Define the Costs of the Achievements You Want in Life and Be Ready to Pay the Price
What are the things you want to achieve in life?
What are the costs of achieving those things?
Do you value accomplishing the thing enough to pay a one-time or recurring cost?
Before embarking on a journey to complete things you say you want to achieve, these are some questions you should ask yourself.
Creating a list of things you want in your life is easy. It is a different story when it comes to putting in the work to obtain them.
Chasing after things just because they glamorize them in society is a way to waste your limited time and energy. You should live your life based on what you want to accomplish and not solely just because society says you should.
Being intentional in your pursuit will help bring peace and happiness. What you truly value and your actions aligning brings fulfillment.
Goal and Cost Example: Cycling A Century
A goal that I had for this year was to complete a 100-mile cycling ride. It was something that I have been wanting to accomplish for several years but failed to follow through until this year.
Besides having a road bike, the cost to accomplish this goal is the time and energy to go on several rides to train to complete the century ride.
Leading up to completing the 100-mile ride, I worked my way up the distances from 20 miles, 40 miles, 60 miles, and 74 miles before I rode the 100-mile ride.
I was willing to pay this price since I valued the reward of accomplishing a 100-mile bike ride.
Goal and Cost Example: Getting Back In Shape
A goal that I am currently pursuing is getting back in better shape. I gained weight over the pandemic and have been working to get back in shape.
The cost of accomplishing this is not only exercising but eating healthy as well.
In order to continue staying in shape after completing this first milestone, there will be the recurring costs of exercising and eating healthy enough to maintain the condition that I desire.
You can look at it as paying rent. You never own the final result and must pay a recurring price to maintain the condition.
This cost is another that I am willing not only to pay but also to pay recurringly because of the value I see in being in good health. It is currently challenging, and I am not always successful in paying the daily cost, but I try to trend towards paying it more than not.
Conclusion
Creating a list of things you want to accomplish in life is easy.
The more challenging part (although not that challenging, to be honest) is reviewing the items on your list and determining the costs or recurring costs to accomplish those things. Ask yourself if you are willing to pay this price.
You may not know all the costs, but over time, you will learn more about the costs, and you should strive to pay the price every day if it is something you truly value.