Master's Journey

    This week’s learning was focused on the Master’s Journey reading and it resonated with me in many ways. I love the way it helps me remember that life is not only about achievements. It is about the process and the journey we go through. I’ve struggled a lot with the phrase “Joy in the Journey” because life is not always peachy keen and it’s hard to be happy in those hard times. But as I get older, I’m starting to find ways to be more present in each moment. This helps find goodness in the chaos. I really like the concept of plateaus and climaxes. Many of the ways we were raised is to focus on the climaxes and all the achievements. I did not always enjoy the work I put in to earning awards. I hated practicing dance by myself. I liked the excitement of what came after the hard work – the recognition, the positive affirmations, the attention. What I want to teach my kids is that every day we can enjoy the work we put in. The plateau of life is more meaningful than I previously understood. The plateau is a place that we’ve reached from working hard, and now get to find the next thing that will be hard to accomplish. It’s not about the result but it’s about the ups and downs and finding meaning when we’re learning. The school systems and teachers also can benefit from this way of thinking. When we’re learning only to do good on tests, we miss out on the real benefit and meaning of knowledge. I don’t want to keep seeking a pat on the back repeatedly through my life of learning. I want to feel an inner satisfaction from learning and practicing and finding meaning on the plateau. This is the way to growth, satisfaction and fulfillment.