That Problem is for Future You

“Life is suffering. No matter what you do, you will suffer. So take control, suffer intentionally. Choose suffering which will benefit you. Use suffering to your advantage”

I was watching "How I Met Your Mother" when Ted offered this advice to his worry-laden friend: "That's future Marshall's problem. Let that guy worry about it."

Cue laugh track. It's funny because it's relatable. It's painful because it's true.

Each day we make the decision of bringing the suffering forward or pushing it to our future self. Sleep in or work out. Impulse buy or stick to the budget. Netflix binge or start that project we've been putting off.

The suffering doesn't disappear - it compounds. You can pay the price now, or you can pay it later with interest. Future you will either love or hate you.

Choose love.