Swapping Now for Most
As I continue to reflect on the year that's been and what's to come, I'm repeatedly reminded of a quote that always hits home for me: "Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most." This quote is often credited to President Abraham Lincoln, and while I'm not sure that's true, whoever said it was a genius.
We, humans, do a really, really good job of choosing what we want now, knowing (consciously or subconsciously) that it will cost us what we want most. Debt is a great example of this. We use debt to get the things we want now, and the payments we eventually have to make will cost us something grander in the long run. Career choices are the same. We often choose jobs based on what they pay us right now, failing to consider the trajectory or other open doors a lower-paid role could provide.
We can even boil it down to something as simple as that donut sitting on the table. Yeah, slamming that treat (or three) would be really appealing right now, but does that action help me get to where I'm trying to go with my health and fitness in the long run?
As I continue to set goals and lay down parameters for the new year, I'm constantly thinking about what I want now vs. what I want most. Does XYZ decision help me get what I want now, or does it help me get what I want most? I don't always like the answer, unfortunately. There are a few things I need to give up now in order to get what I want most. My assistant and I chatted about that yesterday, and to be honest, it's humbling.
While these can be tough pills to swallow, I take solace in realizing that much of my life today is the product of past me choosing most over now. The freedoms we get to live have a direct correlation with the sacrifices Sarah and I made early in our marriage. I can tell you with 100% certainty that some of those decisions way back when felt utterly gut-wrenching. However, fast-forward 10-15 years, and I can testify that our life is 10x better because of it.
Therefore, no matter how much some of these now vs. most decisions can suck, choosing most ALWAYS pays off in the end. Bank on that, and do what you need to do.
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