The warm feeling of making someone’s life better. 

Because you could, not because you had to. It feels great when you do your friend a favor, often even better when that friend shows you gratitude. 

What about planning for our own future well-being? Sometimes that is harder than expected. We are not innately geared to sacrifice fun, money, dessert, or immediate gratification in favor of our future happiness.

It’s not always a given that we up our retirement savings, go to bed half an hour earlier, watch one less show, or choose to take one more flight of stairs. Each payoff comes later.

Consider re-framing the whole equation. If setting your future self up for success does not come easily, think about personal decisions as doing a favor for a friend. 

Only this friend is you in the future.

And you’ll thank you.