Hello friends!
“Live in the present”.
“Be in the moment”.
“Focus on here, and now”.
“Breathe, damnit BREATHE!!”.
We’ve all heard these phrases a million times, and of course there’s utility in understanding what they mean. More importantly still, being able to actually implement the actions necessary to “be in the moment”. However, in today’s Monday Morning Message I want to discuss with all of you the idea of no longer thinking just about the present moment. Namely, I want for us to focus on sacrifice.
Let’s jump in.
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Sacrifice can be defined as “an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy”.
See, it’s great to be in the present moment, but the reality is, there’s much more than just that. There’s you ten minutes from now, you ten days from now, and Lord willing, you ten years for now.
Future You wants to be prepared and successful (by your own terms), and it’s up to Present You to get your shit together so that Future You isn’t all pissed off when in ten years you “never got around” to investing your money, building your relationships, or actually putting forth any effort to move forward in life.
Making the proper sacrifices:
Putting away twenty-five percent of your income for investments
Putting in time at the gym
Drinking less alcohol and eating healthier food
No longer hanging out with losers who bring you down
Putting forth perpetual effort to maintain and grow your intimate relationships
These are all difficult for us to do in the present moment, because in the present moment, we’re focusing on immediate gratification. Waiting ten, or let’s get really serious, forty years for compound interest to kick in for your money to truly start growing, it isn’t really all that exciting. It’s drawn out, it’s disciplinary, it’s tedious. Truthfully, it’s kind of boring.
Spending all your money gambling, drinking, and partying however, is actually quite fun! But it’s only fun for Present You. Future You is going to be pissed, disappointed, and embarrassed.
Now, I’m using financial sacrifices because it’s easy for most of us to think in terms of numbers. But we all inherently know that if we keep slipping up in other parts of our lives: our relationships, our health, our use of drugs, that we will slowly move backwards instead of forwards.
An easy way to get started in making the proper sacrifices is to view it one day at a time. Yes, have a three to five year plan, but break it down into actionable daily steps. Go to the gym five days a week. Put your money away. Regulate your use of drugs and alcohol.
Ask yourself, “Am I making the proper sacrifices today so that Future Me is better off?”.
If the answer is yes, great. Keep doing your thing and stay the course.
If the answer is no, it’s time to get started today.
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Have a fantastic day.
Your friend,
Trevor
(Note: If you enjoy this newsletter, please consider sharing it with someone who would get a lot out of it. If this was shared with you, you can sign up here to receive it each Monday morning. It’s free, plus you get a handful of special "thank you's" when you sign up).