Trading one thing for another is something we learn early in life. Children often make trades at lunchtime, collector cards are traded to complete a set, toys are swapped, and even clothes are sometimes exchanged. As we get older we realize that everything we do involves a trade of some sort. We trade our time at work for money, we trade our money for things we purchase, and we trade our influence to get where we want to be. Everything we do involves some sort of trade off. They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and that’s true. There is a price for everything, and we have to trade something to get it. The trick is to be sure what we get when we make the trade is worth what we’re giving up.
Sometimes something we want has a price that’s too high for us. If we want to study astronomy, we have to stay up all night to see the stars. But if we’re early birds by nature, we may determine that’s too difficult for us. Maybe we want to move up in our career but that would require moving away from our families, and we decide it’s not worth it. Perhaps we dream of climbing Mount Everest but the physical demands are beyond what we can handle. When we think of all the things we’d like to do, the cost of the trade off always come into play. There will always be something we have to give up to achieve the goal, and only we can determine if the trade is manageable.
Some trades go well, and we are happy with the exchange. When that happens we feel like we were treated fairly and made a good choice. But sometimes, our trades go badly. Maybe we purchase an expensive item that cannot be returned only to discover it wasn’t exactly what we thought it was. Or we give up an evening to go out with friends, and upon arriving see that our contentious “ex” is there as well. Because everything is a trade-off of some sort, the best we can do is to try to get as much information as possible before we make the exchange. If we do that, we’re more likely to make trades we’re happy with.
Today if you’re planning to trade your time or energy for something you want, be sure the trade is in your best interest. You are capable of seeing things clearly and making good decisions. Ensure you are doing what you want most. You’ll be giving something up for the goal you’re seeking. Before you go forward, make sure the reward is worth the cost.
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