The Astronaut Problem: Are you chasing a destination or a journey?

Is the true prize reaching the destination, or becoming the person capable of the journey?

We are a goal-oriented species. We set our sights on the promotion, the finish line, the final degree, or the summit of the mountain. These things can be great, important, and fulfilling. But often in our relentless focus on the destination, we often misunderstand where true fulfillment is actually found. This leads to a common paradox: achieving a long-sought-after goal, only to feel a sense of emptiness after the initial celebration fades.

This is the Astronaut Problem.

If you ask someone why they want to become an astronaut, they will almost certainly reply, “Because I want to go to space.” On the surface, this makes perfect sense. But consider the reality: space is a lethally cold, dark, and isolated void, hostile to human life. No one truly wants to be there.

What the aspiring astronaut actually craves is the process of getting there. They are drawn to the rigorous academics that test their cognitive limits, the intense competition that pushes them to excel, and the deep camaraderie built with peers who share the same audacious dream.

The moment of reaching space is not the prize itself. It is simply the reflection and manifestation of all the work that came before. The profound feeling of fulfillment comes not from being in the cold vacuum of space, but from looking back at the incredible journey it took to arrive. It is the culmination of years of time, effort, and dedication.

This principle is universal. It applies to every meaningful pursuit in academia, athletics, our careers, and our personal lives. We often point to the outcome as the thing we’re chasing, but fulfillment is almost always found in what it took to achieve it—in the growth, the struggle, and the connections made along the way.

This concept is a key part of the Eudaimonic Framework, which emphasizes that a flourishing life is built not by arriving at destinations, but by engaging intentionally in the journey.

So, take a moment to look at your own goals. Are you in love with the idea of the destination, or are you finding meaning and satisfaction in the daily pursuit? The ultimate act of agency is learning to find joy not just in the summit, but in the climb itself.