Hope you had a great Super Bowl Sunday and a fun Valentine’s Day! 😉
Today’s topic… Short game vs. Long game.
(Psst. This is part of an email series I send out every Tuesday. Sign up here!)
Do you know if you play the short game? Or the long game?
Life is good for both, but a lot of worthwhile experiences and accomplishments are created by playing the long game.
Let’s say you really want to have a meaningful romantic relationship. Someone you want to spend the rest of your life with.
If you want to play the short game you can set up some dating profiles, go out on a bunch of dates, get frustrated about how the dating pool isn’t good anymore and then give up. Or you can find one person you’re sort of excited about and start a life with them because you just need someone.
Now, the long game is played by accomplishing small steps that will set you up for success. Maybe you ask yourself if you are even ready for a meaningful romantic relationship. Write down the aspects you would love in a partner. Think of how great having a loving partner would be. All of these small steps and still no dating profiles set up and no dates planned.
“Well ok? Shay, what the heck, I said I wanted a partner, not to just THINK about a partner.”
Well, I will say everyone is different. Some people want to try on as many hats as they can and other people want to take their time and get really specific on who they want to bring into their life.
Admittedly so, I used to play the short game, like, all the time.
I used to run around trying to get to what I thought I wanted as fast as I could.
When quick money through a job offer came up, I took it. When someone came into my life for a romantic relationship that I still felt hesitant about, I gave in. Anytime a candy bowl appeared in my presence despite desiring a cut up body, I went ham.
Not saying you can’t do any of that, but we always have the option to ask “Why am I doing this?”
Am I playing the short game because…
- Now I can finally have more money and can feel secure in my finances?
- Now I am finally in a relationship and can feel good about myself?
- I will never be able to have candy again and this is the perfect time to fulfill that craving?
The correct answer is all of the above.
But the truth is…
- More money won’t make you feel more secure if the money you have right now isn’t good enough.
- A relationship won’t make you feel good about yourself if you don’t feel good about yourself without one.
- Eating a piece of candy (or a whole bowl) now because you’ll never be able to have any again is a great way to perpetuate cycles of eating disorders.
Well, what would the long game look like?
Playing the long game would look like…
- Asking yourself a lot of questions.
- Being patient.
- Learning a lot.
- Making informed decisions.
- A lot of love and compassion for yourself.
- Questioning your limiting beliefs.
- Enjoying candy and desserts when you actually want them.
- Reminding yourself you don’t have to have all the answers right now.
- Showing love, appreciation, and gratitude for where you’re at now.
As always, you do what’s best for you. We’re all different.
I do know one thing – time is running out for all of us. That’s the way of life. But if we put all of our present focus on getting somewhere, then we never realize that the only place we needed to “get to” was here.
“Don’t wait to be successful at some future point. Have a successful relationship with the present moment and be fully present in whatever you are doing. That is success.”
– Eckhart Tolle
So, what kind of game are you playing with the things that matter most?
Comment below!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this!
Til next week…
Shay 
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2 responses to “Are you playing the long game?”
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[…] few weeks ago I wrote about playing the long game. And I have to say, since receiving that idea and sending out that email, I have seen a tremendous […]