The most profound joy in life comes not from reaching the summit, but from the feeling of upward momentum when climbing from the valley.
I know, super corny. “It’s the journey, not the destination.” Whatever.
This insight has revealed itself repeatedly throughout my journey and in the lives of countless entrepreneurs and artists I've observed. When visualizing the emotional rollercoaster we all ride, it's that upward curve, the moment where darkness begins yielding to dawn—that holds the most meaning. Not where we stand, but the direction we are moving determines how content we are.
As if by synchronicity, while this idea was simmering in my mind, I tuned into Chris Williamson's podcast featuring Naval Ravikant. About 20 minutes in, they articulated this exact concept with remarkable clarity, giving voice to what I've been feeling. If you're curious to hear their discussion, here's a timestamped link. (But, you should really listen to the entire episode - its gold.)
Peaks and Troughs
I’ve noticed that the periods of my life filled with the most meaning and contentment weren't necessarily during the "peak'“ of an experience. In fact, they were often much closer to the trough. That dawn, that initial ascent after bottoming out, is where the magic happens.
Think about the second half of the trough in a sine wave. Statistically, things might not look as impressive as when you're coming off the peak. But, you’re trending in the right direction. Contrast this with the second half of the peak, where things are technically better, but the trajectory isn’t great. It's that feeling of progress, of tangible momentum, that fuels us. When you pick yourself back up and take those first few steps forward. I think thats what we live for, when our lives feel the most meaningful.
Beginning a New Chapter
Recently, I experienced something like this. I moved from a small coastal town to New York City. One day, I was part of a tight-knit community, seeing familiar faces every day, some I’ve known for 25+ years! The next, I’m a stranger in a strange place.
Life in a new city, especially New York, is a whirlwind. In many ways, I’m starting from scratch. But here’s the incredible thing: even the slightest notions of progress feel immense. Taking the subway (without getting lost), making a friend, and any other basic improvements feel monumental. I made it here, and I'm starting to build something new. Going from zero to one, that initial climb, carries a ton of momentum. While going from nine to ten (whatever that may be) will undoubtedly feel good, nothing quite beats the thrill of that initial ascent.
“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one”
- Bruce Lee
Beware of Zero-Sum Games
Position, or status, is a zero-sum game. Think of leaderboards – one person's win is someone else’s loss. Who do you think’s having a better day on this leaderboard below: the person who went from #1 to #2, or the person who went from #100 to #50? I’d bet the new #50 is feeling pretty good, and the new #2 is wondering if they’ll ever grace #1 again.
Statistically, you’d rather be #2 than #50… so why is #50 much happier? Well, their trajectory is much better.
What does all this mean?
I guess I’m not totally sure. But after ruminating, here are my takeaways.
Trajectory will determine how content you are, more than position.
Accept that whatever your position is, life will still ebb and flow like the sine wave, no matter if you're #1 or #100,000.
If you’re going to compare yourself to anyone, compare to yourself 6 months ago. That’s who you should be competing with.