“The problems which have troubled mankind can only be solved by conquering the kingdom within, not by harnessing the forces of Nature to the service of comfort and luxury, but by mastering the forces of the intellect and the spirit, by vindicating the freedom of man from within as well as without and by conquering from within external Nature.”
— Sri Aurobindo
Let’s call you today Present You and you five years down the line Future You.
Would you want Future You to be upset with Present You for wasting time scrolling through YouTube and Netflix, craving attention from others, or sticking around in a meaningless job? Or would you want Future You to be grateful to Present You for taking action that made them fit, happy, and wealthy?
A better life cannot be found outside. Expecting others to do things for your benefit is like asking the wind to blow. You cannot expect social media platforms to not design themselves to be addictive, your manager to make work meaningful for you, or your partner to take responsibility for your happiness. (If you cannot do what’s in your best interest, how can you expect others to do it for you?)
From tomorrow, each morning, ask yourself one question: What should Future Me thank Present Me for? Let the answers guide your actions throughout the day. Consistency in what’s useful is the best investment you can make in yourself. Its results compound to yield remarkable results in the long term.