PURPOSE
3 Unpopular Ways Long-Term Thinking Ensures a Life Devoid Of Regrets
Tomorrow doesn’t exist. It is shaped by what (and how) we do today.
Instant gratification is cancer because it steals the ability to be patient with the process. We forget to respect the value of time and ponder everything that could’ve gone right if we had started in a different direction.
The regret of not starting earlier is palpable. It hurts so strong that even explaining it to my therapist felt like I’m out of words. Here is a quote that sums up the idea of regret perfectly:
“Dead people receive more flowers than the living ones because regret is stronger than gratitude.”
— Anne Frank
One way to perceive regrets is to see them as sacrifices, but not as hindsight in future.
Sacrifice happens in the present when you let go of anything that doesn’t serve your purpose. If not done intentionally, it looks like regret in the future.
One way I have found to reduce my regrets and turn the remaining ones into worthy sacrifices is to follow long-term thinking. While the meaning is self-explanatory, here are three ways long-term thinking helps you design a life devoid of regrets and even perceive them as sacrifices for your bright future.
#1. Kills this slow poison.
Instant gratification is getting what you want without putting in the required effort.
No one-size-fits-all hack can guarantee you nip instant gratification in the bud, but if you adopt long-term thinking, you’ll start to see experiences based on the value they provide in the long term.
For example, quitting carbonated sugary drinks was impossible for me three years ago. But when I started my first 100 days fitness challenge in 2019, the investment in my physical and mental health showed me that securing our future begins with the direction we take today.
Tomorrow doesn’t exist. It is shaped by what we do today.
#2. No tax on mental health.
I got fired on New Year’s Eve. Escaping the hustle culture at the dawn of 2020 showed me that even a tiny amount of self-critical attitude can become unbearable if you don’t control it.
Fear is what I needed to understand how brutally I was treating my mind at my first 9to5 job. Mine is a subjective experience, and your 9to5 may deliver a healthy environment.
The freedom I got after leaving my first desk job taught me a lesson about life:
Anything that costs your mental health is too high a price. Don’t do any irreversible damage to your mind. Otherwise, recovery will be twice as hard.
When I discovered how I’m thriving after leaving my desk job and getting back control of my time, I have plans to ensure I won’t have to sell my soul for money again.
#3. Refine your purpose.
The purpose is a subjective concept that adds meaning to your life. When I published my first blog in 2018, I had to do it to pass an online course.
My fingers were trembling at warp speed while the mouse pointer hovered near the publish button on Medium. But even after four years, my first article is still one of my best-performing pieces.
Seeing my debut article’s positive reactions from my college folks and project supervisor professor, I shifted my perspective on the power of writing. It showed me how our question-marked-shaped brains are a powerhouse of infinite and unexplored possibilities.
After four years of an on-off relationship with writing, I started vlogging on IG one week ago by repurposing my army of 300+ blogs as video content for inspiration, motivation and entertainment for my IG fam.
Every creative pursuit turned out to be a complement to the previous one. Refining your purpose means your attitude will shift as you navigate life.
What you love today might be what you dread tomorrow. Accepting that adaptability is what gets us ahead in life, it becomes easier to let go of old habits and greet future opportunities with open arms and legs.
Closing thoughts
Adopting long-term thinking isn’t easy, mainly when the internet feeds on your insecurities by promising a one-click solution for all your life problems.
Instant gratification comes to me in waves. But when it is about to inflict irreversible damage like addiction or to trade my mental health for shallow gains, I take a deep breath to analyse if my decision brings me closer to my dreams or far from them.
The answer — sometimes hard-to-digest truth — provides clarity when looking from a long-term vision rather than surrendering to what feels rewarding in the heat of the moment.
Here is a recap for your memory about the unpopular benefits of long-term thinking that you can reap with deliberate practice:
- It kills the slow poison of instant gratification.
- It prioritises your mental health above the hollow rewards from external validation.
- It clarifies your life purpose and also refines it with time.
If you want to receive more stories like this, my lifelong learning newsletter is for you.
Sanjeev is a mentor, writer, and fitness enthusiast from India. He writes about lifelong learning, personal growth, and positive psychology. When he’s not engaging with students in solving their doubts or busy writing, he’s sweating either in a workout, PC gaming or playing 8-ball pool. You can also find him on Instagram and Twitter.
