The Joy of Pursuing

Have you ever heard someone say that for guys “it’s all about the chase?” While I don’t think this is 100% true, there is something to be said about the joy found in pursuing—not just a potential mate, but a potential life. Going after what you want, desire, and love brings a rush of joy, hope, and motivation to your life. And before you know it, it will start to change your life.

I’ve never been one to recklessly follow my dreams. I’m more of the carefully plan every aspect of what it will take to follow the dream—how much money, time, effort, etc.—and then shoot it down before I ever get started type of person. It’s because I’ve always believed the fears and the lies more than I believed in myself—and more than I believed in God’s ability if I’m being honest (yikes, that’s super heavy, but it’s true—while I’m not going to get into that subject now, it is definitely something to think on).

The fear of pursuing and failing has kept me from experiencing the joy of the pursuit. And lately, I’ve been working really hard to change that… to pursue in the face of fear. And let me tell you, I’ve tasted the JOY, and it tastes good.

So, for all of you who are longing to taste the joy of pursuing the life you desire, here’s one thing I’ve learned so far that I hope will encourage you to simply begin:

You Don’t Know Until You Try

You may think you know. You may have done your research, figured out the odds, and came to a fairly accurate conclusion based on your past experiences and the experiences of others. But unless you try—right now, in this moment—you will never know for sure.

You don’t know if that person will email you back until you finally email them—you can assume they’re too busy and don’t have the time, but you don’t know until you try. And maybe you’ll wake up to a life-changing email within the following week.

You don’t know if that company is hiring for your dream position—you can assume they aren’t since you don’t see a job posting, but you don’t know until you try. Maybe someone put in their resignation letter today and the position is yours for the taking. Or maybe the company would be interested in creating a new position just for you.

You don’t know if anyone will buy your product—you can assume since platforms are inundated with a similar product that yours will get lost in flood, but you don’t know until you try. Just imagine the right person finding your product, loving it, and sharing your brand with their thousands or millions of followers.

It’s possible, and you don’t know until you try. And let me tell you, the simple act of trying is liberating, exciting, and exhilarating. Even if you don’t get a reply or a new business deal, you took a step toward pursuing the life you want to live—and that is more than some people will ever do.

The joy of the pursuit helps alleviate the sting of rejection. 

Let the hopeful expectation you felt the moment you pressed “send” encourage you to do it again and again until it works. And it will work because “right now” is someone’s perfect timing.

And even when it’s not perfecting timing and the stars don’t align, the joy of the pursuit helps alleviate the sting of rejection. You begin to realize the highs and lows aren’t what define your success or failure. It’s your ability to continue pursuing the life you desire in the midst of everything else. This is when the joy of pursuing turns into the joy of truly living. And that is a joy I’m looking forward to experiencing more and more.

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Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash