The Pain of Discipline Is Easier to Endure Than the Pain of Regret

There is nothing worse than looking back on your life and saying, "I wish I had done this, had taken this risk, or had grabbed that opportunity." The pain of regret can be truly agonizing. The pain of discipline—making yourself do something you don't want to do—is nothing in comparison. It is temporary. When the task is completed, the pain disappears. But we live with regret for the rest of our lives.

Every level of action we achieve serves as the foundation for the new one to follow. If you never take any risks or try anything new, you will stay at the same low level of existence. But every time you put in the effort, you build your foundation higher, move on to the next level, and reap your well-deserved rewards.

In 10 years, you'll be proud of the hard work you're doing now. "Yes," you will say, "it was difficult. I put in long hours. I endured discomfort and inconvenience. But I made it through and reached my goal." So remind yourself as you're putting in those extra hours, when you're taking necessary actions and completing the fundamentals, when you're tempted to give up and go home—remind yourself that you never want to look back 10 years from now and say, "If only..." Those are the two saddest words in the English language.

Have regular hours for work and play, make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success...

—Louisa May Alcott,
author