What it takes: Sacrifice

“If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery--isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. And, you'll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you're going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It's the only good fight there is.”
― Charles Bukowski, Factotum

Anything worth having is worth sacrificing for. If your dream doesn’t cost you anything then I guess it is not all that important to you. The reality of life is that you can’t have it all. Whenever you talk to people adept at climbing mountains, they will tell you that you cannot carry everything with you to the top. The secret to getting to the top is in traveling light.

Think about space shuttles. The further they go out of the earth’s atmosphere, the more they have to drop off some parts. The challenge we have today is that people want to get to the top but carry everything else with them. Looking back at the Bible, we see Jesus saying that the way that leads to life is long, narrow and winding.  

These few examples serve to show us that sacrifice is a huge part of the journey towards our goals and dreams. While others are having ‘fun’ you need to be grinding so that you secure your desired future. Those who reach their dreams have learnt to pay now so they can play later. They have embraced delayed gratification.

My question is, how have you sacrificed today for your future? What have you deliberately given up to ensure that tomorrow is better? Your dream needs to matter so much that you don’t mind spending and being spent for its realization.

For your dream you will allocate time, money, expertise, experience and anything else it asks of you. Are you ready to go all the way? Is your dream important enough to make you put everything on the line? Sacrifice is the fuel that enables dreams. The thought of your dream should make you do whatever it takes to get things done.

If it was so easy to reach your goals, everyone would be where they want to be. Many wish for it but few will get to realize it. Since we have established that wishes are not horses, we are left with just one option. We must go get our horses if we want to ride. Are you ready to pay the price for the horse that will take you to your destiny?