

Martin Scorsese is one of the most influential filmmakers in cinematic history. His body of work includes films like Mean Streets , Taxi Driver , and Goodfellas . He’s known as a huge cinephile and founded The Film Foundation, dedicated to the restoration and preservation of film. (Photo Credit: Vanity Fair )

Millions of people count themselves out, forgoing goals within reach. By choosing a different road, the path of mastery, you will stand out from everyone who has settled for mediocrity, and reap the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards.

Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Rewards of Mastery

While mastery often leads to professional success and money, pursuing mastery for those reasons is self-defeating. In the decades-long pursuit of mastery, fantasizing about accolades and adoration won’t sustain you. Though tangible, rewards bestowed by society are often empty and fail to motivate us in the long-run.

Work backwards and choose mastery for mastery’s sake. When your focus is on the mastery of a subject that you feel a genuine connection to, where progression automatically leads to purpose and contentment, you’ll feel compelled to continue and eventually see extrinsic rewards. If you stay the path, you’ll likely work with brilliant people, have enriching conversations, and produce acclaimed work. View these rewards as a byproduct of mastery, not its final form.

Marie Skłodowska Curie was a physicist and chemist who carried out pioneering research in the field of radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, is the first person and the only woman to win the Nobel prize twice, first in 1903 and again in 1911, and is the first person to win the Nobel Prize in two different scientific fields. She remained humble, with her friend Albert Einstein noting, “Marie Skłodowska Curie is, of all celebrated beings, the only one whom fame has not corrupted.” (Photo Credit: The Royal Society of Chemistry )

As many masters have suggested, the reward of the work itself trumps the ceremony of success. In his book, The Art of Learning , Josh Waitzkin describes the feeling of achieving his goal of becoming a chess master, and beating the record set by famed chess player, Bobby Fischer:

"There was no euphoria, no opening of the heavens. The world was the same as it had been a few days before."

Mastery is its own reward.

Mastery, frequently accompanied with fame and acclaim, is often assumed to be the result of overnight success or a lucky break. This is rarely true.

Mastery often means toiling for years in obscurity, learning the basics of your field, and slowly making the transition from novice to master. It’s impossible to start learning the scales on the piano one week and perfectly play Beethoven’s "Piano Sonata No. 32" the next.

Mastery doesn’t happen in two months or twelve. Greene sets expectations for how long mastery can take and the mindset required to endure:

“The road to mastery requires patience. You will have to keep your focus on five or ten years down the road, when you will reap the rewards of your efforts.”

Greene suggests that achieving mastery might take around 10,000 hours. Malcom Gladwell echoes this in his book, Outliers , citing studies and examples of world class performers that indicate 10,000 hours is the “magic number of greatness”. The precise number of hours required to reach mastery is a cause of controversy , and other performance experts have noted that it’s the quality of practice that’s important, not the amount. It’s also important to note that not all hours are equal. Hours 1-100 will be much less effective than hours 8000-8100.

Still, 10,000 provides a helpful benchmark if you ensure those hours are disciplined and focused. It’s also important not to get overwhelmed by the number 10,000 and fail to value the expertise you have gained by 250 hours or 2000 hours.

It’s helpful to envision how long it might take you to reach 10,000 hours given your weekly schedule:

Weekly Deliberate Practice

Four hours a day of dedicated practice is often considered an upper bound, after which both mental and physical performance appear to diminish. However, as your skills develop your endurance may follow.

Your hours will vary based on a number of factors:

• Are you pursuing mastery in your full-time job or as a hobby?
• Are you mastering a mental practice or a physical one?
• How much recovery time (mental and/or physical) might you need between sessions?

Be prepared not only for a long path to mastery, but a winding one filled with plateaus and setbacks [See “ The Plateau ” section]. Ten thousand hours is a non-trivial amount of your life to set towards a singular focus. In the next section, we’ll discuss how to ensure you’re choosing the right path and the most effective tactics for getting the most out of your journey to mastery.

⬆️ Back to the table of contents

You’re convinced that mastery is worth pursuing and you’re willing to spend years to achieve your aim. It’s now time to choose precisely what you should master. Greene refers to it as discovering your “Life’s Task”. Leonard describes this as “choosing the master’s journey”.

J.C.R. Licklidder was a psychologist and computer scientist, widely considered one of the most important figures in computer science and computing history. He predicted the age of the internet long before it emerged and envisioned a future where computers and humans worked collaboratively, described in his 1960 paper, “Man-Computer Symbiosis”. (Photo Credit: Technovortex )

By embracing your natural inclinations and passions, while ignoring what society suggests will bring you financial security and respect, you can choose your own path to mastery.

You may already know precisely which skill or area you want to master.

It could be the passion that gnaws at you now, an ever-present distraction from the job you find financially lucrative but unfulfilling. It could be the one that filled your days with delight as a teenager, but that you left behind as an adult, pressured by the burden of being “practical” or “responsible”.

Alternately, your calling could be lurking deep in your mind, waiting to be unlocked by a slew of experiences and some introspection. Regardless, finding your Life’s Task requires a journey inward that often starts by reflecting on your childhood. Greene provides this poignant description of how our dreams may diminish as we move from adolescence to adulthood:

“You possess a kind of inner force that seeks to guide you toward your Life’s Task—what you are meant to accomplish in the time that you have to live. In childhood this force was clear to you. It directed you toward activities and subjects that fit your natural inclinations, that sparked a curiosity that was deep and primal. In the intervening years, the force tends to fade in and out as you listen more to parents and peers, to the daily anxieties that wear away at you. This can be the source of your unhappiness—your lack of connection to who you are and what makes you unique. The first move toward mastery is always inward—learning who you really are and reconnecting with that innate force. Knowing it with clarity, you will find your way to the proper career path and everything else will fall into place.”

Reflecting on what we loved to do as children can be a powerful exercise that brings us closer to the master’s path.

If we come back to the present, it's helpful to consider what feels like play and what feels like work. Paul Graham, a computer scientist, painter, and the Co-Founder of Y-Combinator, describes this heuristic in his essay, “ What Doesn’t Seem Like Work ?”:

“It seemed curious that the same task could be painful to one person and pleasant to another, but I didn't realize at the time what this imbalance implied, because I wasn't looking for it. I didn't realize how hard it can be to decide what you should work on, and that you sometimes have to figure it out from subtle clues, like a detective solving a case in a mystery novel. So I bet it would help a lot of people to ask themselves about this explicitly. What seems like work to other people that doesn't seem like work to you?”

Here are two basic guidelines for moving towards the path of mastery and choosing the right route:

• Draw on your strengths and natural inclinations. There are probably certain topics and activities you naturally gravitate towards. That might be taking photos or planning events. Follow that thread. You might have a special interest in being in nature. Choose a profession that is conducive to the outdoors, rather than a desk job. If you’re deeply introverted, choose a path that mostly consists of solitary work. If have a highly analytical mind, consider math or software engineering. The thing that people find “weird” about you could be your strongest asset. Greene encourages those who seek mastery to go about, “determining your mental and psychological strengths and working with them”. Mastery is available to many of us, but that doesn’t mean we can master many things. Find your precise zone of genius and move toward it.
• Ignore your weaknesses. Improvement in areas where we’re weak is overrated. Instead, we can partner with people who complement us and outsource or automate what we’re bad at. Focus your energies on where you’re already strong and can truly be the best.

In finding what we want to pursue as our vocation for years to come, these guidelines can light the flame of discovery to the dark and dormant parts of our mind. Consider asking yourself these additional questions too:

• If I quit my job/left school/had no responsibilities tomorrow, what would I choose to do?
• If money was no object, what career would I pursue?
• What do I spend my time on while I’m procrastinating or not working?
• If I could attend university for free, what would I choose to study?
• What parts of my job or life would I be happy to do away with?
• What aspects of my current career path and ambitions are influenced by my friends, family, or society?
• Are my choices driven by a desire for money and titles?
• What can I be the best at?

Once you’ve narrowed down an area or two of interest, ask even more questions:

• Do I have a strong, even obsessive, pull towards x area?
• Can I see myself spending the next 10 years focused on x skill?
• How would I feel if I could jump onto this path today?

It may be the first time in years that you’ve stopped to ask yourself these kinds of questions. Answer as honestly as possible, reflecting on “what is” rather than “what ought to be”. Your answers will guide you in the right direction if you listen closely and are willing to take a calculated risk.

Charles Darwin is known as the “Father of Evolution”. A childhood obsessed with nature and observation led him to a five-year voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, where he served as a naturalist and geologist. This journey included a fateful stop at the Galápagos Islands. His observations led to his theory of evolution through natural selection. (Photo Credit: The Nation )

When you finally find the path to mastery you want to take, you’ll know it. Greene describes the feeling of knowing you’ve found your Life’s Path:

“You will recognize it when you find it because it will spark that childlike sense of wonder and excitement; it will feel right.”

There are more masters than ever in human history. There are fields we can explore that didn’t exist just a decade ago. Many emerging areas lack traditional gatekeepers, making entry and mastery feasible. The rise of e-sports has given rise to professional gamers. Blogging and self-publishing gives anyone with enough interesting things to say a platform to say them.

Marques Brownlee is a prominent YouTuber best known for his technology-based videos. He’s garnered nearly 10 million subscribers and created over 1,171 videos since starting his channel in January 2009. He’s made video collaborations with Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Will Smith. (Photo Credit: YouTube )

Mastery necessitates diving deep into the Mariana Trench of a subject. However, at first, it’s wise to go wide. Exploring your inclinations as a child is an important exercise. But with the rapid rate of progress, there are countless new professions that have emerged since you were a kid.

Be strategic in exploring new fields, using your own curiosities and strengths as a starting point.

• Research emerging fields. Find the fields that are just taking shape. Look to fast-growing companies, and review the positions they’re hiring for. Measure your own skills and interests against these roles and consider if it’s a path worth pursuing.
• Socialize and network extensively. Extend yourself beyond your current social circle, and seek out people who have different professions and interests. Attend networking events, ask people for introductions, and generally try to meet as many people as possible. People are often willing to help and answer questions if you express curiosity in their work and what they do. You’ll learn about new fields and may discover information about the right path to embark on.
• Consider formal education. Earning an undergraduate college degree or simply taking a few undergraduate courses can be a broad introduction to a variety of fields. If you’re searching for an emerging field, this may not be the ideal location — academia can often lag behind. However, if you want access to primers on an assortment of fields — software engineering, mathematics, art and design, and more — attending college can be helpful in getting a broad overview of different fields and narrowing down. University can also be a strong venue for meeting future collaborators and discovering future mentors [See the section on “ Mentors ”].

Turn over a few stones and see what’s under them before settling in for the work that lies ahead.

Fields are broad. Masters have often found a specific niche within a field that allows them to apply a precise combination of different skills and interests. Greene describes the benefits of finding your niche:

“In either direction, you have found a niche that is not crowded with competitors. You have freedom to roam, to pursue particular questions that interest you. You set your own agenda and command the resources available to this niche. Unburdened by overwhelming competition and politicking, you have time and space to bring to flower your Life’s Task.”

Most musicians master a single genre or play one instrument. Not many authors successfully master writing both fiction and non-fiction. As you go down the path of mastery, refine your skill set and get comfortable with a narrow focus.

Broad Field vs Narrow Niche

Find a path to mastery that allows you to both pursue your interests and stand out. However, discovering your path is only step one. Now, the real trek begins.

Mastery can take decades or even a lifetime. It’s impossible to say how years will unfold — who you’ll meet, the opportunities that arise, the serendipitous events that might take you to places you never imagined. Regardless of what takes place, a commitment to mastery means continuously coming back, even in the face of failure.

Jiro Ono , a famed Japenese chef, is considered the greatest living sushi master. He is the subject of the film, Jiro Dreams of Sushi , which provides a glimpse into Sukiyabashi Jiro, his Michelin three-star restaurant where his singular obsession with sushi is on display. (Photo Credit: Robb Report )

Committing to deliberate practice and following the tactics of the masters that came before you will help you achieve your own success.

You can’t become a master without observing the greats that preceded you. Watch your contemporaries closely, but pay even closer attention to your historical counterparts.

If you want to go into advertising, study David Ogilvy. If you want to study design, ingest the work of Dieter Rams. To understand nature writing, read Rachel Carson. Build a foundation of knowledge that includes the classics of your field.

Rachel Carson was a marine biologist, author, and conservationist. Her book, Silent Spring , which documented the adverse environment impacts of using pesticides, is credited with advancing environmental causes globally. She wrote other best selling books, including The Sea Around Us, which won her the U.S. National Book Award in 1951. (Photo Credit: Bill Moyers )

Craft a syllabus of your intended field of mastery. Ensure it includes the fundamental and defining works of your field. Learn the players and understand the great contributions to your area of study.

When Josh Waitzkin halted his competitive chess career and sought to master a martial art, he had to start another mastery path from scratch. He began with the classics:

“First things first—I had to begin with an understanding of the art’s foundation. The martial philosophy behind Push Hands, in the language of the Tai Chi Classics, is ‘to defeat a thousand pounds with four ounces.’ Chen’s barely perceptible contact between his wrist and my pushing hand was an embodiment of the “four ounces,” but there are countless manifestations of this principle inside and outside of Tai Chi—some physical, some psychological.”

By studying your field of choice, you’ll begin to make connections. Keep a record of what you’ve read, and take notes to internalize what you’ve learned.

Your syllabus should be bottomless. Always add more to it. One insightful book may reference another that you need to devour. An artist who inspires you may cite their influences, leading you down another rabbit hole.

Use a  Todoist project to build your mastery syllabus

Focus on primary sources, but make time for secondary sources that shed light on how people analyze and synthesize the work in your field. Learn the common rookie mistakes of your area of focus so you don’t make them too.

Choose to learn at every opportunity. Greene describes the importance of this mindset on the path to mastery:

“...value learning above everything else. This will lead you to all of the right choices. You will opt for the situation that will give you the most opportunities to learn, particularly with hands-on work.”

Here are a few different areas where you can optimize for learning:

• Your job. While money and learning can often collide, sometimes the path most suited to learning isn’t the most lucrative — a low paying job at a startup, an unpaid internship, or an opportunity to job shadow a mentor. If you’re privileged enough — or hungry enough — to take on these opportunities, they may be worthwhile. If you have aspirations to climb the academic ladder, the ascent can often be financially difficult, with low paid assistantships or post-doctoral positions. Having studied and gained an understanding of your field, you’ll know where the most crucial opportunities for growth lie. Run towards them.
• Your acquaintances. As the saying goes, you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Seek out people you can learn from. Welcome the opportunity of being the dumbest person in your circle of acquaintances.
• Your attitude. Let go of pride. Rapid learning often means asking stupid questions or making a fool of yourself. Post a cover of a song you’ve recorded to YouTube for feedback. Cold message someone you admire and ask them the question you’ve been contemplating. Don’t be afraid to say, “I still don’t get it,'' after having something explained to you for the second time. By cultivating an attitude that’s unafraid of negative feedback or failure , you’ll fly past your peers and earn the rewards that come with bravery.

By taking the learner’s path, you’ll avoid plateaus and dive deeper into the complexities of your field.

To command an audience on stage, you’ll need to practice your ability to tell a compelling story. To defeat your opponent in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you’ll have to put in your hours on the floor mat. Deliberate practice is the foundation of mastery. Leonard George describes this succinctly:

“Ultimately, practice is the path of mastery. If you stay on it long enough, you’ll find it to be a vivid place, with its ups and downs, its challenges and comforts, its surprises, disappointments, and unconditional joys. You’ll take your share of bumps and bruises while traveling — bruises of the ego as well as of the body, mind, and spirit — but it might well turn out to be the most reliable thing in your life.”

Deliberate practice should be a part of your regular routine. Set a schedule that allows you to accumulate those 10,000 hours over the years during work hours, in your free time or both. Heed Greene’s advice on making your deliberate practice valuable:

“The key, then, to attaining this higher level of intelligence is to make our years of study qualitatively rich. We don’t simply absorb information — we internalize it and make it our own by finding some way to put this knowledge to practical use.”

If you’re learning front-end development, don’t just run through sample problems online, practice repeatedly by creating real websites. If you’re working on painting portraits that fail to look lifelike, narrow your focus and practice drawing only the eyes until you’ve captured an increasingly human twinkle. Deliberate practice is focused and forces you to direct your attention, again and again, towards improving your weaknesses.

Set a consistent routine. Mastery isn’t accidental. You need to develop purposeful habits that hone your skills. While the importance of a strict routine is obvious if you’re pursuing mastery alongside a different full-time occupation, it shouldn’t be understated if you plan to achieve some of your deliberate practice at work. For example, a young physicist may want to spend their days on research and problem-solving, only to have their calendar bombarded by the administrative demands and meetings of their university’s faculty.

Set important recurring tasks in Todoist to build a routine

By making constant and non-negotiable space in your schedule for deliberate practice, you can continue along the path of mastery even when other priorities arise.

Embrace boredom. Deliberate practice will lead to breakthroughs that make the journey worthwhile. But, for the most part, progress will feel painfully slow. Greene encourages us to embrace the slog:

“Second, the initial stages of learning a skill invariably involve tedium. Yet rather than avoiding this inevitable tedium, you must accept and embrace it. The pain and boredom we experience in the initial stage of learning a skill toughens our minds, much like physical exercise. Too many people believe that everything must be pleasurable in life, which makes them constantly search for distractions and short-circuits the learning process.”

Neil Gaiman is a popular author who’s written books like American Gods,   Coraline , and The Ocean at the End of the Lane . He’s revealed an internal rule that allows him to push through the resistance to writing: “You have permission to not write. You don’t have permission to do anything else.” (Photo Credit: Variety )

Prioritize deep work and flow states. Deliberate practice is necessarily focused. It can’t be completed while distracted. Prioritize long sessions of deep work, and embrace the feeling of flow. Get lost in the heightened focus and adrenaline that comes from sparring with an opponent in the ring, producing the melody for a song, or training for a triathlon.

Don’t use kid gloves . There’s comfort in practicing what we’re good at, like using the same narrative arc while writing a short story or studying the scientific theories we’re already familiar with. It’s only when we expose ourselves to the uncomfortable sensation of feeling stupid or incompetent that we grow.

Simone Biles is an Olympic decorated gymnast and a five-time All-Around World Champion. She holds the record of the most world medals of any gymnast in the world. She’s known for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the sport, including performing a triple-double on the floor exercise and a double-double off the balance beam in 2019. (Photo Credit: NPR )

Greene emphasizes the importance of toughness on oneself to ascend to new heights of mastery, eliminate your weaknesses, and surpass your peers:

“...go in the opposite direction of all of your natural tendencies when it comes to practice. First, you resist the temptation to be nice to yourself. You become your own worst critic; you see your work as if through the eyes of others. You recognize your weaknesses, precisely the elements you are not good at. Those are the aspects you give precedence to in your practice...You invent exercises that work upon your weaknesses. You give yourself arbitrary deadlines to meet certain standards, constantly pushing yourself past perceived limits. In this way you develop your own standards for excellence, generally higher than those of others.”

Perform self-assessments. Something that separates amateurs from masters is their insistence on regular self-assessment . An amateur shies away from assessing their own work, failing to critique it or compare it to the work of their peers or masters in their field. Someone on the path to mastery seeks opportunities to improve and correct their work or performance through self critique. While training for the biggest Tai Chi competition of his life, Waitzkin took a decidedly different approach:

“I recorded all of Dan’s and my training sessions. Then, every night I would go home and study the tapes.”

Similarly, Greene encourages those pursuing their Life’s Task to find the distance to assess themselves as objectively as possible:

“Once an action becomes automatic, you now have the mental space to observe yourself as you practice. You must use this distance to take note of your weaknesses or flaws that need correction—to analyze yourself.”

Building a deliberate practice that’s consistent, focused, and challenging puts the path of mastery within reach.

Many great masters had mentors. Maya Angelou had Bertha Flowers. Michelangelo had Lorenzo dé Medici.

Maya Angelou was a prolific poet, singer, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She’s known for memoirs like I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which garnered international recognition and acclaim, and poems including “And Still I Rise” and “Phenomenal Woman”. She kept a regimented routine that included waking up at 5:30 am and writing alone in a hotel room. (Photo Credit: Biography )

Greene describes the immense value a mentor can bring to mastery:

“Mentors do not give you a shortcut, but they streamline the process. They invariably had their own great mentors, giving them a richer and deeper knowledge of their field. Their ensuing years of experience taught them invaluable lessons and strategies for learning. Their knowledge and experience become yours; they can direct you away from unnecessary side paths or errors.”

Finding your own mentor is challenging. The masters of your field are often busy and inundated with requests for mentorship. It’s important to stand out from your peers as someone who can provide value in your mentor-mentee relationship too. Greene suggests volunteering your time for their benefit as a strategy for wooing a potential mentor:

“If you can demonstrate the ability to help them organize themselves on these fronts to a degree that others cannot, it will be much easier to get their attention and interest them in the relationship. Do not shy away from anything menial or secretarial. You want person-to-person access, however you can get it.”

Unfortunately, you can’t always acquire a mentor. In these cases, though not ideal, turn to other sources for expertise: peer groups, books, podcasts, Twitter. Often the people whose skills you want to acquire are a click away, sharing their thoughts in an interview or tweeting about the early failures they faced in their career. This can give you an up-close view of their thought process and how they work. Learning by observation , through a slew of virtual mentors, can be a temporary substitute for a real mentor. However, most performance experts say real-life mentorship is the gold standard. Leonard echoes this sentiment:

“Instruction comes in many forms. For mastering most skills, there’s nothing better than being in the hands of a master teacher, either one-to-one or in a small group. But there are also books, films, tapes, computer learning programs, computerized simulators (flight simulators, for example), group instruction, the classroom, knowledgeable friends, counselors, business associates, even “the street.” Still, the individual teacher or coach can serve as a standard for all forms of instruction, the first and brightest beacon on the journey of mastery.”

Thomas Edison was an inventor and businessman whose inventions include the electric light bulb and the motion picture camera. Lacking a formal education and mentors to guide him, he relied on rigorous self-education, including reading Richard Green Parker’s School of Natural Philosophy . (Photo Credit: Inc. )

Your mentor can help you along the path of mastery, having embarked on the same one themselves. However, at a certain point your mentor-mentee relationship will make a shift. As counter-intuitive as it may sound, your goal should eventually be to surpass your mentor. Many historical examples of mentor-mentee relationships have resulted in eventual jealousy and discontentment. Your aim should be to avoid this and instead become peers, egos unbruised. In all, the best mentorship relationships can supercharge your growth and accelerate your learning.

After years of practicing Push Hands Tai Chi, Waitzkin was a decorated national champion in the United States. He had no concept of what awaited him when he moved to compete internationally in Taiwan. Waitzkin lost his first match there and resolved to come back and win it all. He eventually secured a victory. But his initial mistake was in underestimating his opponent:

“Until I went to Taiwan, I had no idea what to expect. And sure enough, the top competitors were armed with a skill set I had never dreamed of.” “The skill level in U.S. Push Hands events, including our championships, doesn’t compare to such competitions in Taiwan, where Push Hands is the national sport. Mediocrity can be self-nurturing, and frankly, many U.S. Push Hands players delude themselves about their level of proficiency.”

Achieving mastery necessarily means we have to rise to the level of other masters. To achieve mastery, it’s better to be a small fish in a big pond than a big fish in a small pond. The former will challenge us and force us to rise to the occasion. The latter will leave us complacent with no real way to improve.

Meet the masters of your field on their home court. If you want to be a prolific filmmaker, move to Los Angeles. If you want to study artificial intelligence, Silicon Valley remains the largest tech hub in the world.

If you’re a competitor, seek out increasingly more challenging opponents, as Waitzkin did on his journey to secure an international title:

“A competitor needs to be process-oriented, always looking for stronger opponents to spur growth, but it is also important to keep on winning enough to maintain confidence.”

Josh Waitzkin is a child chess prodigy turned martial arts practitioner. He holds a 2004 world champion title in Push Hands Tai Chi. He regularly sought out strong opponents to understand and strengthen his weaknesses. (Photo Credit: Josh Waitzkin )

While mastery remains a journey rather than a destination, setting goals and milestones can spur your progress forward. Leonard, explains this seeming contradiction:

“The journey of mastery is ultimately goalless; you take the journey for the sake of the journey itself. But, as I’ve pointed out, there are interim goals along the way, the first of which is simply starting the journey. And there’s nothing quite so immediately energizing on any journey as the intermediate goal of a tough, firm deadline—as is well known to anyone who has faced an opening-night curtain, a business-deal closing date, or a definite press time for an article or book.”

There’s no shortage of goals you set for yourself as you continue along the path of mastery, whatever that may be.

Along your path to mastery, set intermediate goals.

Playing big, by concentrating in areas of expertise, competing against strong opponents, and setting ambitious goals, are all strategies to move along the path of mastery.

Playing with amateurs is comfortable as you rack up win after win. Conversely, exposing yourself to the best in the world means you’ll often be bested by your opponents.

A senior peer you admire may bring up a key error you’ve made, leaving you embarrassed. On the path to mastery, get comfortable with this feeling of failure.

Instead of fearing it, move towards it. We learn more of our life lessons from failure, not success. Failures cement what we did wrong in our brains, a permanent mark on our minds that reminds us to do better. With enough practice, the biting shame and anger of failure dissipates as you recognize the worst case scenario simply isn't that bad. In fact, without failure, you would be unable to ascend to new levels.

Marcel Proust was a French novelist best known for In Search of Lost Time , a novel spanning seven volumes and considered a significant contribution to fiction. Prior to his critical success, he languished over finding the right subject matter and published Please and Days , which was widely panned. (Photo Credit: Literary Hub )

Greene describes this willingness to put ourselves out there as the “Experimentation” or “The Active Mode”. He suggests the following:

“Expose your work to the public for active feedback. If you wait until you're ready, you'll never be ready.”

“Often you must force yourself to initiate such actions or experiments before you think you are ready.”

This was a key tenet of Waitzkin’s journey to becoming a skilled martial artist:

“I spent many months getting smashed around by [his rival] Evan, and admittedly it was not easy to invest in loss when I was being pummeled against walls—literally, the plaster was falling off in the corner of the school into which Evan invited me every night.”

Evan, was unwilling to do the same:

“Most critically, Evan was unwilling to invest in loss himself. He could have taken my improvement as a chance to raise his game, but instead he opted out.”

Failure is uncomfortable and makes us feel weak and powerless. It brings us back to feeling like a novice, erasing all the hard work we’ve done. If you’re one of the few people who can chase failure and make it an integral part of your mastery plan, you’ll be in a league of your own.

On any important pursuit, obstacles will arise. Mastery is no different. In Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art , he describes the force that derails our plans and sabotages our dreams — Resistance:

“To yield to Resistance deforms our spirit. It stunts us and makes us less than we are and were born to be.” He also adds, “Resistance will tell you anything to keep you from doing your work. It will perjure, fabricate, falsify; seduce, bully, cajole. Resistance is protean. It will assume any form, if that's what it takes to deceive you.”

Our greatest power over resistance is knowing of its existence and the many forms it can take: complacency, stagnation, distraction, emotional turmoil, rejection, and burnout. Know the shapes resistance can take to derail your journey, so you're better prepared for its attempts to obstruct your path to mastery. Leonard cites the same phenomenon:

“Expect resistance and backlash. Realize that when the alarm bells start ringing, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re sick or crazy or lazy or that you’ve made a bad decision in embarking on the journey of mastery. In fact, you might take these signals as an indication that your life is definitely changing—just what you’ve wanted.”

This section will detail the various setbacks that can lead us astray from our chosen path and pull us away from mastery.

Kanye West is a rapper, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer known best for albums like The College Dropout and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy . He’s one of the most critically acclaimed artists of the 21st century, garnering 21 Grammy Awards and one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He’s known for an obsessive work ethic, often sleeping only in short spurts at the music studio while recording music. (Photo Credit: DJ Booth )

Mastering your own emotions is the skill on which every true pursuit of mastery is built. Without a foundation of mental resilience , the practice of mastery is built on shaky ground and often comes tumbling to the ground. Mastery requires immense patience — you won’t see excellence if you constantly give up. Ascending fields often means working closely with collaborators. You’ll curtail your success if you can’t effectively work well with others.

Katherine Johnson was a mathematician who worked at NASA for 35 years. Her calculations of orbital mechanics were critical to the first U.S. spaceflight. She co-authored 26 scientific papers and her work was involved in the Apollo 11 flight to the Moon and the Apollo 13 Moon mission. (Photo Credit: Britannica )

Greene describes the importance of emotional control on the road to mastery:

“Understand: to create a meaningful work of art or to make a discovery or invention requires great discipline, self-control, and emotional stability. It requires mastering the forms of your field.”

Waitzen echoes this sentiment:

“Mental resilience is arguably the most critical trait of a world-class performer, and it should be nurtured continuously.”

Consider these strategies for building mental resilience:

• Practice mindfulness meditation. Meditating helps quiet your mind, both while you’re mediating and when you’re not. Mindfulness is a tool you can reach for over and over again to cultivate mental calm and equanimity.
• Practice negative visualization. Steel yourself against “the worst thing that could happen” by practicing negative visualization — a stoic practice that asks you to contemplate your life at its worst.

The distractions of everyday work and life have a way of whittling hours from the little time you do have. Waitzkin bemoans a culture that emphasizes distraction over focus:

“Our obstacle is that we live in an attention-deficit culture. We are bombarded with more and more information on television, radio, cell phones, video games, the Internet. The constant supply of stimulus has the potential to turn us into addicts, always hungering for something new and prefabricated to keep us entertained.”

Unless your path to mastery includes television writing or production, game development, or adjacent careers in technology and entertainment, it’s likely you spend too much time online . Mastery necessitates deep work and focus that can’t occur if you’re distracted, constantly checking your phone and social media.

Misty Copeland is a ballet dancer for the American Ballet Theatre and the first African American women to be promoted to principal dancer in its history. She rose quickly in the field as a prodigy despite starting ballet at the age of 13. (Photo Credit: Allure )

But distraction is much broader than digital disturbances. Often we use other distractions as a form of procrastination: workplace drama, demands on our time, or shortcuts that promise a fast path to where we want to go.

By maintaining a singular focus, we can be more equipped to handle distractions. Here are a few strategies to combat them head-on:

• Have a daily task list that includes your top priorities so you can see them at a glance (e.g. Todoist ).
• Use site blockers on your phone and computer when you’re entering periods of deep work and focus (e.g. Self Control , Freedom ).
• Say “no” when an opportunity arises that steers us off the path of mastery.

Mastery is never a straight path. Greene warns against this:

“...you must not see this process of moving through levels of intelligence as merely linear, heading toward some kind of ultimate destination known as mastery.”

Rather than moving in a straight line, you’ll experience a rapid spurt of skill development followed by lulls of stagnation or even regression.

These plateaus can last weeks, months or even years. As we watch peers brush past us and feel our own passion fade away, it can be tempting to give up on our deliberate practice and forgo the path of mastery all together.

Dispel this urge and practice the following instead:

Recognize this phase as part of the journey. The plateau you’re experiencing isn’t unique to you. Rather than seeing stagnation as a result of some personal failing, understand that it’s a natural part of the journey to mastery. The path to excellence is long and arduous. If you’re doing it correctly, you’ll often feel like a beginner over and over again. Leonard provides reassurance that plateaus and normal and expected:

“There’s really no way around it. Learning any new skill involves relatively brief spurts of progress, each of which is followed by a slight decline to a plateau somewhat higher in most cases than that which preceded it.”

By recognizing this phase, you can cultivate patience. Greene describes overcoming this obstacle:

“Real pleasure comes from overcoming challenges, feeling confidence in your abilities, gaining fluency in skills, and experiencing the power this brings. You develop patience. Boredom no longer signals the need for distraction, but rather the need for new challenges to conquer.”

Maintain a 'Beginner’s Mind.' The concept of “Shoshin” or “Beginner’s Mind” originates from Zen Buddhism. It asks people to practice going through life with a sense of openness and to avoid being jaded with expectations and preconceived notions. Or as Steve Jobs put it: "stay hungry, stay foolish".

This mindset is crucial as you naturally meet periods of stagnation in your deliberate practice.

Rather than let plateaus and backslides derail you entirely, take a step back and find ways to recapture the energy and openness you felt when you were just starting out. Waitzkin describes the importance of staying curious while facing challenges:

“When aiming for the top, your path requires an engaged, searching mind. You have to make obstacles spur you to creative new angles in the learning process.”

Here are a few concrete strategies for rediscovering a beginner’s mindset:

• Mentor individuals who are newer to your field, and learn from them.
• Identify your commonly held assumptions, and question their validity.
• Branch out into adjacent fields for inspiration and new perspectives.
• Approach your work without expectations of the result.
• Find opportunities to learn and practice non-competitively.
• Revisit your favorite readings, videos, or discussions from your field.
• Take a break from deliberate practice to come back later renewed.

Over the long stretch of time it requires to reach mastery, coming back to the beginner’s mind will renew your energies.

Richard Feynman was a theoretical physicist who is also credited with pioneering the field of quantum computing and developing the concept of nanotechnology. He jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965. He’s widely known for skill as a teacher. He created The Feynman Lectures on Physics , arguably the most famous physics book ever written, as a professor at the California Institute of Technology. (Photo Credit: Open Mind BBVA )

When we stay the course while experiencing a plateau, we often come back better than before. Waitzkin describes his own plateaus as a chess competitor and how he dealt with them:

“Of course there were plateaus, periods when my results leveled off while I internalized the information necessary for my next growth spurt, but I didn’t mind. I had a burning love for chess and so I pushed through the rocky periods with a can-do attitude.”

Avoid complacency. For some, a plateau brings insecurity and sadness. For others, it brings complacency. “Surely, if I’m no longer progressing, my mastery journey is complete?” This is rarely ever the case. Greene warns against this feeling of complacency:

“The moment that you rest, thinking that you have attained the level you desire, a part of your mind enters a phase of decay. You lose your hard-earned creativity and others begin to sense it. This is a power and intelligence that must be continually renewed or it will die.”

He continues with additional caution to those who have become self-satisfied in their pursuit of mastery:

“This is perhaps the single greatest pitfall of them all. This quality continually haunts you, no matter how disciplined you might think you are. You will convince yourself that your work is essentially over and well done, when really it is your impatience speaking and coloring your judgment. You tend to lose the energy you had when you were younger and hungrier. Unconsciously, you will veer toward repetition — reusing the same ideas and processes as a kind of shortcut.”

By steeling ourselves against the desire to give up when faced with an obstacle, we can come back from plateaus stronger than ever, having learned about the value of patience and resilience.

Mastery can be mentally and physically punishing. While your Life’s Task should be a core focus, an unhealthy obsession will inevitably lead to burnout . Waitzkin discusses the importance of interval training, in the form of rest and recovery:

“In your performance training, the first step to mastering the zone is to practice the ebb and flow of stress and recovery. This should involve interval training as I have described above, at whatever level of difficulty is appropriate for the age and physical conditioning of the individual.”

This cycle of rest and recovery doesn’t only apply to physical mastery of a sport or martial art, but anything that requires dedicated long-term focus.

Annie Leibovitz is a renowned portrait photographer who’s captured subjects like John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Queen Elizabeth, The Obama Family, and hundreds of notable celebrities. She worked at Rolling Stone Magazine for 13 years as a staff photographer and chief photographer, while continuing to take personal photos in her free time. (Photo Credit: The New York Times )

Recovery is an essential tool in your kit that will keep you on the road to mastery for years and decades.

Find balance so you can properly recharge and do your best work

Taking care of yourself ensures you’ll have the endurance to embark on the long road of mastery.

Mastery exists in countless fields. We understand this when we pick up a book by Rachel Carson, marvelling at her ability to paint the image of nature in our minds with her command of words. Or when we watch a Martin Scorsese film,  astonished by the gritty world he's created on the screen.

This kind of mastery is within our reach too. By staying the path and committing to a lifelong learning expedition, we can capture greatness for ourselves.

Fadeke Adegbuyi

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"The journey is the thing" - Homer

• Thread starter bennyj22
• Start date Oct 14, 2014
• Oct 14, 2014

Senior Member

I don't think it is Homer. But the sense of this moto is found in the poem "Ithaca" by K. Kavafis. http://www.cavafy.com/poems/content.asp?cat=1&id=74 Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey. Without her you would not have set out. She has nothing left to give you now.  

Hmmm. Well that's what I thought when I couldn't find it. But there are numerous citations all over the internet when you type in English "Homer - the journey is the thing". Literally hundreds.  

• Oct 15, 2014

And, in any case, Homer would never have said anything of the sort. To him, the journey was never its own reward.  

The journey is its own reward: Fellows Friday with Kellee Santiago

TED Fellow Kellee Santiago has won numerous awards for the video game, “Journey.” Here, we talk to her about her craft.

In recent months, That Game Company’s downloadable PS3 game Journey  has swept up an armload of awards — the Game Developers Choice Award for Game of the Year and BAFTA Video Game Award for Best Game Design, to name just two — not to mention a Grammy nomination for Best Original Soundtrack. Company co-founder and TED Fellow Kellee Santiago tells us why she believes this remarkable game is touching so many people’s lives, what it might mean for the future of gaming. Bonus: we ask what’s next on her own horizon.

This is a lot of awards  at once, isn’t it? How does it feel? It’s been totally amazing. We did have a good feeling about Journey: the responses we got last year just from our players was totally overwhelming — people really felt they were able to have personal catharsis through it.

By December, which marks the beginning of game awards season, we’d already been getting so much good attention already — people doing costume plays of the characters, making videos, playing the music on YouTube. So we suspected Journey might get nominated as a stand-out game of the year, just as Flow and Flower , our previous titles, had. But amazingly, it also started showing up in best game of the year categories, as well as best story and best soundtrack and graphics, which put Journey in the same category as what’s known as triple-A games — the video equivalent of blockbuster movies — the high-budget disc titles like Halo 4 and Mass Effect 3, Borderlands 2 and Dishonored. Seeing Journey in along with them was amazing. Then we started winning, which was really unbelievable.

I think it really speaks to a shift happening in the games industry around the idea of who can make a quality game, and what defines a quality game experience. The emphasis wasn’t on hours of gameplay or weapon-changing abilities, but on personal, deep experiences.

Tell us about the game experience. In the game, the player is a robed figure. You wake up in the desert, and you see this giant mountain in front of you. The goal of the game is to go on this journey to the mountaintop — very much inspired by Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey structure.

On each level you’re exploring what appears to be a ruined civilization. You’re in this long robe, and when you encounter pieces of cloth, they can give you energy. And that energy you can use to fly, not infinitely, just for short periods. And you can build upon your ability to fly. But the idea is that cloth is really the only living thing in this desert environment. And as you move through the world, you encounter more complex life forms of cloth, and you start to learn more and understand more about this civilization and what happened there.

It takes about 90 minutes, maybe two hours, to play. We wanted to allow people to play through in one sitting.

How does the multiplayer aspect work? As you’re going on this journey through different environments to the mountaintop, you can encounter another robed figure like yourself, and that is another real person. We don’t have an AI system, as some people think. It is always just a one-on-one connection, to give you this feeling like you’re in this vast world. So when you happen upon another person, it’s very significant.

One of the goals was to make an online console title that actually made you feel connected to another person, as opposed to the traditional online console gaming experience in which you start up a competitive, usually fighting or shooting game, and get yelled at by people from across the world.

In Journey, there’s actually no language, no voice chat system, and no in-game messaging. You’re also totally anonymous — you don’t have a user ID or a name, nothing that could take you out of the world that we were creating, which also leaves it totally open to players of any age and also from anywhere in the world. Because we don’t rely on language, we can actually have a global server, so you could be playing with someone who doesn’t even speak the same language as you. Yet you share the experience.

Then do you have to play the game together? You don’t have to. People have different play styles: I could be really into exploration, and they just want to go around and collect everything — then we’d naturally separate and be disconnected and left open to connect with someone else. This offers an organic way of players finding players who are similar to them.

How do the players communicate? The only way of communicating is through a shout or call system. When you press a button on the controller, you’ll make either a tiny shout or a large call. It can act as a way of saying “Hey, I’m over here!” if you’re in the level but can’t see each other very well. But when two people initially find each other, they “speak” in lots of short chirps. It’s amazing how much actually people can communicate this way. It gets enough across, I guess.

Is there no way they can ever find each other in the real world? We’ve struggled with this, because from a game design stance, it can be very powerful to allow people to invite friends to play. But we felt the anonymity was really important, because the game is about humanity in general, not the specifics of this particular person. But if you play through the entire game, it’ll take you back to where you started again. At that moment, it will show you the other journeyers you encountered along the way, so people have connected to one another through the Playstation network messaging system afterwards.

There’s also a Tumblr blog actually called Journey Stories , where people post their experiences of playing and try and find each other if they’ve had a particularly moving experience with someone.

But it’s funny to think about how originally it was really just a theory when 13 of us were developing the game. We really felt that simply moving through these environments with another person would be something really compelling to share online. I guess it turned out that we weren’t alone.

Is it meant to be played again and again? Yes. There are collectibles that you can go and get through multiple playthroughs. But mainly people play again because the environments are beautiful and it’s a really interesting place to be — and you can always encounter another person. That really does change your experience every time.

So even though you know what you’re going to encounter at the end, it’s still worth exploring and making contact with somebody else. Yeah. A metaphor we used a lot during development was hiking — especially that feeling like we can pass each other on a busy street in an urban environment, we don’t even recognize each other. But when you’re out hiking somewhere, when you see another person, you feel a connection to them. And everyone’s pretty nice usually when you go out hiking. I’ve hiked in Griffith Park on some of the same trails many, many times now because I live right here, but it’s still a beautiful place to explore. I’ll still go back to it.

You’re no longer with That Game Company. What happened, and what are you up to now? We pretty much disbanded after Journey was shipped, about a year ago. It had been six years, and myself and co-founder Jenova Chen and the other people that had been there for a while, we had just really grown and changed. Your art imitates your life, and it was true for every single one of our games, and Journey was no exception. Jenova said in the acceptance speech that he gave at GDC that, if you played through Journey, you’d understand our own struggles as well. It reflects everything we were going through.

So when it was over, it was time for us to hit the start-a-new-journey button, like we have in the game. I didn’t know what was next. In games, I love the practice of game development and game design, but I’m also passionate about empowering different voices in game development to be successful so that we can have a wider variety of experiences in games. I’m interested in how our business model can impact that. Because the games industry is relatively young, there’s still much room to change that and switch it up. I’ve been doing that also with an angel investment fund called Indie Fund , which I co-founded in the beginning of 2010.

My period of exploration vacillated between both. But I thought that in order to really impact the finances and the business model of the games industry, I would ultimately have to go work for one of the large studios or large console manufacturers and work my way up to being in a position of power. I got connected with Julie Uhrman, who’s the CEO and founder of Ouya , which I joined as Head of Developer Relations a month ago. Ouya made a lot of waves last year. They ran a very successful Kickstarter campaign: making $8.5 million dollars for a new console, which is crazy. It could have only worked on Kickstarter: investors were just laughing them out of the room. No one wanted to get into hardware manufacturing.

With Ouya, I really feel there is an opportunity to have all of the accessibility for development that mobile devices and PCs do, but in the living room — still have developers be able to develop a variety of gaming experiences, but with all the ease and openness of a platform that’s been provided through App Store and Google Play. That really excites me.

Any regrets?

That we lost the Grammy to Trent Reznor. But that’s OK.

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The journey is its own reward: Downscaling culture in intercultural communication research

This chapter presents a methodological review of the literature on scales and intercultural communication. It proposes to downscale culture analytically for research to be able to attend to the rescaling processes that occur in intercultural communication. I review four concepts, aggregation, analytical stereotyping, small culture and scales, to arrive at an understanding of culture and interculturality as emerging from people's interactions rather than being fixed categories constructed by researchers for analytical purposes. The notion of downscaling culture pushes the study of intercultural communication towards analysing the micro-interactional moves speakers make in a given interaction, without necessarily seeing these speakers as belonging to a predetermined (national) Culture and their interactions as being necessarily influenced by this Culture. The chapter thus follows anti-essentialist trends in discourse and communication studies and thereby also situates intercultural communication research within the critical study of power.

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The Seekers: Sundance’s Protags Find the Journey Is Its Own Reward

Carlos aguilar.

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Above all the other layers of existential complexity that define a person’s identity lays the importance of purpose. The human plight to find a rationale that justifies the role each one of us plays in the immensity of life is by far the one question that preoccupies most forms of storytelling. Who is this character? And by that we mean to ask, what does he do? Why does she do that? And does what he does define who he is? This intricate relationship between what a character, fictional or real, does and who she really is can most simply be appreciated when we encounter one-dimensional personalities. 

Take for example any given Disney film. The villain plans and caries out wicked deeds, therefore his entire persona is recognized as being evil; there is no gray area or nuance to speak of. In the same manner the princess or hero exemplifies all the morally outstanding qualities that we should strive to encompass. They can be tempted but never corrupted. These opposite perspectives have a specific set of traits that dictate what the character is capable of doing, and in turn who he is. They each have a mutually exclusive purpose to fulfill in the greater spectrum of the story they inhabit. 

Related Stories The ‘Hacks’ Showrunners Think Comedy Is ‘Not Being Upheld as the Necessary, Important Thing That It Is’ Sony Delays New ‘Karate Kid’ Movie to 2025 to Accommodate Final Season of ‘Cobra Kai’

Pondering this notion of motivation while watching films at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, four characters stood out as having very peculiar moral compasses in terms of what they are and what they want to become: their purpose. 

First on the list, and perhaps the one with the most abstract journey, is Jerry Hickfang, the protagonist of Marjane Satrapi’s The Voices ,  played impeccably by Ryan Reynolds. Seemingly a normal guy who works at a warehouse Jerry suffers from schizophrenia and goes home at night to chat with his two extremely opinionated pets: Mr. Whiskers, a sassy, borderline neurotic cat and Bosco, his loving dog. Strangely enough, they both verbalize their advice on how he should approach his daily predicaments.

Jerry wants to prove to himself that he is a good person and he wants to be loved, which makes him insanely endearing for a psychopath. Although product of his illness, his actions are perceived as abhorrent by the rest of the world that doesn’t live in his fantastic subconscious. What he does — killing people — defines how he is seen and creates an internal conflict with his mission of convincing himself and others that he is a well-intentioned man. In a vicious circle he repeatedly commits terrible crimes certain that this is what it takes to be labeled as good. 

Following a similar pattern of unreasonable behavior is Kumiko, brought to life by Rinko Kikuchi, the title character in the Zellner brothers’ Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter . Obsessed with finding the mythical suitcase that Steve Buscemi buries under the snow in the Coens’ Fargo , this Japanese woman leaves her life behind to come to Minnesota in search of what she believes to be real. Still, she is not on a quest to simply become rich, but she wants to show those back at home, specially her mother and boss, that she can do great things. This irrational trip will give her the validation she’s been denied. If successful, Kumiko would go from a purposeless late-twenties single woman to a wealthy, fearless, and driven heroine worthy of praise. 

Having discussed the delusional mentalities that pushed two of these characters into less than normal circumstances to realize their goals, we can know deal with the other pair that is much more grounded in reality, but still very much extreme in their methods. 

Egocentric, arrogant, and immeasurably selfish, Philip is an aspiring writer who is willing to bypass any societal norms relating to healthy human interactions in order to become an icon. Played by Jason Schwartzman, the protagonist of Alex Ross Perry’s Listen Up Philip  lacks sympathy for others unless they can somehow serve as tools to materialize his ambition. His self-image is so blatantly blurred by his delusions of grandeur that even his girlfriend Ashley (Elisabeth Moss), goes from being a commodity and supplier to be rendered as nothing more than an obstacle. Not surprisingly, Philip admits that he would much rather be remembered as a successful author than as having any meaningful role in the personal lives of those around him.  For him, emotional connection is synonym with commitment that will lead to failure. 

Existing on the same wavelength is Andrew, an up-and-coming drummer blinded by his irrational hunger for glory. In the Grand Jury Prize Winning film Whiplash , Miles Teller plays this young man whose sole reason to get up in the morning is to get better at playing the drums. He is not only after a contract or a mediocre position in a band; he aspires, or better said, he needs to become a legend by reaching a new level of skill unfathomable for mere mortals. Andrew’s vision of the world exists between his fingers and his drums sticks. Nothing in the periphery has any value for him, nor a girlfriend, or family, or his own physical safety. Lost in the ecstasy that envelops him when he is in the zone, he loses sight of reality. What he does –- play drums — engulfs everything else that makes him a person and becomes his singular unshakable purpose. Unafraid of the consequences, he is literally willing to die to be recognized as one of the greatest drummers in history. Whether that ideal is feasible or nor is irrelevant to him. 

Unpopular and alienated, this collection of misunderstood antiheroes share noticeable similarities both in the details of their stories and in the tone utilize by the filmmakers to tell them.  

Regardless of the tangible nature of each of their respective objectives, all four of these characters are seeking to evolve, to surpass their current state and be perceived as something better than what they think they are. Inherently they believe they need to change and in order to do so something radical must happen. What is particular about them is the fact that they are not thirsty for revenge, or pursuing a romantic interest, or even searching for material success for the sake of it. They essentially need acknowledgement from an outside source to validate their decisions and to feel like their struggles are worthwhile. 

Jerry and Kumiko are both mentally unstable either because of traumatic experiences, negative reinforcement from their authority figures, or genetics. They both pursue their paths to impact the way others see them. Their dilemma is of a much more emotional quality. Jerry wants someone, anyone, to love him for what he is and to reassure him that he is not a monster. Kumiko, on the other hand, would like his mother to think she is special even though she doesn’t fit the mold and expectations for women her age. Meanwhile, Philip and Andrew also want to be loved but their quest is entirely merit base. They need for their accomplishments to be revered, and via this adoration they would be able to accept themselves as important individuals. They need others to applaud their talents in order for them to see their self-worth.

Of course the external voices that each of these lost souls listen to, are crucial in the development of their twisted ideologies. Philip has an older writer as a mentor, Ike (Jonathan Pryce), who suffers from the same self-centered pomposity as he. Ike is at once Philip’s driving force and support system, as well as the physical representation of what he will become if he continues on the same road. For Andrew, the relationship with his teacher Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons) has a more corrosive effect on him. Ruthless and strict, Simmons’ character pushes Andrew to the limit under the false pretense of wanting him to be the best he can be, but it often comes across as a vehicle to satisfy his sadistic fantasies. Nevertheless, Andrew’s rage against him becomes an inspiring feud to keep going and metaphorically defeat him. In both cases teacher and pupil are part of a continuum. Their relationship is symbiotic. 

For Kumiko, the sporadically mentioned but relevant emotional dependency on her mother’s opinion of her life is the main factor that forces her to travel the world to make her proud. Every time they speak on the phone her mother questions her about marriage or a promotion at her job, disqualifying any of her efforts. These constant demoralizing statements are the catalyst. 

More contrasting are the voices that talk to Jerry. On the one hand his cat, Mr. Whiskers, encourages him to kill and assures him he is evil and can’t escape his fate. Then there is his therapist, played by Jacki Weaver, who truly believes he is good at heart and that he can overcome his internal demons. Evidently conflicted by these different views Jerry tries to make sense of it all by continuing to kill in an act of self-preservation.  For both of these characters the poisonous dialogue, real or not, leaves them with no choice but to cope in disturbingly unsafe manners. Their purpose is viciously distorted by elements outside of their control. 

Taking into account the heavy concepts that play a role in each of these films, the filmmakers’ greatest success it that in all of them there is a comedic, sometimes even lighthearted tone that makes the drama more palatable. Kumiko’s role as an outsider lost in the Minnesota wilderness lends itself for some situational, and hilarious, comedy that comes from her interactions with small-town Americans. Philip’s witty, dismissive, and outright disrespectful comments pack a punch in terms of their comedic power. Subtler is the comic relief in the exhilarating Whiplash , sometimes involuntary, but often derived from Andrew’s pragmatism when dealing with relationship, these moments are necessary to endure the fast-paced sequences that permeate the film. Lastly, out of the four, The Voices  is undoubtedly the one with the most outrageous, gutsy, and inappropriate humor coming from all fronts.  Sexually deviant talking animals, magical realist murder scenes, and an adorable killer take the cake for their inventiveness. 

Multilayered and multifaceted, the characters examined here have in common a certain flawed humanity that speaks of the fragile nature of a person’s identity. How far would we go to find a place or a achieve a status that makes our lives meaningful? Who defines what the parameters by which worth is measured? Is it us? Or the constant input of the external components that form our self-image? Perhaps purpose is relative and ever changing but is in the quest itself that audiences find pleasure when watching a film or reading a book. It doesn’t really matter if Kumiko gets the money or Philip writes a best-seller, is in the things they lose or gain while seeking this unreachable satisfaction that the journey finds meaning. Needless to say all for of these films have proved themselves to be deserving of praise. 

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The Journey Was Its Own Reward Paperback – January 1, 2008

• Print length 266 pages
• Language English
• Publisher John Scalzo
• Publication date January 1, 2008
• ISBN-10 061524730X
• ISBN-13 978-0615247304
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Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ John Scalzo (January 1, 2008)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 266 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 061524730X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0615247304
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds

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Inside world’s most luxurious train costing passengers £2,400 a night with panoramic windows and your very own butler

• Aiya Zhussupova , Foreign News Reporter
• Published : 12:50 ET, Apr 26 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

JAPAN is famed for its ultra-fast bullet trains - but this lavish train journey is one of its kind.

The Seven Stars is the first luxury sleeper train in the country which offers a unique experience like nowhere else.

Launched in 2013, the sleeper train became an instant hit with tickets selling out at lightning speed each year.

The demand is so high that passengers often have to enter a lottery for a berth on Japan’s very own Oriental Express.

And it is no wonder since the Seven Stars is more akin to a lush cruise ship than a regular train.

Passengers embark on a 1,800-mile journey from Hakata station in Fukuoka where they can wait for the "cruise train" in an exclusive lounge.

The Seven Stars adopted its name from its route which stops at seven prefectures of Kyushu island.

At each stop, the guests can explore the culture, cuisine and craftsmanship of the local area which is far cry from the modern Japan .

They are offered excursions to visit the island's nature and hot springs while learning its rich history on two-day itineraries.

But inside the train, there is still plenty to captivate the passengers' attention.

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The train has ten en-suite rooms and two deluxe suites which cost about £2,400 a night.

Every room is complete with its own shower, toilet and an air conditioner.

The deluxe suites can accommodate up to three people, and allows them to enjoy the scenic journey from the comfort of their room.

The wall-to-wall panoramic window opens up to the view of picturesque green mountains and sky-blue tranquil sea.

The world-class chefs prepare fresh 10-course meals for the especially hungry passengers which they can enjoy to the sounds of grand piano.

The bar which serves drinks day and night is also accompanied by live musical entertainment.

In the tea room, the guests are immersed in the best of Japan 's traditions as the interior is decorated with the customary tatami mats.

The car at the rear also features a large bay window to enjoy the scenery.

The website said: "Enjoy the starry sky that peers in from the panoramic windows with a glass of bliss in your hand and relax on the sofas to take in the stunning views that pass by."

Meanwhile, the UK boasts its own posh train where passengers can enjoy champagne and six course dinners.

The Northern Belle imitates the luxury of the 1930s while travelling through the UK countryside with departures from London Victoria.

Another fancy train journey in the UK is the four-night Welsh Dragon holiday, run by Steam Dreams Rail Co.

Travelling from London Paddington through  Wales , there is an onboard bar as well as a dining car with a specially made menu.

Starting from £995pp, the steam train trip is set to run this September.

A new luxury train service is also set to launch in Italy with an onboard cocktail bar, private cabins and other lavish touches.

La Dolce Vita Orient Express recreates the atmosphere of the 1960s Italy, all while passing through some of the country's most popular holiday hotspots.

Saudi Arabia doesn't lag behind its European counterparts and has revealed its latest ambitious plan for a luxury train cruise.

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The Middle Eastern nation is launching the first luxury train to be used in the kingdom after striking a £43million deal with Italian hospitality company Arsenale Group.

Dubbed "Dream of the Dessert", the new train will offer “luxury train cruise” journeys from the capital city of Riyadh to Qurayyat, which is situated close to the northern border with Jordan, the state media reports.

Bitcoin Just Halved Its Mining Reward. Here's Why I'm Buying Now

O n the evening of April 19, the much-anticipated Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) halving finally took place. Crypto investors around the world celebrated, and for good reason. There have been three previous halving events, and each one has resulted in a new bull market cycle for Bitcoin.

So is the halving going to send the price of Bitcoin soaring again this year? I think so, and here's why.

Bitcoin has its own monetary policy

Many investors may not realize this, but Bitcoin was actually created as a backlash to the financial crisis of 2008. Satoshi Nakamoto , the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, blamed irresponsible fiscal and monetary policy for the crisis, and sought to create a new type of digital asset that would be "sound money."

With that in mind, Nakamoto built the unique halving mechanism into the original Bitcoin algorithm. A halving occurs after 210,000 blocks have been added to the Bitcoin blockchain, and that's approximately once every four years. As soon as the 210,000th block has been added, the mining reward for adding any new blocks is cut in half.

Another way to think about this is that Bitcoin is the only asset in the world with its own monetary policy. The halving mechanism carefully controls how much new Bitcoin can be created at any time. It also places a hard cap on how much Bitcoin can ever be created, which is 21 million coins.

All this is done to make Bitcoin as inflation-resistant as possible, a feat that even the most talented central bankers have never fully mastered. According to Coinbase Global (NASDAQ: COIN) , Bitcoin is now a "programmatically disinflationary asset." In other words, Bitcoin is literally programmed to resist inflation. So, if you are looking for a long-term store of value, it's Bitcoin.

Bitcoin has skyrocketed in past halving cycles

The second reason I'm buying Bitcoin is because there is a very high probability that Bitcoin will soar in value after April 19. There have been three previous Bitcoin halving cycles, and in each one, Bitcoin has soared to a new all-time high. Some of the gains have been truly astounding. For example, in the previous halving cycle, Bitcoin soared from $10,000 in May 2020 to $69,000 in November 2021.

Of course, past performance is no guarantee of future performance, so there is a chance that Bitcoin may not soar as high in value this time around. Coinbase recently modeled the results of the three previous halving cycles, and found that the effect of each halving appears to be diminishing over time. This makes sense, given that we're getting closer and closer to the 21 million hard cap, with 19.7 million bitcoins currently in circulation.

But there is something very different this time around with the fourth Bitcoin halving, and that's the recent introduction of the new spot Bitcoin ETFs . This introduces an entirely new source of Bitcoin demand, and will likely help to prop up the price of Bitcoin if there is any selling pressure after the halving. In fact, some crypto traders think that we're already facing a potential "supply squeeze" in terms of available Bitcoin, and the halving could force the price of Bitcoin higher, simply on the basis of supply and demand.

All this leads me to think that we're going to get a similar type of price dynamic to what we've seen in past Bitcoin halving cycles. According to Coinbase, Bitcoin rallied 923% in the six months after the first halving, 37% in the six months after the second halving, and 82% in the six months after the third halving. So it's certainly within the realm of possibility that Bitcoin might pass the $100,000 level sometime this year. Given Bitcoin's current price of $65,000, that would imply a rally of approximately 50%.

How much higher can Bitcoin go?

As Bitcoin goes increasingly mainstream, it should start to behave more and more like a traditional financial asset. That means less volatility, more correlation with stocks and bonds, and greater price dependence on the overall macroeconomic environment. As a result, there could be less explosive upside than we're used to seeing with Bitcoin in previous halving cycles.

While Bitcoin may no longer be able to 100x or 1,000x in value as easily as it once did, it should still be able to increase 10x in price over the next decade. And that could be a conservative estimate. Cathie Wood of Ark Invest now thinks Bitcoin is going to blow past the $1 million price level sometime before 2030.So, if you're thinking about investing in Bitcoin, buckle up and enjoy the ride.

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Dominic Basulto has positions in Bitcoin. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin and Coinbase Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .