If You Do What’s Easy, Life Will Be Hard
If You Do What’s Easy, Life Will Be Hard. I’m often reminded of this quote from Les Brown, the motivator and it make making difficult decisions a little easier.
A lot of times we know in our hearts what is right for us or not right for us. But we sometimes go against what we know is the right thing to do because it isn’t logical or that decision will cause us to forego an immediate pleasure. Sometimes we don’t make a decision allowing our situation to linger until it becomes a problem that we have to deal with or someone else deals with for us.
I think when we are less in tune with our intuition taking the easy way truly feels easier in the moment because we discount the veracity of it, but the hard part comes much later and shows up as a failed relationship or marriage, being fired from a job, or the missed opportunities you couldn’t take advantage of because you were otherwise occupied.
When we are more in line with our intuition we feel the hard part much earlier which can lead us to making the choice sooner, thought oftentimes feeling the pain up front and trusting that your intuition will guide you appropriately can be scary and painful. We want what we want (pleasure) and we want it now.
Recently I went on a couple of dates with a guy. He was very nice, attentive, attractive, and interested, but there were a couple of things that made my intuition sit up and take notice ambition and smoking. And on the morning of my second date, I woke up thinking about two past relationships where my partner lacked ambition or smoked. I hadn’t thought about these men in a long time, but suddenly they were top of mind. I knew that when I saw my date later that day I would have to get some clarity on what he wanted to experience or accomplish in life and also how serious he was about quitting smoking so I could decide what move to make next.
I had the conversation. And unfortunately I didn’t hear what I wanted to hear or maybe more correctly, I didn’t feel what I wanted to feel so I could continue in this relationship feeling it held potential. Saying no to a third date felt really hard. The thought of not being single is really appealing, but continuing to see him and feeling I had sold out on my values, felt harder than continuing to be along. It’s the pay me now or pay me later idea at work.
When we know in our hearts what is best for us and make the hard decision up front, life will be easier in the long run. This is true in romance, career, and finance. Doing what’s seems hard allows for you to move forward and be open and available to other opportunities and later life seems to flow more easily.
Have you experienced this doing something that felt easy but in the long run it turned out harder? What lessons did you learn from that experience?
Patricia Brooks is a life experiences coach, speaker, and the author of Growing Bold: How to Overcome Fear, Build Confidence, and Love the Life you Live. She is the host of the Discovering Courage Podcast where each week she explores how ordinary people have managed to live extraordinary lives. Patricia is currently living in France, pursuing her dreams.
Photo Credit: Nik Shuliahin