In this seventh, and final post, covering the Corporate Sufi Habit series, we explore a powerful truth that begs the question:
What if the real magic of life isn’t at the finish line, but on the path we walk every single day?
In this week’s interview session with Salim titled, How to Make The Journey The Destiny, Azim reminds us that too often we get caught up in the chase. Chasing life; success, and that elusive moment when we will finally “arrive.” However, joy doesn’t wait to arrive at the end; it lives in the moments when we are fully present. If we just stop speeding toward tomorrow and start living in the present, the Journey beautifully becomes the Destiny.
Watch the full Q&A on this topic here.
The Journey Within
In life, there’s always a moment when everything changes—not because the world outside shifts, but because you do, inside.
Most of us are taught to chase life. Conditioned to run the race with hope that someday success will arrive. Maybe, after the promotion, after the wedding, or after the retirement plan kicks in? We treat happiness like it’s a place we’ll land on…eventually.
But here’s the truth: Happiness does not miraculously just appear in the end. It lives, breathes and is there to be felt in the present. If you keep postponing your encounters with happiness, you may just find yourself departed before it arrives.
As Elif Shafak reminds us in her book, The Forty Rules of Love, “East, West, South, or North makes little difference. No matter what your destination, just be sure to make every journey a journey within. If you travel within, you’ll travel the whole wide world and beyond.”
The true journey is never out there in the magnetic needle of a compass. It’s truly in there where the ambit of life authentically flows. In your purpose, values, and in the way your heart processes and responds to the world around you.
So let me ask you: Would you trade the simple gift of waking up tomorrow for a hundred million in the bank?
You already know the answer. Life is the ultimate wealth. But do you live every day like that’s true?
When the journey becomes the destination, something magical unfolds. Not outside. Within.
How to Make the Journey Matter
According to a landmark Harvard study by psychologists Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert, people spend nearly 47% of their waking hours thinking about something other than what they’re doing—and this “mind-wandering” is strongly linked to unhappiness.
The takeaway? We’re unhappiest when we’re anywhere but here.
So what does it mean to live fully, meaningfully, right here in the present? It’s not complicated. But it is courageous.
Here’s what that journey can look like:
1. Align your life with your Ultimate Purpose Credo (UPC)
Each of us has a Why. A scope. A cause. The reason you were born. When your daily actions reflect your deepest values, you don’t just survive—you shine. That Why guides the how, which feeds the what, where and who. This mind, body, spirit alignment in full flow gives you a level of peace no title, bank account, or accolade ever could.
2. Do your best, let go of the rest
We live in a culture obsessed with control and outcomes. But true peace lies in knowing that while you are responsible for your effort and focus, you cannot always control the results. Doing your best is about bringing excellence, commitment, and presence to your work. Leaving the rest is about trusting the process, embracing uncertainty, and letting go of what’s beyond your control. It’s a practice of humility and spiritual resilience in a world transfixed in material measures.
3. Think long-term, create impact
It’s easy to get caught in the daily grind—emails, meetings, firefighting. But the hallmark of visionary leadership demands stepping back to see the big picture. Working on your business means investing time in strategy, innovation, systems, and people. It’s about creating impactful structures that last beyond you, building culture, and focusing on the why, not just the how. Allowing you to transition from operator to architect—from success to significance.
4. Lift others as you rise
Success without service is hollow. True impact is not measured just by what you accumulate, but by what you contribute. Being a force for good means using your position, voice, and influence to create value for others, whether through mentoring, creating inclusive cultures, supporting causes, or simply showing up with compassion. It’s about rising with others, not above them because purpose multiplies when profits, plaudits and power are shared.
Take Barefoot College as a shining example. Founded in India, it trains women from remote, non-electrified villages to become solar engineers, transforming those most affected by climate change into the ones leading the solution. These Solar Mamas bring clean, affordable energy to communities once reliant on unsafe kerosene, while building skills, confidence, and leadership from the ground up. What began as a small grassroots movement over 50 years ago now lights up homes in 93 countries, proving that when purpose is woven into action, transformation follows.
5. Live fully in the present, not in regret
There’s a beautiful Zen parable that captures this: Two monks were traveling together when they encountered a young woman, afraid to cross a river. She turned to them and asked, “Could you help me get to the other side?”
The junior monk froze. They had taken strict vows to avoid any physical contact with women. He looked anxiously at the elder, expecting him to refuse.
But without hesitation or a word, the senior monk lifted the woman, carried her across the river, gently set her down on the opposite bank, and continued walking.
The junior monk followed in silence. One hour passed. Then two. Then three. His mind was churning.
Finally, unable to hold back, he exclaimed, “How could you do that? We’re monks—we’re not supposed to touch a woman!”
The elder monk stopped, turned to him with calm eyes, and said, “I put her down hours ago. Why are you still carrying her?”
We do this too, carrying past moments in our hearts long after they’re over. Wounds. Mistakes. Fears. Living fully in the present means engaging deeply with what is right in front of you—conversations, decisions, opportunities—without the fog of regret or the anxiety of “what ifs.”
In short, life is about reclaiming your presence. It’s a discipline of mindfulness, where each moment is valued not as a means to an end, but as an end in itself.
Key takeaway – You are the masterpiece!
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves” – William Shakespeare
To conclude:
When work flows from your heart,
When purpose fuels your effort,
When outcomes echo your values,
You don’t just create a legacy,
You become The Masterpiece.
So stop waiting for permission. Stop chasing life like it’s somewhere else. Let the journey be your destiny. And honour every step with grace, presence, and vitality.
Be Present. Stay Engaged.
- Watch Azim’s full interview for deeper insights
- Explore more on the Corporate Sufi YouTube Channel
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Make struggle and challenge your friend!