Balancing quick hits and long-term vision.

Hey hey,

I've been thinking about something that's been troubling me lately. Figured I'd share the "struggles" in addition to the more inspirational, better structured posts.

I'm guilty of looking for the easy "win". Instant gratification. The thing that feels good right now but doesn't matter tomorrow.

I have this picture in my head of who I want to be. And honestly, the things I choose to do don't always match that vision.

It's like there are two different types of wants fighting in my brain...

First, the surface-level stuff

Those moments where I:

Buy random stuff I don't need
Eat unhealthy food just because it's there
Put off essential work
Get sucked into social media for hours
Watch tons of instructional videos about things I'll never do

This is stuff that feels enjoyable at the moment. My brain lights up. I get that brief burst of excitement.

But when I really think about it, none of it moves the needle on what matters most to me.

Vs. the deeper stuff

Then there are the things that align with who I'm trying to become:

Working out / Jiu Jitsu (even when I don't feel like it)
Writing/creating regularly
Spending face-to-face time with people I care about
Applying new skills instead of watching others do them
Taking care of my physical, mental, and spiritual health

These things require more effort upfront. But they make me feel accomplished when I look back.

The Daily Effort

I mess this up constantly.

Some days I nail it. I make choices that move me forward. I feel aligned with my values.

Other days? I waste time. I make decisions that don't serve me.

And...

That's mostly okay, because...

What I'm Learning

I'm realizing that both types of desires may need to exist in my life.

The point isn't for me to become an idealist who never wants instant gratification.

It's not realistic (or fun).

The key is me noticing when the quick fixes take over the story I'm trying to write with my life.

When I catch myself going down a rabbit hole, I try to pause and ask:

"Is this bringing me closer to who I want to be?"

Sometimes the answer is no, and I course-correct.

Sometimes the answer is "not really, but I need this break right now," and that's fine too.

For more about Traction vs. Distraction read this post.

What It's All About

I'm fighting this battle every day.

My goal isn't perfection. It's awareness.

It's about me mindfully steering toward the things that matter, while being human enough to enjoy the things that matter less.

I celebrate every accomplishment, no matter how big or small.

Because at the end of the day, I'm just trying to figure it out as I go.

And maybe that's exactly how it should be.

What do you think? Let me know.

Mens Circle

Summer and Brotherhood

The New York City Men’s Circle continues to meetup through the summer.

Once a month on zoom and once in person. Most times it will be by the beach…don’t miss out.

NEXT IN-PERSON CIRCLE IS THIS SUNDAY JULY 27TH AT ORCHARD BEACH.

DETAILS HERE →