What will you tradeoff today?

Time for money?

Risk for security?

Socializing for rest?

I have some unfortunate news for you – you can’t have it all. I know there’s a prevailing message that you can have and be anything, and while there is some underlying truth to the statement, there’s a caveat – you’ll need to make sacrifices. Aka, tradeoffs.

There’s no getting around tradeoffs. They are choices you must make.

Why am I writing about tradeoffs?

Because it’s my attempt at rescuing you from frustration and disappointment.

Going through life expecting and thinking you can have and do it all will inevitably lead to disappointment. Regardless of how hard you work or attempt to manage your time, you will still be forced to make tradeoffs. And many times, you’ll have a gnawing feeling, wondering if you made the correct choice.

Fortunately for you, there are a couple of ways to alleviate some of the difficulties of making tradeoffs.

In my opinion, the first, and the best, is to define your beliefs and values. Once you’re able to prioritize what’s important to you, then you can make decisions that align accordingly. Making decisions that are congruent with what’s important to you is no guarantee that you’ll always be pleased with the tradeoff, but at least you’ll be able to rationalize your actions.

The second and more difficult way to deal with tradeoffs is to accept the limitations of life. I understand it’s easier said than done, but it can be liberating if done correctly. Coming to terms with the fact that you only have a finite amount of time and energy is a superpower you can cultivate to your advantage.

So, think about the tradeoffs you’ll need to make today and in the future. Remind yourself that try as you may; there will always be a gap between all you want to do and can do. Learning to get comfortable with the gap is where you’ll find peace of mind.

P.S. Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed it, please share it with one person you love.