The Joy Is In The Chase

Getting what you want is rewarding; pursuing what you want is life enhancing.

Grasshopper Notes are the writings from America's Best Known Hypnotherapist John Morgan. His podcasts contain his most responded to essays and blog posts from the past two decades. 

Find the written versions of these podcasts on John's podcasting site: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628038

"The Grasshopper" is the part of you that whispers pearls of wisdom that  seem to pop into your mind from out of the blue. John's essays and blog posts are his interpretations of these "Nips of Nectar." Others have labeled his writings as timeless wisdom. 

Most of the John's writings revolve around self improvement and self help. They address topics like:

• Mindfulness
• Peace of mind
• Creativity
• How to stay in the present moment
• Spirituality
• Behavior improvement

And stories that transform you to a wider sense of awareness that presents more options. And isn't that what we all want, more options? 

John uploads these podcasts on a regular basis. So check back often to hear these podcasts heard around the world. Who wants to be the next person to change? 

Make sure to order a copy of John's new book: WISDOM OF THE GRASSHOPPER – 21 Days to Creativity. These mini-meditations take you inside where all your creative resources live. And you'll come out not only refreshed but recommitted to creating your future. 

It's only $16.95 and available at BLURB.COM at the link below. https://www.blurb.com/b/10239673-wisd...

Also, download John's FREE book INTER RUPTION: The Magic Key To Lasting Change. It's available at John's website  https://GrasshopperNotes.com

Transcript

The Joy Is in the Chase

Getting what you want is satisfying — in the moment. But the real thrill? That comes from the pursuit itself. Reaching the destination is often anticlimactic compared to the energy, creativity, and drive you feel on the way there.

Pursuit is what brings out your passion. When you're pursuing, you feel more alive. You’re on a mission, not in a rut.

That idea reminds me of a story . . .

Back in the late 1970s, I was working at a radio station in Kansas City. I was new in town, and the station wanted to run a promotion to help listeners get to know me. We needed something catchy, something fun — something that would stick.

Around that time, the word “nerd” had just entered pop culture, and I saw an opportunity. I pitched the idea of creating a club for listeners called “Morgan’s Nerd Herd.”

Members would get a card that scored them discounts at local sponsors and VIP access at station events. But the real kicker? A button featuring my picture with an arrow through my head (props to Steve Martin) and the words: Morgan’s Nerd Herd.

The program director thought we should start small — a couple hundred buttons and cards. I said, “Hundreds? You better order thousands.”He laughed. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. ”I replied, “I’m telling you, this is going to catch fire.” I was pumped.

We launched the promotion on a Thursday. By Monday, we had over 500 mailed in requests. I was ecstatic. I couldn’t wait to get back on the air and invite more people to join. Within ten days, we’d received thousands of requests. After 10 days, I was asked to stop promoting it; it was becoming too costly.

But I’ll tell you this: I felt so alive. I loved watching the idea take off, watching people respond, watching it grow. It wasn’t just the end result that mattered — it was the rush of building something and seeing it connect.

A couple of years later, that same program director said something that stuck with me: “You’re at your best when you’re on a mission.”

That was an accurate observation. When I’m not pursuing something — a project, a purpose, even a quirky little idea — I feel a bit stale. Your mission doesn’t have to be grand. It just has to matter to you.

Maybe your mission is bigger than the Nerd Herd. But here’s a life lesson I’ve learned: Getting what you want feels good in the moment. Pursuing it? That’s a lasting fulfillment. Pursuit is the reward.

Ralph Waldo Emerson put it this way: “Life is a journey, not a destination.”

And long before him, the framers of the Declaration of Independence knew this when they chose these words carefully: “The pursuit of happiness.” Not the possession of it — the pursuit.

So here’s my mission: to get you curious about what you’re chasing. Maybe even to inspire you to start chasing something new.

But even if I haven’t sparked that yet, I’ll say this — writing this, sharing this story, pursuing that connection with you — has been its own reward.

All the best,

John