SHORT TERM “EASY”

How many of us believe our voices and our written words encouraging healthier lifestyles go unheard and continue to be no more than an exercise in futility? People recognize the good intentions behind the efforts, but the response by the general population remains greatly unchanged. Do they believe the message lacks merit? Do they believe the effort required to  participate is not worth it? Do they believe government and big business is so powerful, any attempt to self direct one’s path in life is fruitless?

At some point in life we have all been asked, “when you grow up, what would you like to do?” We formulated opinions based on events and/or experiences that attracted us to different professions and/or lifestyles. The question, however, no one asked us to answer was:

“how are you going to achieve it?”

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WHY DON’T MORE PEOPLE FOLLOW THROUGH AND ACHIEVE THEIR DESIRED GOALS?

Many claim circumstances. Although there is certainly validity in some cases, a majority prefer to use this as a crutch to hide from the real story. A more truthful answer lies deep within a person’s character and fortitude to pursue life regardless of how much resistance is faced.

Each person has the ability to make changes to his or her own life. Each person can look into a mirror and ask, “am I pursuing a course likely to achieve MY desired results?” If the answer is YES, the path is worth following. If the answer is NO, why remain steadfast on this unlikely path to success? The answer is simple; it is based on a false belief that short term “easy” achieves “good enough” results WITHOUT all the effort that LONG TERM results requires!

Is (short term) “easy” worth sacrificing (long term) success/satisfaction? This has become an “acceptable” trade off which previous generations chose not to accept. In REALITY, short term “easy” is not so easy when we step back and view it from an objective perspective.

Short term “EASY” means:

• not making waves

• not thinking independently (relying on what we’ve been told and falsely accepting it as undeniable TRUTH

• seeking immediate gratification regardless of cost

• following the masses even if we know the direction is WRONG

• denying problems exist

• procrastinating the difficult things in life

What is sacrificed for short term “EASY?”

• SELF VALUE– The willingness to REGULARLY participate in activities and/or events that cause greater self harm in the long term

• HEALTH– The willingness to REGULARLY satisfy “wants” over “needs” (emotional and physical) resulting in greater drug dependency and loss of both, INDEPENDENCE and quality living

• SELF RELEVANCY– The willingness to REGULARLY follow society’s mandates regardless of whether or not they make sense or possibly even hurt you
  

• FAMILY– The willingness to REGULARLY subject family members to lifestyle practices and behaviors that damage them emotionally and physically

• CAREERS– The willingness to REGULARLY work jobs that create boredom, anxiety, stress and other negative emotions rather than fulfilling required tasks necessary to pursue career/jobs in DESIRED fields.

As we slowly age, short term “easy” begins to feel like we’re standing in quicksand. We’ve followed this damaging lifestyle for so many years, it feels like it’s impossible to escape. Even with assistance, we lack the motivation to pull ourselves out from this growing reality of impending DOOM.

WHEN DID WE SELL OURSELVES OUT?

When did we decide we’ll just “exist” in life and let life lead us around on a leash? When did we decide, “if it’s cheap”, it makes good sense to consume it? When did we decide if a third party will pay for it, we’ll inject it or swallow it? When did we decide if it is keeps our children or our spouses QUIET, we’ll concede to whatever it is? When did we decide if it doesn’t require any effort or thought we’ll “participate.”

Where has this path lead us?

• to more complaining and dissatisfaction with life

• to growing rates of diseases

• to greater loss of physical and mental function

• to greater family dysfunction

• to increased drug dependency (BOTH prescription and recreational)

• to abandonment of personal responsibility

• to such a state of MENTAL PARALYSIS, that solutions are no longer pursued

NOW THAT YOU SEE THE REALITY AND THE RESULTS OF SHORT TERM “EASY,” MAYBE IT’S TIME TO RETHINK YOUR STRATEGY?

THE “HARD” WAY… (and likely) THE BETTER WAY!

Tags: attitude, Choices, disease, health, lifestyle, Quality of living, responsibility