Sacrifice is Inevitable

Rather than trying to avoid sacrifice, recognize it is an inherent component of all the choices you will ever make, including the choice not to choose. One of the greatest sacrifices made is when one sacrifices their potential for a fleeting sense of comfort at the eventual cost of a longing sense of regret.

A simple shift in the way you look at things can have a profound impact on your life. This is the power of having mentors who show you differently ways of not just doing things, but a different way of being and thinking all together.

The topic I'd like to briefly cover is that of sacrifice.

Most people try to avoid sacrifice at all costs, as we assume sacrifice means giving up something we enjoy.

In reality, we are always sacrificing one thing for another everytime we make a choice.

Let's use health and diet for an example.

If someone is choosing to eat junk food every meal of everyday because they don't want to "sacrifice" their favorite treats, then they may have a temporary sense of pleasure and satisfaction. But in the long run, they are sacrificing the joy of having a healthy body that looks good, feels good, and that they feel good about.

It's not that occasional treats really hurt anything in the long run, but constant indulgence compounds over time which is what many are guilty of.

Oftentimes these same people will feel a sense of guilt and shame over their choices, but rather than making a change, they will mask it with more "comfort" behaviors that simply prolong the problem and do nothing to truly fix it.

It is human nature, and no judgement on my part as I am as guilty as anyone. Although there are many underlying factors into why we do this, largely emotional and subconscious, one thing you can do is make a conscious shift in how you view things.


One can shift from seeing eating junk food rather than healthy food not as a choice that avoids sacrifices, but as a choice that causes the sacrifice of a healthier body.

The language can even be changed from "sacrifice" to exchange.

So giving up a favorite junk food is not seen as a "sacrifice", but an "exchange" for something you want even more. A healthier more fit body.

These simple changes in mindset are powerful, but they don't often happen overnight. You must be aware of your thought patterns and make an effort to shift them consciously, then eventually you will develop a whole new way of thinking naturally without any conscious effort.

Remember, everything you perceive as a sacrifice can be perceived as an "exchange". Is the exchange worth it?

- Derek Doepker - Excuse Proof

"We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret." - Jim Rohn