Today, I would like to bring your attention to this quote by Jerzy Gregorek:
“Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life.”
As you go through life, you are constantly forced to make choices. No matter what you end up doing (or not doing), you are making a choice. Staying home and reading a book is as much of a choice as going to a party and meeting people. Going to the gym every week is as much of a choice as not going to the gym every week.
Over time, your choices accumulate. The choices you make on a daily, monthly, yearly basis will define you as a person.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to lecture you about the wrong and right choices. How could I? I don’t know your life. What’s the right choice for one person may be the wrong choice for someone else.
Instead, think about the quote. If you’re always making “easy” choices, you will feel good in the moment. But over time, as those easy choices accumulate, your life will become increasingly harder. In contrast, choices that are hard to make will often reward you tenfold.
Easy choice is staying in a relationship with someone because you don’t want to be alone, even though you’ve been on-and-off for years, and it’s obviously not working out. It’s safe and comfortable—for now. Down the line, you will end up exhausted, anxious, and wondering why you wasted years of your life on somebody who just isn’t a great fit for you. Enter: cheating, depression, regret, divorce, custody battles, and financial problems.
Easy choices = hard life.
Breaking up with someone you’ve been with for years and still love, but who you realize isn’t a great partner for you, is hard. It requires accepting your emotions, being honest even if it hurts, and welcoming an uncertain future. It sucks in the short term, but will allow you to create a better future for yourself.
Hard choices = easy life.
Easy choice is staying at home every day, playing video games, and eating fast food. It’s easy, fun, and requires little work, but ultimately leaves you unfulfilled in a lot of areas of your life.
Hard choice is balancing work, relationships, and leisure time. This requires more of your time and energy, as well as facing your anxieties and pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone. However, this allows you to have a more fulfilled and happier life.
What are some easy choices you’re making, and hard choices you’re avoiding? Are they worth it?
Stay strong,
Phil
P.S. If you want help on how to build your life around hard choices, check out the Mind of Steel Handbook.
