Why do people say, “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey”? Because it’s true.

Life isn’t a straight line. It’s a winding path, full of unexpected turns, challenges, breakthroughs, and beautiful moments. When we focus only on the end goal—whether that’s career success, financial security, or personal achievement—we risk missing the richness of life happening right now.

Every moment, every experience, even the uncomfortable ones, contributes to who we are becoming. The setbacks teach us resilience. The joys remind us what matters. The ordinary days are where real life unfolds.

In hypnotherapy and NLP, we often help clients who are stuck in future-focused thinking. They’re chasing a goal so hard that they’re not actually living. They’re anxious, burned out, or feeling like they’re never doing enough—because their mind is always in the “what’s next” instead of the “what’s now.”

One of the first things we do in a session is bring the client into the present. Through guided hypnosis, the mind slows down. Thoughts settle. The nervous system calms. Clients often say, “I haven’t felt this relaxed in a long time.” That’s what it feels like to return to the present moment.

NLP techniques also help rewire the way we think about time. Instead of only seeing life as a timeline with a distant finish line, we shift the focus to now—how you’re feeling today, how you’re thinking about your life, and how those thoughts shape your outcomes. We help people get out of “when-then” thinking, like “When I succeed, then I’ll be happy,” and instead start living with intention today.

Time Line Therapy® is especially helpful in this process. It allows clients to release emotional baggage from the past and reduce anxiety about the future. Once that burden is lifted, they begin to experience a sense of freedom in the present moment—a space where joy, connection, and clarity live.

Think about this: If your entire focus is on where you’ll be in ten years, and you’re working around the clock to get there, you might succeed. But what will it cost? Missing time with your children. With your partner. With your own peace of mind. And those years? You don’t get them back.

None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. Or even one more minute. Life is meant to be lived now. So pause. Breathe. Take in this moment. This is your life, and it’s unfolding right here, right now.

My advice? Be present. Enjoy the ride. That’s where the magic is.

Jayne Goldman, MBA, C.Ht., is the Founder and Principal of Best Life Hypnotherapy in Los Angeles. She helps clients quiet the mental noise and reconnect with the present through hypnotherapy, NLP coaching, and Time Line Therapy®. Her sessions guide people to live more intentionally, let go of future-based anxiety, and embrace life as it’s happening.