Being a neurodivergent millennial working as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), across years of growth and maturing— both personally and professionally- there are multitudes of advice I wish I could tell my younger self. Prominent among them is this crucial, transformative perspective on goal-setting: “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.”
We live in a world punctuated by timelines, deadlines, and schedules. Predictability provides us with a sense of security, but in our pursuit of clearly-defined timelines, we often overlook the beauty of the journey. Today, I want to talk about this journey and how it plays out on both personal and financial fronts.
Let’s take the quintessential goal of home-ownership—a dream pursued by many but seen as increasingly elusive by millennials and Gen Z’s. The lofty idea of buying a house may seem out of reach due to all the perceived constraints such as student loans, job instability, and the escalating cost of living. However, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s the importance of shaping your journey around the behaviors and habits leading to your grand dream.
Think about it: What are the behaviors and habits that would lead you to home-ownership? Saving wisely, budgeting, building a good credit score, and exploring different financing options, right? Now, these are quantifiable, achievable behaviors within our control. They are small steps—habits that we can cultivate, which will steer us closer to our goal.
You see, nuances of life have made me realize it’s not about how fast we reach our destination. It’s about the habits we develop, the knowledge we gain, and the lessons we learn throughout the journey. Realize that it is the formulated behaviors you exhibit that will guide you towards your goals.
Frequently, I find myself looking back with a tinge of regret, wishing I’d orchestrated my past behaviors differently for a better outcome. However, I’ve found it just as crucial to remind myself that the past is beyond my control. My energy is better invested in the present, working on habits that will set me up for future success.
Taking hold of the present doesn’t mean rushing to meet an arbitrary timeline, but fostering behavioral changes. For financial goals like home-ownership, it means learning to budget, understanding investments, honing financial literacy. It can also ripple into other aspects of our lives – forming routines for better health, investing time in learning new skills, or nurturing resilient relationships. In essence, nurturing the behaviors that carry us towards our destination is the journey. After all, we cannot command the winds, but we can adjust our sails.
So, as we navigate through this voyage together, let’s focus on criteria over timeline, action over angst regarding our past. Let’s celebrate the small victories, the slight adjustments, the tiny habits that make our journey meaningful, productive, and gratifying. Remember, we may not control time, but we certainly can control our actions—here and now. Let’s make them count.