Make hard choices: challenge yourself

smart and simple choices + consistency + time = success

Hey friends welcome back to another blog...in today’s blog I will be talking about small choices we make daily, that we think are insignificant but if we look at the bigger picture...these choices shape us as a person. By this I mean, that these tiny choices form the core values and ethics that we live by!!  However negligible these small yet smart choices may seem, we cannot deny the fact that if done consistently over time, they make a radical difference.  

So, the other day, I was going back home from class, scrolling through Instagram and I came across this quote that said, “tough times create tough people”...I mean it’s not the first time, I was seeing this quote, but it actually hit me this time!! I said to myself, “scrolling through Instagram at 8am in the morning is loser shit. What are you doing?????? This is not how you train your mind to become tough”. So, instead of being a slave to social media, I decided to not use my phone until I reached home. At the same time, the A/C temperature was really low, and it was pretty chilly in the car. I was about to increase it, so I feel warm. But then the quote hit me again “tough times create tough people” and I was like fuck not again. I was certain that if I increased the temperature to make myself comfortable, I would regret it later on and feel like a loser. So yes, I adjusted myself and went through it...it was kinda fun not gonna lie, I felt like a winner after making myself comfortable through the discomfort. In the end, after reaching home, I was proud of myself, I mean who wouldn’t be?

 

Atomic Stuff – How it makes a difference:

The ability to discipline yourself to delay gratification in the short term in order to enjoy greater rewards in the long term is the indispensable prerequisite for success. 

1. Cultivates Discipline: let’s start with examples of small choices. So, keeping your shoes in place, forcefully having that nasty salad just because it's nutritious, not using social media for several hours, doing those 10 extra pushups, and continuing to study for a few extra minutes even if you are restless are some of the examples. Now lemme explain to you what you're actually doing here!! You are doing the hard work especially when you don’t feel like it. You are beating your laziness demon. You are doing the right thing instead of the easy thing. Lastly, you are sticking to your purpose, and you are striving for self-improvement. To sum it up in one line, YOU ARE MAKING HARD CHOICES. And this in my opinion is one of the most important practices in order to build discipline.  

2. Foundation for your Values: when you start making hard choices, not only are you building discipline, but you also figure out what you value more! Every time you do the extra work, every time you say no to junk food, and every time you resist social media, you are valuing your future amazing self, more than your temptations. You are doing the right thing instead of the easy thing. If you do workouts even when tired, you are valuing your health more than laziness, which eventually creates discipline. Every time you say no to sugary soft drinks, you are saying no to short-term temptations to enjoy greater rewards in the long term.  

So yes, eventually through the magic of the compound effect, you develop self-regulation which is one of the best qualities a human being cultivate throughout this life.

Most of us are should be really concerned about our regular, tiny, and seemingly insignificant choices. I'm referring to the choices you believe have no significance at all. Your success will eventually be disrupted by the tiny stuff. Hence, small and smart choices made consistently over time is key. That was it for this blog guys, I hope you enjoyed the blog, and it was helpful :)