Doing the Right Thing

We must learn how to let go of that which we really want, in order that we might acquire that which we need.

I did the right thing yesterday, by foregoing a really good thing.

You see, I was scheduled to meet someone I hadn't seen in quite a while. As of Sunday morning, I was all ready and looking forward to the meetup.

I then looked at what else I need to do before the day ended, and this meeting simply became untenable. Despite the bad feeling that I had to cancel at the last minute, and the opportunity cost involved [I wouldn't be able to see this person again anytime soon], I went ahead and cancelled.

By evening, I looked back at what I had accomplished in the course of the day. It was amazing. Simply reordering my priorities had made all the difference. Not that this meeting was useless, but I now had the good feeling that my day was better spent at doing things that would have taken much more time to do than it took yesterday.

This whole thing of needs vs wants reminds us that success is largely a function of delaying gratification. The ability to see the long term when we make choices makes all the difference sometimes. Check out the following TED Talk by Joachim de Posada:



That said, we wish you all the best in 2011, even as you try your best not to eat the marshmallow... yet.

Cheers!