Lifestyle Reflections

Are we undermining our own success on a daily basis? We work hard and we’re exhausted at the end of each day, so we must be making progress. What separates those who work hard until 65 and try to enjoy retirement and those who work hard and immerse themselves in adventure while their young?

Creating a big vision for the future is the easy part. The immediate next step in the moment trips nearly everyone who attempts it.

• Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions? 98% didn’t.
• Ever take out a home equity loan to pay off credit cards? 70% of Americans who did so ended up with the same debt or more within 2 years.
• Tried to lose weight? Only 5% of dieters who were categorized as obese were able to succeed and keep it off for at least 1 year.
• Have you sought out marital counseling? More than 80% of couples who do fail to save their relationship.  (from Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success)

Why are we so bent on failure? If you ask someone what they want right now, you will get an entirely different answer than asking what they want in the future.

Most of us weave grand plans for tomorrow, without taking much action, if any, today.

The magic happens in the little choices, day after day after day. Much like compounding interest, the small amounts we invest in the moment multiply to create our new reality. And just as with investments and credit cards, we can either create enormous wealth with compounding interest, or suffer great loss.

Your lifestyle is simply a compilation of all of your in the moment decisions and it reflects who you are and the life you will live. There is no extra credit for good intentions.

If I dedicate 80 hours each week to my job, I choose to undermine my relationships and health so that one day while reveling in my salary and status, I can share it with no one. 

If I spend every dollar I make, I choose to become a slave to my paycheck and suffer with regret as opportunities pass me by. 

If I eat chocolate instead of strawberries and watch t.v. instead of take a walk, I choose to add extra pounds to my waistline and increase my odds of a variety of health problems. 

We all have changes we plan to make. We will be more productive. We will start a business. We will find a more fulfilling career. We will be better parents. We will be more patient. We will give to charity. We will pay off debt. We really, really will…tomorrow.

What step can you take right now to stop planning and start living your life as you design?