Tag: sacrifice

SACRIFICE CAN BE THE KEY TO SUCCESS

This reminds me of another saying that you can’t reach your destination unless you are brave enough to lose sight of the shore. Either way, the point is the same. When we are striving to create a better life for ourselves, and thus become a better version of ourselves, there are often things about our current life and self that we must give up.

People can get a little funny about this. Giving up an aspect of your life, or yourself, can make you feel like there is something wrong with the current version. Perhaps it is that wording that is too harsh. What we must be honest with is how dedicated to that new life we are. If we are looking to become healthy but are unwilling to quit having ice cream at 10pm every night, how dedicated to our health are we? We want to be more productive, but we can’t give up binge watching television for 3 hours? How much do we really want to be productive?

It can get even trickier when we think about who we share life with. Are you working on leaving alcohol behind, but can’t imagine not hanging out with your childhood friend who parties every night and is hung over every morning? How dedicated to being sober are you? Trying to work on getting fit but still hanging out with people who tell you it’s OK to skip the gym. How dedicated to your fitness are you?

Here is the important thing to consider. There is nothing inherently wrong with ice cream right before bed, going out drinking every night or skipping the gym. It boils down to what kind of life you want to live. What do you want it to look like? You might have to sacrifice some pleasures and some people. It doesn’t mean they are wrong. It just means they don’t fit into the life you are trying to create.

START BUILDING THE NEW 👷‍♂️

Great advice from one of history’s greatest thinkers. It aligns with one of the principles I teach. That is you should focus on adding the positive rather than eliminating the negative. There are several reasons you should do this. The main one is that is changes your focus from a feeling of sacrifice, to one of accomplishment. Take healthy eating for example. If your entire focus is “How can I stop eating all the bad for me food I love?” That sure feels, and sounds if we are being honest, like you are sacrificing or ‘giving something up’. That makes it feel difficult. If you ask yourself, “How can I add healthy and delicious meals to my meal plan?” That sounds as if you are adding something to your life.

Weight loss is another example. Thinking “I have to lose all this weight.” Certainly does not sound fun or like something we would look forward to doing. However, “How can I live a more active and healthy lifestyle that I enjoy?” sounds a lot better. Instead of thinking of grueling hours in the gym and fad diets, it will have us thinking of bike rides or walks with the family and discovering new healthy dishes. This may sound like splitting hairs on the subject, but it results in an entirely different reality.

Which lifestyle do you think you would be more likely to maintain, one of sacrifice or one of building? One that makes you feel like you are losing or lack something, or one that feels like you are gaining something or building towards a new and exciting future?

THE GIFT OF TRAVEL

Today I am traveling to Arizona. My beautiful Margie got me this ticket to visit my friend Russ as a gift. At the time it felt like a very good idea and was quite exciting.

As the days drew closer and we had to make adjustments as to who was going to DJ with her and make preparations for my departure, things took on a decidedly different tone. Knowing that we would be apart only made us miss each other that much more.

I equate this to when you have to stop eating the night before a doctor’s appointment. You may have just had a big meal, but right after that time to stop eating passes it seems the cravings begin.

Margie and I spend more time together than most couples, but due to our busy schedules, we end up with less quality time. Knowing that will be even less had us reflecting on how much we really enjoy each other’s company.

If there is something you really love, might I suggest taking a break from it for a little bit. I am not advocating leaving your spouse or doing anything so drastic. What about giving up your coffee habit for a week or two? Ok, still drastic but doing so will have you appreciating the streaming cup of life-giving beverage so much more when you do indulge again.

No matter who we are, or how careful we try, most of us end up taking certain things for granted. Ever have your hot water go out? Being without something, whether by choice or not, will help you value it so much more!