Sacrificing is one of my favorite topics to explore in my mind because it always presents a challenge to my current self. I wish I could say it is easy to face but that would be a lie. The part that gets me though is that it always seems to have the upper hand. I liken it to playing a hand of poker and someone has raised my bet to see what I will do. I think most of us fold when we should go all in.
What happens if I lose? As with anything else I’d pick up the pieces, figure out what went wrong, and adjust accordingly. It is important not to let that failure define who I am but use it to propel my future. All the greats fail countless times but the only thing that matters is the one time they got it right.
If I do not try, then I will be hanging out with regret for the rest of my life, which I do not care for.
After I get through the above mental hurdles, the question then becomes what must I do in order to reach the full potential of my goal? That is what trips me up at times. The reality is nothing good comes easy. Easy things are normally short-lived and not fulfilling.
I started a media company not long ago and it has been an interesting ride so far. Business has been good and steady. Trying to formulate a routine has been a real challenge. Many nights working late to fix issues or add features for clients. At times it cuts into sleep and other aspects of life, but my end goal is much larger than watching that TV show, getting another hour or two of sleep, or whatever other thing that creeps up as a distraction from the goal.
I am not perfect by any means. I love the process of continually improving because I am learning a lot about myself as I go. My photography journey has been the same. Many failures over the years, still learning today, and the goal is to consistently improve as I move forward. Mentally, there is not an end goal, but it is more of a “always improving” mentality. If I ever think to myself “you’ve made it” then that will probably be when things slowly deteriorate.
The above photo was taken at a very popular place. Typically, the spot is swarmed by photographers for the arch there, but Brandi and I only had to share with five photographers that morning. Probably will never happen like that again. While setting up, I didn’t like the normal shot everyone takes. I decided to possibly miss an iconic shot to find something I liked better. I moved about twenty feet to the side, but it changed the entire perspective for me. I was given one of the best sunrises I have seen in all my years of photography. The scene was massive, the color was saturated, and it felt great that morning.
It is easy to get caught up shooting the same spots as always looking for a “perfect” photo but be willing to sacrifice a good shot to possibly find something better. Life is easier in my comfort zone, but I never experience new stuff there.