My coach uses the same lecture over and over; he repeats the same lines in order to ingrain it in our minds: “What is one of the most fun shots of tennis?” And like every other time, we routinely respond “smacking winners.” He then proceeds to ask, “but what feels better than smacking winners?”
“Winning.”
Though this message may seem only applicable to the sport of tennis, the real meaning of his words is there: do not be shortsighted, understand the ultimate goal, and realize the risk of seeking instant gratification. It can be easy to fall into the trap of seeking immediate benefits. But it is important to keep in mind how this impulse can alter our chances of accomplishing our long-term goals. Sure, I can cram and teach myself the entirety of the unit the night before the test and ace it, but what have I gained — a simple letter grade at the expense of building a strong foundation for my future learning pursuits?
This is where the MindSage “Achieve Success Loop” Lessons come into play. These lessons do an excellent job of dissecting what success really means and how students can reach the level of success they desire. Success is often falsely correlated with factors that do not give an accurate representation of who we are as a person and the work we put into reaching our goals, such as the amount of money we make, the job we have, the trophies we’ve earned, and especially grades. Many people are shocked to learn that our circumstances — income, social status, health, age, where we live, etc. — account for only 10% of our overall happiness, according to Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D, professor of psychology.
Pacing yourself and setting small goals in order to get to the larger objective is completely different from caving in and doing things that will only provide you with immediate benefits. At the end of the day, personal mental fulfillment trumps fleeting physical pleasures no matter the circumstance.
Just remember — sometimes you have to lose the battle in order to win the war.
-Emily Sze, MindSage Intern
