We all want things and experiences. The challenge is that everything we want comes with a price. Interested in seeing a place? You need to travel there and endure hours in transit. You want a six-pack? Get ready for hours in the gym and a diet that cuts out all the fun stuff. You want to retire early? Get your savings rate up, meaning cutting your spending, invest in index funds and give it time. Want to get among the best in the world at something? Find a way of getting 10.000 hours of focused, dedicated practice incorporated in your life. Want kids? Get ready for sleepless nights, juggling home and work responsibilities, etc.

The challenge is that we often want the thing, but are unwilling to pay the price. And that is not how life works. Everything has a price and if you are not willing to pay it, you’re not going to get it. Of course, in this age of instant gratification, it may be easy to give up on what you want, but that’s not the answer. Instead, choose the suffering that matters and focus on gaining what really counts.

As today's reflection: what are you longing for but unwilling to pay its price?