Monday 5 Things ….. At What Price? …..
25.01.13 Written by D. Paul Graham
National Cash Register brass model 332 circa 1912. Photographed at the Foundry Hotel, Asheville,NC. Photo D. Paul Graham / imageGRAHAM
I was awake early, even early than my usual early morning rising, these past few weeks. There is something magical to me about the quiet hours before anyone else is awake. Time to read some scripture, time to pray, and time to think. Three of the most valued gifts that I give myself. All three of those things contributed to thoughts about the price and return found in various parts of my life. So often, life is about what we embrace, what we sacrifice, what we let go of, what we hold as a world view, and what and who we invest in. All of these have a price and return that are rarely calculated with money. This morning’s M5T isn’t about dollars and cents but the quiet tolls, the price we pay and returns we look for in what matters most in our lives.
1. PRICE OF BEING PRESENT. Showing up, being fully and genuinely mindful, isn’t free and it’s harder than it seems. It comes at the cost of your distractions, your multi-tasking, and sometimes, your comfort. There is a price to letting go of your scattered thoughts, surrendering control over time, and choosing to engage fully with those around you. It’s resisting the temptation to think ahead or dwell on what’s already gone. It takes discipline and energy in silencing your phone, avoiding diversions, and focusing on who or what is right in front of you. It’s the cost of being fully engaged, whether with a person, an experience, or simply observing the world around you, right here, right now. Presence requires intentional effort. Presence isn’t hurried and doesn’t just happen. It’s a deliberate act. It can feel like an investment with no immediate payoff, but the reward of being present results in deeper connections in relationships, clearer thinking, and richer life experiences. Being present allows you to absorb the details, emotions, and subtleties that you’ll carry forward as cherished memories. Will you avoid the impatience of rushing toward “what’s next” and instead allow yourself to savor the “what’s now”?
2. PRICE OF YOUR DECISIONS. The price of your decisions in life is measured not just in dollars or hours, but in experiences, opportunities, and the unseen paths you forgo. Every "yes" comes with a silent "no" to something else. Every choice demands payment in the currency of time, effort, emotional energy, sacrifice, control, or peace of mind. Sometimes, the cost of decisions is immediate: sleepless nights, stressed relationships, or financial strain. Other times, the price is deferred, hidden in the quiet accumulation of regret, untapped potential, or dreams quietly set aside. The hard truth is that every choice carries some level of trade-off or opportunity cost. Choosing wisely requires accepting risk and discernment, both of which take effort and mental clarity. Making decisions builds momentum, and even failures become lessons when you reflect on the choices you make. Decisions provide many rewards; growth, because decisions often challenge you to step outside your comfort zone; freedom, because making intentional choices gives you the power to direct your life in ways that align with your values; and momentum, because when you make consistent decisions that reflect your long-term vision, it sets the path for the life you want to live. Decisions shape our identities and who we become. The decisions you invest in today, whether bold leaps or quiet sacrifices, compound into the person you’ll meet in the mirror tomorrow. Is that person you see in the mirror investing in life decisions that align with your values, passions, and vision? Or are you overspending on fleeting comforts and distractions?
3. PRICE OF YOUR VALUE. Knowing what you're worth takes determination and it doesn’t come for free. It takes courage to advocate for your value, whether it’s asking for fair pay, standing up for yourself in a relationship, or refusing to settle for less than you deserve. You may encounter rejection, pushback, or loneliness when you set boundaries and declare your worth. It might cost you approval, opportunities, or even relationships. It can be uncomfortable and difficult to stand firm in your belief of yourself, saying no to things that don’t serve your growth, refusing to lower your standards, or compromising your integrity. It demands rejecting shortcuts, compromises, or situations or people that devalue you. But compromising your value is even costlier. Doing so eats away at your authenticity. If you don’t set the value for your time, your talent, and your truth, others will do it for you. The rewards of recognizing your value are life changing. Self-respect, confidence, and relationships are built on mutual value, not compromise. Understanding your value and being resolute in what you bring to the table can be life changing. You will respect yourself and build a foundation of confidence when you believe and communicate your value. You will have authentic connections with others because people respect you for who you are and are more likely to be aligned with your values. You will create and recognize genuine opportunities that align with your purpose and strengths. The price of your value in life isn’t measured in dollars or fame. It’s weighed in the moments you invest, how authentically you live, the principles you uphold, and the impact you leave behind. It’s the late nights spent chasing dreams, the courage to stand for what’s right, and the grace to uplift others when they falter. It’s about knowing what you bring to the table and not being afraid to eat alone if you have to. What table are you at?
4. PRICE OF YOUR DREAMS. Dreams are where our imagination, ambition, and potential collide. They pull us toward possibility but pursuing them has a cost that often feels intangible. Every dream has a multitude of costs, whether it’s time, effort, emotional energy, or sacrifice. Dreams costs time. Hours, days, months, years, and even decades spent on plans, learning, preparation, and action. Every dream requires investment of moments you could use elsewhere. They come at the cost of comfort. Chasing dreams often means stepping outside your comfort zone and enduring failures, setbacks, and rejection. They cost clarity. Dreams demand vision, and clarity often comes through failure, or may come with difficult decisions that force you to question what’s most important in your life. They can cost you relationships. Pursuing dreams often means trading stability for potential. But the rewards of dreams are profound. Dreams foster growth, fulfillment, and the chance to live a life that aligns with your deeper purpose. When you pursue your dreams, you move toward something greater than yourself. Dreams push you to grow in ways you never thought possible. Dreams create the foundation and basis of a legacy that often outlasts you, creating something meaningful that others can build upon. Dreams should be steep enough to reflect value and exclusivity, yet accessible enough to be attainable with purpose and effort. It’s not just about money but about time, energy, and heart. Building on your dreams can create a life filled with passion, fulfillment, and unforgettable experiences What price are you willing to pay to pursue your dreams?
5. THE PRICE OF YOUR LEGACY. Creating something that outlives you, whether a career, a family, or an impact on others. Legacy asks for long-term vision, focus, perseverance, and often sacrifice. It requires that you think beyond yourself. It isn’t something you build overnight. A legacy is built on the small, consistent actions you take each day. Legacy comes at the price of patience. It takes years, sometimes decades, to build something that will stand the test of time, one brick at a time. Legacy doesn’t happen quickly. It requires sustained effort and long-term vision. Legacy has a price of discipline because legacy demands consistency. It requires intentional actions with delayed gratification, doing the mundane tasks day after day with quiet persistence when no one is watching. Legacy has a price of sacrifice and requires more than just occasional effort. Building a legacy often requires giving up immediate rewards or comforts to ensure something bigger endures. It requires putting others’ needs ahead of your own short-term gain. Legacy rewards with impact. It leaves a lasting impact on others, often in the lives you touch, the work you do, or the values you pass on. Legacy rewards with meaning. Creating something that outlives you, something that becomes a part of the world long after you’re gone, can be incredibly rewarding to build. Legacy rewards with contribution. It’s the chance to build something meaningful that others can benefit from, whether it’s a family, a business, a movement, or an idea. What will be your legacy and what price are you willing to pay to make it happen?
Here's to recognizing that life’s most meaningful things don’t come cheap and are worth the effort of paying the price of every ounce of the effort, energy, and sacrifice they demand. What will you invest in this week?
For over 13 years, D. Paul Graham has published “Monday 5 Things” ™, also known to readers as M5T™. He continues to place high value on his worth and on his dreams.
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