I cannot over emphasis the benefits of writing down our goals, dreams, or just plain ideas. The simple act of writing it down forces you to organize the idea in your head. The planning out in your head of where you want to go gives you a long term horizon. Once it has been written down, do it in a place where you can go back to it from time to time and review what you have written and new steps or ideas that can be added based on things you have learned.
Now comes the hard part… resist the quick fix, “I want it now” that can come with short term actions. Short term thinking by it’s very nature generally gets us what we want right now but right now may not be what we want a year from now and may even require us to spend a good deal of time undoing the damage caused by right now.
We have all heard about the great deal that will get us $1,000 back if we act today! Never mind that to get that money requires us to spend $300 a month over four years making payments. We want that $1,000 right now! Advertisers do it all the time because it works. We focus on the short term gain but forget the long term slight of hand employed. And that is where our list comes in. It gives us something tangible to come back to and ask ourselves “Is this part of the long term goal and how will this action affect where I want to be a year from now?” Your list slows down the emotionalism of the desire for the want of the moment.
to day basis that propels us forward. What I am for is understanding how what you do today will help or hinder your overall plan to do thus and so… and your list helps you work out if what is in front of you is a want or a need. I know this is asking a lot in a culture that constantly tells us to we can have it now, but take a moment to savor how accomplished you are going to feel when all of those efforts toward the long term actually materialize… and they will!
I so agree w/you on this!… Omg, the person I was involved w/would make impulsive decisions and they weren't on the daily short term things… One of the reasons in fact this was the deal breaker for me, was that he was always trying to get me to invest w/him in a home… In the beginning of our relationship I agreed, which is my fault, because I thought he was on the same page as I was w/money and all that goes w/it… For me, I've always been the one to think things out.. and I've been told by my counselor that I was a linear thinker and he wasn't… There were times he thought I was putting a damper on the situation but I stood my ground… Over the years I saw how irresponsible and impulsive he was when it came to money… He even admitted he was and couldn't figure out why- tho I think he knew.. Unfortunately I didn't have the heart to tell him he was just satisfying himself for the moment… He still didn't get what I was saying when I weighted the pros and cons… Oh well… And yes, I do think long term… and I am glad that I do!and act short term in not putting myself thru misery.