Do you ever feel “stuck in the loop?” You continuously try to reach a goal but keep ending up right back where you started. We’ve all been there. The good news is, there’s a way out!
Imagine you’re on a roller coaster. You start going uphill. You’re moving toward your goal, working through challenges, then all of a sudden you’re racing back downhill. You loop around, and end up back where you started. You’re left frustrated, confused, and angry. To make things worse, you have to start all over again.
If this sounds similar to your experience, you might be taking the “Fast and Easy” track. Let’s break down what that looks like. In this example, the goal is to make more money (who doesn’t want that, right!?)
The “Fast and Easy” track may include challenges from the following environments as you’re going uphill.
- Home (spending time with family/partner, keeping the house clean, paying bills, etc.)
- Work (Keeping up with tasks, putting in enough hours, relationships with coworkers, etc.)
- Friends/Socializing (Spending time with friends, getting “out,” etc.)
In order to work through (or avoid) these challenges, you don’t speak with your boss regarding your current salary, you apply for multiple jobs in a short amount of time, and accept the first offer you get that might make you more money. Easy right?
Maybe not. All of a sudden, you’re headed back downhill quickly. You don’t enjoy your new job, you’re working extra hours, and taking time away from family and friends. You decide to leave your new job. You loop around and end up back where you started. You’re frustrated, confused, and angry.
Now let’s imagine that with the same goal in mind of making more money, instead of the “Fast and Easy” track, you take the “Harder but Worth It” track.
You start going uphill on the “Harder but Worth It” track, and you still face the same challenges in your home, work, and friends/socializing environments. The difference is, you decide to take some time researching jobs that may bring in more money and have hours that work for you, along with a good work-life balance. You realize you may need to further your education. While in the process of this you approach your current boss regarding your salary.
Are you further from your goal than you were on the “Fast and Easy” track? No way! Will it feel like it’s taking longer to achieve your goal? Yes, maybe. The difference is, on the “Harder but Worth It” track, there are small ups and downs, with no dramatic downhill leading you to the loop. Instead of ending up back where you started (and yes, frustrated, confused, and angry) the small ups and downs along the “Harder but Worth It” track eventually lead you right where you want to be! Making more money!
Now think about a goal you have for yourself. What track have you been taking to achieve it? Has your track lead you right back where you started? If so, how can you switch from the “Fast and Easy” track, to the “Harder but Worth It” track?
For more information, check out whytryprogram.org. This is a wonderful program designed to motivate children and teens, and can be applied to so many situations in adult lives as well!