Wednesday, September 15, 1999

Beyond the moment

Just because you can communicate instantly does not mean that your best strategy is to live instantly. Just because you can send packages overnight does not mean that you should wait until the last minute to prepare them.

It is all too easy to become mesmerized and then whipped around by the whims of the moment. With 200 cable channels, the enormous, instantaneous Internet, and all the other options compelling you to live for the moment, it is indeed hard to resist. Yet if you can see past the latest momentary uptick the stock market, if you can resist the urge to check this half-hour’s headlines, if you can focus on the big, long-term picture you’ll enjoy extraordinary power and effectiveness.

The value that you’re able to create in a single moment is negligible. Yet as your effort extends over longer and longer periods of time, the effectiveness of that effort increases exponentially. When you focus your efforts over the long term, the things you can accomplish are truly incredible. Live in the moment, but don’t get caught in the trap of living too much for the moment. The farther you extend your horizons, the more magnificent they will be.

— Ralph Marston

A serious obligation       Go on past your fear

Copyright ©1999 Ralph S. Marston, Jr. All Rights Reserved. The Daily Motivator is provided for your personal, non-commercial use only. Other than personal sharing, please do not re-distribute without permission.