Sometimes I wish I could fast forward through all of the tedious parts of life. Paperwork won't bog me down. The years of education would fly by in a snap. I could spend my time enjoying all the fun activities and bask in the success. But that doesn't happen in this world.

Think about your hero or someone you look up to. When they're asked about their story of triumph, how often do you hear them putting in a little bit of effort and achieving all their dreams? Maybe once but then you'd wonder why they're so lucky. Your hero isn't lucky. They worked their asses off to become the awesome person you want to emulate.

Instant gratification is a myth. Regular (read: not wealthy) people can rarely tell a time when something they really wanted magically appeared. At least, not without a trade off. This applies to your mental health, your relationships, and practically anything you want to have. You can't wake up one day with a bright disposition if you constantly spend time downing yourself. You can't repair a relationship without figuring out where you contributed to the downfall.

The lesson for today is to put in the work. Your wants will stay dreams if you waste time staring at them. Start thinking about what you really want and how much it takes to make it a reality. After that, start organizing and planning your next moves.

Stay tuned for the next step!