A Different Kind of Wealth

Dave Ramsey has a weekly column in our local newspaper and I enjoy reading his advice (and I'm trying to follow it, too!).  In a recent column, he wrote about the difference between wealthy individuals and others.

He noted, to my surprise, that 90% of America's millionaires are first generation rich - they started with nothing.  He said that these individuals were mature enough and responsible enough to "delay bits and pieces of fleeting pleasure for a quality life in the future", trading "impulsive, immature decisions and purchases for the reward of a better life later."  He contrasts this with others who delay none of the pleasures and live only in the moment.  He ended by staying that in most cases, "it's not that they don't have the money.  It's more a case that they don't have a vision for the future."

This is not only great financial advice, but great advice for life.  And, of course, this is great advice with so much application for us who are on our journey to health.

Sometimes we think that if we aren't born with a killer metabolism, we're just destined to be overweight.  Some of us have been heavy all of our lives and may think that we just can't be thin - perhaps we think that we're starting with nothing (like the 90% of American millionaires!).  It doesn't matter what our past has been - we CAN change our health destiny.  Doing so requires "delaying bits and pieces of fleeting pleasure for a quality life in the future." 

I like the word "delay", because the reality is that there is so much MORE pleasure in the end, if we're willing to stay the course in the short term.  Unlike individuals who delay gratification for years - perhaps decades - to achieve financial wealth, our delayed gratification is SO short-lived in the grand scheme of things.  I was on plan for almost a year - 11 months, but that is just a blip on the radar screen of my life.  I have been in my goal range almost twice that long now and life is MUCH better on this side of goal :-).

Lastly, Dave said that those without money, in most cases, don't have a vision for the future.  Having a vision for the future is the key to long-term success when it comes to our health.  Do you have a vision of yourself at goal?  Do you have a vision of what you want your life to look like? 

I encourage you to take some time to create a clear vision for yourself.  Write it down!  What size will you wear?  What kind of clothes will you be able to wear?  How will you feel?  What will you be able to do?  When you have a clear vision of what goal will look like for you, write it down at the top of a sheet of paper.  At the bottom of the paper, write down where you are right now - your weight, your clothing size, your measurements, any medications you're on, how you feel about where you're at - get it all down.  The bottom of the page is your current reality; the top of the page is your vision for your future.  The space in between is what is called structural tension, as tension is created when there is a gap between where we are and where we want to be, and tension seeks resolution. 

In the space between where you are and where you want to be, list the steps you are taking to move towards your goal.  As you continue to lose weight and improve your health, mark your progress on this sheet, to help you visualize moving closer to your goal.

Delayed gratification and a vision for the future.  When you understand both of those things, it then comes down to making the choices you need to make on a daily basis.  As always, choose wisely :-)