S is for Sacrifice

From the very beginning we are taught that in order to get, we must give.  There are countless expressions in numerous languages that express this belief.  It's part of our basic human philosophy, and it's probably for the best.  Society couldn't last for very long otherwise.

We feel good when we make a square deal.  It's balanced.  We like balanced.  We like fair.  But life doesn't recognize fair the way that we do.  Many times it's harder to quantify the price that we pay.

We need to get to work on time, so we go without breakfast.
We need to get a project done, so we give up an hour of sleep.
We need to let a loved one make their own mistake, so we lose some piece of mind.
We need to not go to jail, so we don't stab that guy, even though he really deserves it.
We need to not lose that friend, so we don't tell them that thing that's killing us not to say.

There comes a point where you can't even track what you're sacrificing versus what you're getting in return.  It makes it hard to tell if you're getting a square deal anymore.

You know, though, don't you?  Somewhere inside you know if your life is worth what you're giving up to live it. There are many who live with a vague guilt and paranoia because they don't feel like they deserve the great things that they've gotten.  There are many who feel hollow and unappreciated because they feel like they get next to nothing for all of their hard work.

We need that balance.  We need to sacrifice, and we need to feel that we're getting what we deserve in return.

If you're feeling imbalanced, there are ways to fix it.

Help People
There's no greater way of sacrificing your time and energy than to aid a person that needs it.

Reevaluate
A lot of times, we place emphasis on all the wrong things.  Some things aren't nearly as important as we think they are.  Some things are far more precious than we realized.  If you take time and honestly reevaluate the things in your life, you may find that things are more balanced than you thought.

Calm Down
I have anxiety issues.  I know a lot of you do, too.  Even if you don't, the more your life spirals out of control, the easier it is to freak out about it.  Calm down.  It isn't doing anyone any good being so worked up.  Don't feel guilty if you need to take an hour to catch your breath.  The world will still be there, and you'll be able to handle it better with a clear head.

Ultimately, it's about learning to sacrifice the right things.  Sacrifice an hour of being lazy, pay a workout up front, and watch the self esteem roll it.  Get rid of the anger, the fear, the hurt... you're getting nothing for them.  If you have to, give up trying to make the world respect you, so you can respect yourself.

Are your sacrifices worth it?