Have you ever reached a point in your life when you’ve asked yourself the question, how did I get here?
You’re further in debt than you realised, you’re carrying more weight than you ever thought you would, you’re stuck in a job you hate even though you planned to leave five years ago or you can’t chase after the kids without stopping hunched over, scrambling for breath?
That didn’t happen because you’re a bad person, or because you decided that was the outcome you were aiming for and you certainly are not alone.
This happened because you made a series of small, seemingly insignificant, individually rational decisions, that inevitably accumulated and resulted in a large scale negative consequence.
These are the health and financial examples of death by a thousand cuts.
So much of the current distress and frustration in our lives surrounding health and wellbeing and overall quality of life can be traced back to hundreds of tiny decisions that were never consciously made, but simply a result of your habits and subconscious behaviors.
Think of the small purchases you make every day that adds up and adds up. Think of the after-dinner snacks, or the skipped gym session or the date with the couch that could have been a walk with the family. In isolation, none of these independently is an issue. But if you are what you eat, your outcomes are lagging representations of your decision-making capabilities.
Each one of these decisions have contributed to the person you are right now.
If you’re happy with how you feel and what you see, then bravo. If you’re not, and see room for improvement, then here are 3 things you can do about it.
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Each decision you make, consciously ask yourself whether this is helping or hindering the future version of you. It’ll feel strange at first, but eventually you’ll ask yourself the question subconsciously, and make the preferred decision more often.
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Build accountability systems in your life. Surround yourself with people & places that resonate with the life you want to build for yourself.
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Track your progress, and celebrate the wins.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, in fact they are still building it.
Be patient, it’s the weight of numbers will take you where you want to go.
Every decision you make will take you closer to, or further away from the person you want to become.
Choose wisely
Wallace
