To, Over or Beyond the horizon

Imagine yourself stood in the landscape. You may or may not like where you are stood but you have a need or desire to reach a point on or before the horizon. To get there you may or may not need to plan, prepare, organise, seek support, create what you need. Some journeys need sound preparation. Others you (think you) can just do it. The vision is clear – get to that visible point for this reason. The way to get there may be largely as you’d expect but you’ll still find the unexpected along the way, always. There is always the chance that the point you are aiming for has changed when you get there. It may not provide what you need or desire. Your needs & desires may have changed. You may end up at an unexpected destination.

Success or failure? It depends on how you see the journey. It depends on how you adapt. It depends on how you learn. Judgements of success or failure may miss the point entirely.

Now imagine that the destination you are aiming for is over the horizon. Knowledge, prior experience or good judgement might make that now invisible point more or less easy to reach. You’ll make assumptions. You’ll plan more carefully perhaps. You’ll actively seek input and fresh perspectives both before and during your journey. There is the chance that the point you are aiming for does not exist, has changed or does not provide what you need or desire. In fact you may not reach that point. You may find something better through that journey. Things change. However, at some point you think you know you’ll see that destination. You think you know your destination will be on or before the horizon. You think you know that the challenge will then feel more like that first scenario. Maybe it will.

We may give up part way through the journey. A good decision? A success? A failure? It depends on how you see the journey. It depends on how you adapt. It depends on how you learn. Judgements of success or failure may miss the point entirely.

So what about when our destination is beyond the horizon? The variables increase. The potential for adventure increases. The potential for mishap increases. Plans change. Destinations change. Needs & desires change. It can only be a journey. We have to work in the unknown to create knowing.

At some point we anticipate the destination is over the horizon. At some point we expect to see our destination on or before the horizon. It may never be what we expected.

Success or failure? It depends on how you see the journey. It depends on how you adapt. It depends on how you learn.

Change is always one of these 3 journeys – know which journey you are on.

Judge your success by the learning and the quality of your journey just as much as the value you obtain from your final destination. Judge your success on what it allows you to do next.

Don’t be singularly judged on or judgemental about the starting point. It belongs in the time & place you left behind. You’ve changed. Those who judge you on that alone haven’t changed.