02.01.2020 - By Gregg Swanson
Over
six years and going strong! With over 1M
downloads from over 15 countries and 7 continents’…. this is the Warrior Mind
Podcast.
In
this episode of the Warrior Mind Podcast I’m going to discuss how to decide
upon what you want most vs. want you want now.
What
You Want Most vs. What You Want Now
It’s been a difficult
week. You’re exhausted, drained and praying for the weekend. Friday evening is
here, and you are faced with some choices: You could continue your Armed Forces
Triathlon training at the gym, join your battle buddies for happy hour, or
watch your favorite shows at home with a takeout pizza. What will it be?
During the course of life, your self-control is regularly tested when it’s necessary to choose between what you really want and what you just want now. What you really want usually involves big, long-term goals involving your career, your family, your life experiences and your health. You are probably aware of what is required to achieve these big goals, but it’s usually very difficult to get yourself to do it day-in-day-out. Here are 3 ways that will help you choose what you really want over short-term gratification.
Clearly
define what it is that you want most
What is your biggest
desire in life? Certain people can easily answer this question, but for some,
the answer is not so clear. Whichever it is for you, spend some time thinking
about and defining what you really want, in order to build up your ability for
self-control. This will enable you to keep your big goals in sight and reduce
the amount of distraction that happens when you indulge yourself in short-term
gratification. Consider these questions:
* What
values do you use to define yourself?
* What
do you want people to remember you for?
* What
are the big goals that are worth sacrificing smaller things for?
* What
kind of impact would you like to leave on the world?
* What
kind of things do you want to achieve and experience in your life?
Now you have a clearer
picture of what’s really important to you, work out how to keep it constantly
in mind. You could do this by having a daily prayer or reflection, or it could
be a poster on your wall or a background on your phone. Whatever you choose, it
will serve to remind you of what’s important when you feel tempted by something
that doesn’t align with your goals, which will keep you motivated to stay on
the right path. Consciously choosing between quality family time and happy hour
makes it easier to make the right choice rather than thinking about how nice
some beer and chicken wings might be at the time. Making the connection between
your daily decisions and what you value most can really help you achieve the
self-control required to get to your big goals in life.
Enjoy
this podcast on what you want most
Alter
your surroundings to bring what you want most closer to what you want now
One of the key
challenges when you want to achieve your long-term goals is the temptation to
do what feels easiest, or even to do nothing at all. Examples would include
watching TV all afternoon or getting fast food instead of making a proper
dinner.