Source: Dall-E
But when life gets complicated it is important to remember a single equation.
Source: Northview Church Service
Note to it was a good service you might want to check it out
And as with any equation you are given it typically requires explanation.
Now that may seem like I'm oversimplifying things and I certainly am. However, when using the above equation it does force a few things.
That may seem silly because everyone thinks they know where they are. Many people don't though. Many people are dwelling on things in the past. My son was one of them when he broke up with his girlfriend. Some people are so focused on what they don't have that they don't realize what they do. My son's ex-roommate was one of them. He was so focused on trying get money in his divorce that he lost sight of all the important things around him.
An honest evaluation of where you are, what you have, what resources you either have or can get can make a huge difference.
Again it may seem silly but so many people have no clue what they want to accomplish. Everyone says they want a good job, power, lots of money, gorgeous spouse and so on. Without an end goal though all of those things are useless. What good is a gorgeous spouse if you don't have a goal to share together? What good is money if you don't know how you should spend it? What good is power if you don't know what you will use it to accomplish?
Knowing my goals keep me grounded, give me direction, help me make decisions, and give me purpose.
Now there a couple of acronyms that can help you with the process. You can remember to set "S.M.A.R.T. --- G.O.A.L.S."
SMART
GOALS:
For two reasons: First-- asked
Second -- #HiveLearners has a post topic for self denial.
So let me tell you a bit about my goals for Hive..... I'm pretty sure that they are not what anyone else on Hive is working towards.
I should thank some people first: To for making the author of the week post.
@kronias/hive-learners-author-of-the-week-27
And to
for their support in voting.
and congratulations to for also being voted as co winner (I think).
I mention them because I really appreciate their support and for being chosen as a weekly winner. Even though recognition isn't my main focus on Hive (sorry guys)
But I got distracted.
Well if you ask most people there will be some common goals on Hive
Everyone likes making crypto, right?
Some people don't care much about money but friends are great too, right?
Have enough staked HP and you can make a difference on the blockchain and possibly much further. Some people want to wield the power!
Some people want to promote their singing or music techniques. Some people to promote their artwork. Others their video creation skills. Still others their viewpoints on the world or society. Lots of things to promote out there.
But when I told I would never become a whale on the platform because its not my goal I got a bewildered reply. Why not?
My "A" was absolutely nothing. I started with only my Hive username and ZERO coin. No friends. No contacts. Just some ideas to write about.
MY "B" is to write the best content I can on a regular basis. Invest what crypto I receive into HBD or staked HP... Also to learn about frugal living and get ideas on how to spend less.
My "C" is to be an inspiration to people who have nothing. My goal is to stake enough HBD to support ONE person in a sustainable lifestyle. To learn about ways to lead a frugal lifestyle so I don't have to stake so much. To learn about what is the minimum requirement for a comfortable life.
Why will I never be a whale?
Right now that goal is to make somewhere between 5,000 - 10,000 HBD and get a yearly income of 1,000 - 2,000 HBD. Then outline a lifestyle that would allow someone to live an OK (albeit frugal) lifestyle on that amount. Then find someone to give the money to in return for them blogging about what that lifestyle is like.
The reason?
So many poor people have no hope. They have no roadmap to a better life. Faced with a world that gives them no value and no pathway to a better future.
If I can take a HIVE account with nothing and turn it into a decent net zero lifestyle I can hopefully be a source of inspiration to others. To show that there IS hope and there IS a way up. Not only for someone who has nothing but also for a world where we aren't polluting and ravaging nature.
Sure it is a boost to my ego when I get voted author of the week.
Sure I like getting more followers and upvotes
Sure I like receiving those nice boosts from @OCD or
Sure I like making new friends (looking at you ,
and the rest of the #Frugal crew)
But those aren't my goals. My one overarching goal is to make a light of hope showing that Hive is a possible way to financial self sufficiency and a better life. To provide a possible pathway for others less fortunate than myself.
I'm not truly sure that it does.
I don't truly believe in Self-Denial. I believe in making wise choices.
There are many paths that a person can take... but if you look in the picture above only one of them leads to the house. If your destination is the house there is only one right choice to make. Another other choice is taking you somewhere you don't want to go!
A firm goal makes for easy decisions!
Example: I love my wife and my goal is to be married until I die.
When I have choices to make in life I'll choose
Example: I have a goal to retire early and enjoy my senior years
When I have choices to make in life I'll choose
Now it would be quite possible in saying that I'm practicing Self-Denial in my future goals on Hive as I honestly have no desire to achieve anything for myself on Hive. My goals are to help someone I may not even have met yet.
I don't personally think I'd call it Self Denial though. I am absolutely making my own choices, on a path I choose, for the Goal I wish. It just happens that my Goal isn't ultimately for me
Looking at my life there are many things I could call "Self Denial".
Getting up at 4:45am to wake up my son?
Not eating Ice Cream while watching movies with my wife?
Not buying a nice, expensive Tesla and E-Bike,
Walking a dog that I never even wanted
But I'd rather think that I'm just pursuing other goals.
I'm just making decisions to get to my "C" and not getting distracted by other things along the way.
Thanks for reading and feel free to disagree or leave comments