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Swap short-term pleasures for long-term
gains
You’re not missing out on anything great if you’re
using that time to make your life greater.
These days, I tend to party only when there’s something to celebrate. But in
my late teens and early twenties, I went to a lot of clubs in a lot of places. I
even flew all the way to Cancún in Mexico from the UK just to experience
the infamous American spring break. I was living for the moment. This is
important because, as we’ve learned, we only ever have this current moment
and we should enjoy it. But a healthy balance between living for the moment
and investing in the future is always required when you have goals.
When I was working in an office, every Friday I used to get that feeling of
excitement because I knew I was going to celebrate a weekend free from
work. I began living for the weekend, even though I knew there was more to
life. The weekend was the time to reward myself. I’d get intoxicated and
spend my hard-earned money in nightclubs. In the moment, when I was
drunk, I felt great!
But this is what my actions were really saying:
Look at me! I’m working for hours on end in a job I don’t really like, for
someone who doesn’t respect me. Therefore, I’m living for the weekend,
to celebrate my freedom and spend my hard-earned cash on overpriced
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lethal substances that come in fancy bottles. This way I can feel better
about life for a moment, by escaping the reality I face during the
working week while impressing people who might be in a similar
predicament.
Deep down, I was always wondering when my life would start to resemble
my vision of having my own business, doing something I loved. I expected it
to transform by pure chance.
I’d continually complain that I had no money to put towards my dreams. It
was ironic, but I know I’m not alone. People often complain that they don’t
have the time or the money to start their own business, while simultaneously
spending lots of time and money on leisure activities. In some places, a single
glass of an alcoholic beverage costs more than a book. Which one is more
likely to change your life? People invest in the wrong places, and often they
unwittingly fund someone else’s dreams; someone who’s worked their ass off
and has now manifested their goals thanks to your spare cash.
There are so many individuals living like I was. And if it’s not partying, it’s
something else. Yes, we should enjoy our lives and make the most of every
moment. However, giving up what you want most for what you want 
now
can
deprive you of life’s real treasures.
I believe that everyone is destined for a greater life. Yet I understand that
many people are unwilling to delay brief gratification for the sake of long-
term rewards. When you’re unwilling to delay temporary pleasures, this can
have massive implications for your future.
Most people are living the ‘When I have X, I’ll be happy’ way of life, but this
is a delusion. However, you can have pleasure in the present by living
mindfully, appreciatively, and altering your perspective.
You’re free to make your own choices, but you can’t escape their
consequences. Sometimes we have to sacrifice small things to get our hands
on the bigger blessings in life.
I’m not saying you should ignore all of your urges or stop having fun. But
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form a healthy balance between work and play while moderating where
you’re placing your time and energy.
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