The Process
Not too long ago, I was unemployed and in debt. I didn’t know how I would ever dig myself out. I thought I would never be successful. I couldn’t see how I would ever afford a house. Retirement wasn’t even on my radar. I felt stuck. I could see where I wanted to be, but I couldn’t see how to get there.
To make matters worse, my physical health was failing. I lacked energy. My blood pressure was rising. I suffered debilitating headaches regularly. I had severe brain fog, which made it difficult for me to complete simple tasks or carry on conversations.
I saw others my age in better situations. They were buying houses and taking vacations I couldn’t afford. I felt envy. My older friends also had more energy and I felt inferior.
A few years later, I was in a much different position. I had a steady job and money to invest. I had a wife, two beautiful children, and a house. I felt great. My body no longer ached. My headaches became a thing of the past. My mind felt sharp again. I had everything I ever wanted.
This transition wasn’t the result of some windfall. There wasn’t one particular event that caused everything to come together. Instead, it was the result of moving in the right direction and trusting the process. I tried to make sure each next step was pointed in the right direction.
I started by finding a job. It wasn’t a high paying job, but the steady income provided enormous relief. I managed the cash flow wisely. I started putting a little money away in savings. I watched my savings account balance increase, little by little. The increases were rewarding, which motivated me to save more.
I listened to podcasts on health for inspiration. I made it habit to go to the gym and lift weights. I started eating clean and healthy food. I stopped eating garbage.
If you add healthy habits, cravings for the unhealthy habits will lose their power. You won’t want to eat garbage if you are feeling great.
Often, results come after sustained effort. Shortcuts only help in the short-term, usually at a long-term cost. Expecting immediate results is a trap that causes many people to fail.
I never expected immediate results. I just took life one day at a time. I made changes that I believed would lead to a better tomorrow. I never cut corners. I trusted the process. I would imagine what my life might be like in five or ten years if I kept doing what I was doing. I never fixated on anything in the future, but I certainly looked forward to seeing how much I could grow.
Moving in the right direction, there is reason to be excited. The possibilities are endless. You never know what doors might open. Focus on what you can do to make things better and then be patient and diligent and see what happens. Small steps and healthy habits can snowball into something great.