Wow, I just reread my post from last night..... I really butchered it, haha. I was tired!
Anyhow, I also don't think you need to enjoy every step along the way. I think I may have said that above somewhere, and you took it literally. It is impossible to enjoy everything all the time, or life would be perfect.
Sticking with the fitness example and using myself. Some would say I have been successful in building a good physique. I did so naturally, and it was by no means a fun road 100% of the time. I had injury, surgery, I missed fun nights out with the guys b/c I did not want to drink, I missed amazing meals. Sacrifice is part of the journey. I think it is part of ANY journey.
However, I think there are always two sides of sacrifice. The painful side and the pleasant side. I think there is pain and pleasure attached to pretty much everything in life. I also think that you have the option to focus on either the pain or the pleasure. On top of this, I think that it is one of the most important decisions in your life as to what you place your focus on. One will pull you forward, the other will push you backward.
If I focused on how much I had to sacrifice to get to where I am today, I might question if my actions were worth it. However, thankfully we have the choice of what we set out "mental sites" on. In my case, I focus on the feelings of power I felt when I avoided temptation to eat that meal, drink that beer, or skip that workout. Focus on the pleasure you get, even from the painful steps, and you will succeed 9 times out of 10.
And as I am typing this, maybe you and I are feeling the same all along. I think we are both bringing too many absolutes into the picture... and by doing this, we could go back and fourth forever. There is no end.
You see, I do understand where you are coming from. I wanted a good physique and I wanted to be an authority in the fitness field more than anything in life. That was such an empowering desire that I would have went through hell every single minute of every single day to get to that point. Even if there was no pleasure at all along the way, the end result would have been enough for me.
And the same might be true with you when becoming a doctor. (I think you said you were?). That end product was enough to move you forward no matter what.
Unfortunately, most people, and I have dealt with a lot and this is only based on my sample population and experience... but most people are not pre-wired for success. Rather, they are pre-wired to hold themselves back. Focusing on some end product that resides far off into the future is not enough to move them into action today, and every other day between now and then. It just doesn't work like that for most.... and it has nothing to do with some form of "weakness" in these people, I might add.
How about this: Any journey is going to be filled with pain and pleasure. To improve your chances of success, you must not ONLY have an ultimate goal and expect that to be your only fuel to drive you to the finish line. Most must also couple this empowering final result with small victories along the way. Each small step of the journey can be painful, but only if let your mind see it as so. And if you don't control this short term focus, chances are slim that you will adhere to a long term plan that ensures arrival at the final destination.
Does that sound right based on what I have said here?
I don't think we are "arguing" anymore, rather discussing a very interesting topic... and if you wish to continue, I am all for it... as I think this discussion can help others who are facing their own personal battles.
