The other day, as I was scrolling through Instagram, I stopped on a question from author Elizabeth Gilbert.
(To listen to this blog instead of read it, just press play or you can keep reading below.)
What are you willing to give up in order to have what you keep saying you want?
I fight hard to resist the tendency to simply scroll by something that inspires me without allowing it to influence or change me. These moments are opportunities and we’ll get out of them what we put into them.
Instead of just jumping to an answer without much thought, I decided I needed to break it down by first looking at what things I want but don’t yet have.
What are the things you want but don’t yet have?
Then, from that list I asked myself what I want most.
Of all the things on the list, which is most important to me? Which would have the most positive impact on my life?
Then I could get back to Gilbert’s question:
What are you willing to give up in order to have what you keep saying you want?
But of course, talk is cheap. It’s easy to say what you’re willing or able to give up but the only thing that matters is what you’ll actually limit or eliminate.
Your intentions won’t create change.
I found it helpful to break it down a bit more simply:
What am I willing to give up today in order to have what I keep saying I want?
Today, I’m willing to give up television. Today, I’m willing to give up sugar. Today, I’m willing to give up snacking. Today, I’m willing to give up eating when I’m not truly hungry. I’m willing to give up complaining.
What are you willing to give up today in order to have what you keep saying you want?