Introverts are thinkers.
Making a decision can give them weeks of sleepless nights.
Until they’re done with all the overthinking and overanalysis, it is almost impossible to reach a decision.
I used to struggle with it all the time. No matter how small it was.
To do or not to do.
Should I go all in or hold back?
Should I say this or not?
Is it the right time to ask for a raise?
Should I continue my job or quit it?
‘Should I stay anonymous or remove the mask’ being the most recent.
It was crazy.
Here’s how I overcame it.
Imagine you’re driving in a new city. (Imagine Rome; it’s beautiful)
The sun is out, the sky is clear, the music is on—it’s a beautiful day.
You keep driving and driving and driving.
And suddenly you look around and notice you have no idea where you are.
No people. No houses. No nothing.
It’s getting cold and dark. You start to panic.
You hit the GPS buttons like crazy but there is no network so the GPS is not working.
You’re driving in the dark.
The temperature is dropping. You’re shivering.
How am I ever going to get out of this, you think to yourself.
And then suddenly you hear a voice,
“Take the next left in 2 kilometres.”
The GPS flickers back to life.
You take a big deep breath.
You feel okay now and smile at the little screen guiding you back to your hotel.
99% of life’s problems stem from not knowing where we’re going.
When we live our lives in darkness.
Like driving a car in darkness with no destination.
And to overcome this, I found a very simple solution.
It’s only two words.
I call it: 10-Year Effect
It’s my GPS for navigating through life.
Every action has a consequence. Every cause has an effect.
Whenever I have to make an ‘important’ decision, I think about its effect in the next 10 years.
Keep in mind that our brain loves what’s easy and hates what’s hard. It loves pleasure and instant gratification.
It has a tendency to always go for the easier option.
If you have two choices, choose the one that is hard in the short term. Because your brain is trying to protect you from short-term pain.
For example, I’ve been thinking about rebranding my X account forever and making it more personal.
Get out of my comfort zone. Rebuild everything. Work on new content ideas. Expand my brand.
And naturally, it would take a lot of effort.
So I isolated myself for a few days, sat with a pen and paper, and poured everything out.
– What was the reason behind my resistance?
– The pros and cons
– How it will benefit my audience
And above all, how will it affect my life in the next 10 years?
Will this decision make my life better and help me grow, or will it worsen it?
And the moment I started seeing it in the long term, all my fears and doubts disappeared.
I could see growth.
I could see the scale.
I could see sharing more valuable content.
I could see connecting with and helping my audience in a more personal way.
And I wanted that. Whatever it took.
You can try and apply this to any area of your life.
It works flawlessly and gives you a powerful dose of motivation.
For example:
I would have an athlete’s body if I worked out 3 days per week for the next 10 years.
I would be making $100,000 per month if I stayed consistent in building my personal brand for the next 10 years.
I would have a glowing young face and an extremely sharp brain if I stayed sober for the next 10 years.
Thinking like this gives you your ‘WHY’.
The mind needs a reason. A logical explanation behind the decision you’re planning to make.
And you need a strong rational argument to convince your mind.
And what’s better than seeing a bigger picture of your life.
Zoom out.
Imagine your life on a scale of time vs. results.
Initially it may feel like you’re not seeing any progress.
This is where most people give up. Because the brain wants proof that your efforts are working.
It wants certainty.
But understand that there is a gap between cause and effect.
That gap is called time.
Be patient and wait it out.
Here’s how.
Applying the 10-year Effect System
1. Define Your Goals
To achieve anything in our lives, we need clarity.
You have to be very clear about what you want and how you are going to get it.
Clearly write down your long-term goals, both personal and professional.
This provides a benchmark against which you can measure the impact of your decisions.
2. Assess Consequences
Before making a decision, evaluate the consequences over the next 10 years.
Think deeply about how each choice aligns with your goals.
Ask yourself: Does it contribute positively to my overall well-being?
Only go forward if the answer is yes.
This is what you learn from Day 1 to Day 10 of my 30-day course ‘Awakening’. How to step-by-step remove the needless and discover your true calling.
3. Short-Term vs. Long-Term Gain
Reflect on short-term comfort and long-term fulfilment.
Choosing the harder path now might lead to a more rewarding future.
Set your priority based on your core values.
Only focus on things that have long term gains.
4. Get Feedback
Discuss your decisions with mentors, friends, or family members who you trust.
Sharing it with someone can help you see it from a different perspective.
It will expand your overall understanding of the problem by giving you a broader view.
The collective wisdom of others can provide insights that may not be immediately apparent.
5. Reflect and Iterate
Regularly reflect and connect back the dots.
Think about where you were a month ago.
Map your progress.
This sends positive feedback to your subconscious and will keep you motivated.
And adjust your approach based on what you learn along the way.
Remember that the 10-Year Effect is not a rigid rule but a guiding principle that evolves with your journey.
Let’s fast-forward 10 years.
The decisions you make today have the potential to completely change your life.
Choosing the path that aligns with our long-term goals keeps us emotionally stable during life’s ups and downs.
For example, imagine you’re a creator on X.
To grow quickly, you may post platitudes and viral memes instead of sharing valuable content and building trust with your audience.
But if you keep the 10-Year Effect philosophy in mind and base your action on long-term goals,
And if you focus on authentic engagement, you will not only earn a loyal audience but will also create a brand that withstands the test of time.
The 10-Year Effect isn’t just a decision-making strategy; it’s a life-long philosophy.
It’s a decision-making filter.
It’s a GPS to navigate through life.
Stay blessed,
Master