Respect Your Sacrifices

A quick analysis of life in general gives me candy crush vibes.

For those who may not know, Candy Crush is an online gaming application where one levels up by conquering the obstacles at every stage.

As the game progresses, having learned a trick or two and using a few boosters, one experiences ease and progresses faster, At other times, the hurdles are hard to crush and one stays in the same level until mastery is attained and as a result, further progress.

Back to the word sacrifice..

In order to have any achievements in every/any area of our lives, one must sacrifice. Whether it's time, effort, energy, and any other resource. Something must give.

However, in due time, greater achievements seem to come easily because the base is bigger or stronger as a result of past sacrifices. The networks are wider and more effective, the academic papers are weightier, the experience is extensive and colorful, the recommendations are more glowing than before, success comes in like a waterfall. One is now accustomed to success and all the attendant benefits. Even the gait changes a little to match the mood. The view is gorgeous at this higher level.

However, there is a danger.

As people get comfortable in their status, whether in career, business, academia or marriage, it is easy to forget the long, arduous journey to this new level. Even to forget that there are still milestones ahead of them, places to go, more levels to unlock and more opportunities further along the way.

Apart from becoming complacent, there is the real danger of taking things for granted.

Most people act as though they just landed at their present spot, as though it was just handed to them, as though they were an overnight success.

They forget the blood, sweat and tears that were part of the journey to the top. Worse, they forget that they have to actually maintain and even further their status.

The things they aspired to own and become, they people they dreamed of meeting and the places they dreamed of visiting or being a part of now become familiar and common to them. In comes the neglect and careless attitude. The disrespect for all their own hard work creeps in, unnoticed.

Soon they start to act entitled, whereas before they were appreciative and almost reverent of the new atmosphere.

One might think they are looking down upon others but really, they are treating themselves with contempt. Not maintaining the discipline and good attitude they used to succeed. Not meeting their targets. Not coming to work on time. No longer respecting the new powerful networks they have access to. Not obeying laws and expecting to always use their status to bail them out. Poor spending habits. Literally going blank and forgetting everything it took them to arrive here.

While it is important to enjoy one's success, it is also important to remember that it has to maintained and grown some more, therefore one has to maintain and even increase one's discipline and energy in their chosen field. This way, the success will expand and reach further realms.

Kindly, do not lose respect for yourself and the sacrifices that your success has cost you. Remember that you deserve long-lasting success in everything you do.

In this month of love, give yourself the gift of high discipline and high morale in order to attain and maintain progressive success!

Feel free to add your thoughts on the matter.