The Long Term View Is the Short Term Payoff

When you decide to eat healthier in the hopes of improving your overall health, you understand it’s an outcome based on consistent effort with the hopes that you will have a better outcome down the road. We're taught that this type of thinking is hard because there is no benefit today, and we're deferring gratification.

But that's not the full truth. When you commit to a long-term perspective, the short-term effect is still positive. Well-balanced, whole foods make you feel better today. Fewer gut problems, clearer thinking, maybe even better sleep. You are missing out on the greasy food and sweets, which taste great, but even the immediate payoff might not be worth it.

The same is true with money. When someone decides to finally get intentional with their finances (build a plan, set goals, create a system), it’s easy to think of it as a sacrifice now for the sake of a better future. And yes, there’s truth in that. Investing over decades can lead to incredible long-term wealth. But that’s not the full picture.

You gain clarity about what you can spend without guilt. You feel less stressed because you're no longer wondering where the money went. You have more confidence when an unexpected expense pops up. And often, you start to feel a sense of momentum that carries into other areas of your life. Taking control of your money is about more than serving your future self. It brings peace, margin, and direction to your life right now.

When you take a long-term approach with the way you live—whether with your health, your money, or your time—don’t be surprised when you get more out of the living as well. It’s not suffering for the sake of a payoff down the road. You’re living a good life in the meantime.

When you take a long-term approach with the way you live, don’t be surprised when you get more out of the living as well. It's not suffering for the sake of a payoff down the road. You're living a good life in the meantime.