"Value is Determined by Sacrifice"
–TD Jakes
Re-read this one a couple of times. Really think on it. Like most quotes, it is easy to read and move on, but it makes a great point. If you really want to determine what people value, look at what they will sacrifice for it.
For any parents reading this, I am guessing (hoping?) you would sacrifice anything for your children. That is a pretty clear indication of how much you value them. As opposed to the person that says they value getting in shape and sticking to a diet yet can't seem to avoid the morning donuts and never make it to the gym. (I use physical fitness as an example often because it is easy, and I am lazy).
Sacrifices can be money, time, resources, etc. If someone values a Pollock painting (Jackson, not his older, and slightly less famous painter brother Charles) they are willing to sacrifice a lot of money to obtain it. If you value a healthy lifestyle, you will sacrifice your time to go for a run.
Think on this quote today. What do you say you value? What do you think you value? Do your actions back it up? Are you making sacrifices in your life for the things you value? Are you sacrificing your time, money, etc. to achieve something you value?
If you say you value something and yet are not willing to make sacrifices for it, it's time to rethink your principles and priorities. It is not enough to just talk, we must take action. As I point out in a previous post, the world rewards actions, not thoughts.
Here are a couple of ways to get started.
- Sit down with a pen and paper and draw a line down the middle of the paper. Start writing down the things you value in a column on the left-hand side of the page. (a good career, being a great partner to your spouse, being a better parent to your child, etc)
- On the right-hand side of the page, start writing down actions that you are currently doing that are sacrifices. For example, if “Healthy Body” is in the left-hand column, “I go to the gym 5 days a week” should be in the right-hand column. If “I haven’t been able to make it to the gym this week because I have been busy with work and now is not a great time and I will start on Monday” is in the right-hand column, then your values and your actions are not aligned.
After you complete this exercise, identify areas of your life that you value, or think you value, that are found wanting. Make a plan of action that details what specifically you are going to do to make more sacrifices in this area of your life to show you value it.
