A woman on her way to class.

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Sacrifice Isn’t a One-Time Thing

If you’re reading this, you’ve made a sacrifice before. Maybe (hopefully) not a mythological-level sacrifice, like giving up your first child for a kingdom or something, but a small one. It’s a part of life. If we want something, we must sacrifice something else we have to get it, be it free time, money, energy, you name it. And all of us want something.

Okay, probably many somethings, if we’re being honest. So, we sacrifice. And when we want something that takes time to get—a college degree, a million dollars, that dream job—this sacrifice isn’t a one-time thing.

Sacrificing must happen daily—consistently

The bigger the objective, the greater the sacrifice to get there. But this doesn’t mean the sacrifice is made all at once, in a huge lump-sum payment. No, when a goal takes time to achieve, sacrifices must be made all throughout that time. Daily. Consistently.

Let’s say a ten-year-old wants to become an NBA player. That’s going to require a certain level of exercise discipline, kitchen discipline, studying, practicing, and so on and so forth. Not just while they’re a kid, but all the way through high school. Then through college and any other steppingstones to the NBA. And the sacrifices made to get to those levels will be anything but a one-time thing.

Sleep will be sacrificed. Time with friends will be sacrificed. Parties will be sacrificed. Eventually, other sports will be sacrificed, junk food may be sacrificed, etc. Repeatedly. Consistently. It’s the only way these sacrifices will be effective.

Waking up at 4 a.m. to train just one time won’t get you anywhere. But you do that every day, and now you’re in an entirely different situation.

So, if you want something, make the requisite sacrifices. Just don’t be surprised if you have to do it again. And again. And again. Sacrifice is a daily practice. Make sure you can stay consistent.

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