Self-help books, a new exercise method, a better weight loss pill, or a new electronic gadget, are all methods that are supposed to simplify our lives, and maybe take us to the next level. They are nothing but a quick fix to get us through the immediate need. We take that pill as suggested, we read and implement the self-help book, we even spend endless amounts of money on gadgets we (may or may not) need, they are all promising and very exciting. They may even work in the beginning, deliver results as we expected, but then we realize the excitement was short-lived, the long-term results are none existent, and we are back to square one until the next new thing catches our attention and we begin the process all over again. We start adapting to these quick fixes, and the quicker we get something, the quicker we want it next time.
How often do you find yourself seeking a quick fix, a solution, or advice to alleviate the immediate pain without seeking how to fix the problem itself to prevent the pain from returning? How often do you find yourself in the state of Deja Vu with the same reoccurring pain, wrapped around the same or similar problem? What are you doing to change the situation to prevent the pain from coming back? Are you seeking a quick fix or learning how to work through the problem, getting the necessary tools, and enduring the journey to arrive to the end with lasting results.
You’ve heard the saying “you reap what you sow.” The level of effort you put into something is the level of satisfaction you will be able to reap. Though the quick fix is extremely enticing and ideal for busy life, it doesn’t have the ability to provide you with long-term happiness and satisfaction. An addict cannot be free of their addiction just by attending rehab and skipping the middle steps, the painful steps that provide healing. Every step is vital, and each one takes time to develop, you can’t rush and still expect same results…lasting results. Short cutting the development process leads to disappointment and frustration.
As you start identifying areas where you need to change, look at the full picture and what it takes to get to the next level. Identify the steps, own them, and work through them one at a time, in order. No skipping, no short cutting. It will be painful, but well worth it. You will be fixing the problem at the root and moving your way up, eliminating future pain instead of just putting a Band-Aid on it. Where is your Deja Vu and how are you going to stop it from reoccurring?
