I was listening to a podcast episode by Ray Edwards this morning on how to optimize your life, and one of the points he made really caught my attention.
He said, 'there is no simple answer to complex questions,' and I think he is absolutely right. Unfortunately, there seems to be an air of 'quick fixes' and 'life hacks' to overcome life's biggest challenges. But this isn't the case; if it was a big and complex challenge, it couldn't have a 'quick fix' as it would negate the meaning of a big life challenge. You can't cheat in life; there isn't a simple answer to getting fit and healthy; you can't hack your way into becoming wealthy. Granted, certain processes are better than others, but if the problem is worth tackling, the solution will require hard work.
This is the parable of the man who decided to take a short-cut, only to find himself lost in the forest. The sooner he admits that he made a mistake and turns back, the sooner he will get on the right path.
You're in it for the long-term, a quick fix will provide a temporary solution at best, but long-lasting change will require hard work.
Key takeaways:
1) There aren't simple answers to complex questions
2) There is no 'life hack' that is supposed to answer life's most challenging problems
3) The sooner you realize the short path isn't the right one, the sooner you can go back and take the right one
3) Short-term fixes will provide short-term solutions at best