It was WORTH it !

celebrating a profit of billions of dollars if they ‘could’ have made a few more billions they did not. They analyse, why they did not take the decisions that could have generated more profits. Was it oversight? Was it carelessness? Was it preoccupation with other comparatively trivial things? Was it inability to understand an opportunity or a trend? Was it sheer laziness? Was it inefficiency? Was it on grounds of ethics? Was it lack of expertise? Was it deliberate? They ponder over these questions. If they are convinced about the grounds of ‘letting go’ of those profits, they celebrate. They pat themselves on the back. Otherwise, even if they have made a few billion dollars, they say, this year we ‘lost’ a few billion dollars.

Its simple, if I could make a profit of Rs 100/- and yet I made a profit of only Rs 10/-, shall I call it a profit of Rs 10/- or a loss of Rs 90/-?

They not only calculate the profits, they also analyse the ‘lost profits’. I have no idea if this is just folklore or true. However, this does make a lot of sense. This calculation has helped me a lot in my life.

Allow me to present another sum. What is the cost of going and seeing a movie? Is it only the ticket cost? Or, is it the ticket cost plus the cost of eatables? Lets say the ticket cost is Rs 250/- + Rs 150 for the grub consumed = Rs 400/-. This is the ‘visible’ cost. There is an invisible component to the cost too.

In the three hours that I was in the theatre, lets say, I missed an opportunity to meet our fantastic and inspirational ex president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. I desperately wanted to be with my friends who were all going out for the movie. I did not want to be left out. I lusted for the movie and lost an opportunity to be with a historical person. Now, what did the movie cost me? Just Rs 400/- or more than that?
Clearly, the cost of the movie was MORE than Rs 400/-.

Seth Godin writes, ‘Just about everyone is in the business of selling their time in some form, it’s important to be aware that even if something doesn’t cost you cash out of your wallet, the opportunity cost is not only real, it’s just as valuable.’
Our greatest asset is our life. In our life, our greatest asset is our time. To use this time, we say ‘YES’ to a few things and ‘NO’ to a few things. Think twice before you say yes or no. Think not only about the direct cost but also about the indirect cost.

When I sleep late at night watching a useless movie or serial, what is the cost I have paid? Is it just sleep? Or, is it much more than that? Is it freshness the next morning? Is it skipping exercise next morning? Is it lethargy for the rest of my day? Is it missed meditation? Is it feeling stupid about myself the next entire day? What is the total cost? Did I learn something out of it or do I keep on repeating the same mistake, forever?
When I smoke or drink, what is the cost I am paying? Is it just the money that is direct cost? Do I actually end up paying much more than that? What about the cost of health? What about the time I spent? In that time, what else could I have done? I could have addressed the insecurity my child had developed for one of her friends called her a ‘fool’. She needed to know if she was a ‘good’ girl. A hug from me would have served the purpose. However, I was somewhere wasting myself drinking. So what did this drinking cost me? Just money and time or much more than that?

When I decide to do something with my time, I gain something and I lose something. For me to take a good decision, I need to know, is it worth what I have gained and what I have lost.
When I argue, what do I gain? What do I lose? Is it worth it?
When I keep brooding over an insignificant event, what do I gain and what do I lose? Is it just peace of mind (though that is invaluable) or much more? Is it worth it?
When I lie, what do I gain and what do I lose? Is it worth it?
When I pretend to be what I am not, when I act righteous to save my face and to gain control, what do I gain and what do I lose?
When I have an extra-marital affair, what do I gain and what do I lose? Is it worth it?
When I have opportunities but I don’t them grab them for I am afraid, what do I gain and what do I lose? Is it worth it?
When I keep on waiting for the world to change, crib about the lack of momentum in affairs, what do I gain and what do I lose? Is it worth it?
When I shout at my loved ones, what do I gain and what do I lose? Is it worth it?
When I speak bad about people behind their back, what do I gain and what do I lose? Is it worth it?
When I over eat for the joy of a few seconds, what do I gain and what do I lose? Is it worth it?
When I carry hurt in my heart, what do I gain and what do I lose? Is it worth it?
When I hold on to ego and let go of relationships and my peace of mind, what do I gain and what do I lose? Is it worth it?
Regrets have no value. Never ! Guilt kills you. Slowly ! Be on guard against regrets and guilt.
A man saved a teenager. When the saved teen thanked the savior, the savior just smiled and said, “Make sure the life I saved was worth saving.’
Take a moment and reflect. Do what fills you with pride. Drop whatever is not worth it. You and me have only a single life to live. Lets live it with pride. Lets make it WORTH IT.