It's About the Destination, Not the Journey: A Reflection on Perseverance in Life

I recently watched The Brutalist, a 3-hour and 35-minute A24-produced film that profoundly impacted me. It got me thinking about perseverance and our sacrifices to reach our goals.

We often hear the saying, "It's about the journey, not the destination." But what if, sometimes, it's actually the other way around? In The Brutalist, a character offers a different perspective: "It's about the destination, not the journey." This idea struck a chord with me, personally and in the broader context of life.

In the film, Lázló is deeply disappointed when he finally reaches his destination, but that isn’t always true. While reaching a goal may not always meet our expectations, it can also be incredibly fulfilling and rewarding.

Most things in life that are truly worthwhile require tremendous effort, perseverance, and sacrifice. The road to achieving something meaningful is often filled with uncertainty, self-doubt, and countless obstacles. It’s easy to question if we are making the right choices or if the struggle is even worth it. The journey itself can be exhausting. But why do we keep going? Because we have our eyes on the destination—on achieving something greater, on growth, on making an impact.

The truth is, anything worth achieving—whether it’s a personal goal, a dream career, a creative pursuit, or a meaningful relationship—demands patience, resilience, and hard work. There will be moments of doubt, setbacks, and exhaustion. And yet, we persist. Because in the end, it’s not about how hard the journey is—it’s about why we take it in the first place.

The reward is in the destination: the accomplishment after years of effort, the satisfaction of realizing a dream, and the sense of fulfillment in knowing we gave it everything. That’s what makes it all worth it.

So, as we continue to push forward in our journeys, let’s remind ourselves we don’t have to love the struggle all the time. We have to believe in where it’s leading us.