You Are Failing For the Same Reason Congress Is Failing

If you are struggling you might check to see if you have the same symptoms of failure besetting Congress. We will use the current payroll tax cut debate as an example,

Long Term Goals Conflict with Short Term Goals

For Congress the long term goal is to make the social security fund solvent. There should be enough money in it to pay people when they retire. For the last 10-20 years the debate has been how to add more money to the fund because there won't be enough money soon. Some options have been to raise the retirement age, lower benefit payments or raise the taxes going into the fund.

However, the short term goal is to get elected by either creating a small economic boost or at least appearing to give an economic boost by taking some of that retirement tax money and give it back to the tax payer. Of course, in doing so, they will not only be not helping the long term goal, they will be hurting it.

But to reach the short term goal they have to plunder the long term goal. My grandma called it "robbing Peter to pay Paul." Grandma also lived through the depression and did not count on social security.

How is your situation similar? I struggle with robbing from my future health to satisfy my current desires.

Congruence is when your values and behaviors align.

dm