Essay on What It Takes to Sacrifice

📌Category: Feature of Character, Life, Philosophy
📌Words: 624
📌Pages: 3
📌Published: 15 June 2021

As Mitch Albom once said, “Sacrifice is a part of life. It’s supposed to be. It’s not something to regret. It’s something to aspire to” (The Price of Success). We have all faced a period where we needed to settle on a decision requiring sacrifice, forfeiting something for the benefit that appears later in our lives. These sacrifices are not generally colossal, yet rather little ones that are made day by day. Often times, people will be too centered around the things that are occurring now, and not consider the distant future. Having the mindset to realize that achievement doesn’t simply come to you, but develops through dedication and sacrifice will become a life-changing experience for everyone. 

There are many kinds of sacrifices that we, each individual, make on a regular basis. We give up our time, money, and freedom, just to name a few. When Elon Musk, now the second richest man in the world co-founded a software company called Zip2, he was literally living in his office to finish his work (A Look at the 10 Richest People). Years later when Tesla got launched, he was working for almost one hundred hours per week and is still working eighty to ninety hours a week to this day (Trapulionis). It took him years of hard work and commitment to get to where he is now, and he continues to surprise us with his new technology and advancements that are coming out for the world to see. Elon sacrificed his time, comfort, freedom, and personal relationships with his wife and children, and there are other ways we could sacrifice for ourselves and for others. 

The value of sacrifice varies between people, but believe it or not, sacrifice is a necessary part of life. “No one wants to reward someone who just wants but never gives” (Lehutjo). You have to start by learning how to let go of the things that are holding you back from reaching your goals. For success, it will require you to do things which don’t give momentary pleasure but produce benefits in the long run (Lehutjo). It is never easy to capitulate your temporary contentment, but this becomes a key to your everlasting fulfillment in life. Sacrificing also allows us to build character. By overcoming difficult obstacles along the way, it strengthens your willpower and determination for the future. When we recognize the importance of sacrifice, we will see true happiness in the long-run. 

To determine when to make a sacrifice, one must take many things into consideration. Do I have the money, do I have the support of others, is it safe, is my plan complete? My whole family used to live in Japan and my parents, especially my dad, made many sacrifices to bring my siblings and I to the U.S. to learn English. It was his decision back then to choose if he was willing to give up his job, money, energy, and so much more for us and for our future. Taking that risk needed a lot of courage and thoughts throughout the process, but he helped shape me into who I am today. Each person holds the power to decide when to make the sacrifice in an attempt to achieve their goals and dreams, not anyone else. 

To know that life requires us to work hard and make sacrifices is going to have a positive effect on each individual’s life. The majority of us will have to potentially make momentous sacrifices along the way in social situations, personal relationships, careers, or health. Even so, the experiences and the life lessons one learns is going to completely change a person from who they were yesterday. To decide when to sacrifice, you have to be willing to give up your short-term pleasure and security for your long-term happiness. Whether that will be for you, or for someone you cherish, you must be ready to pay that price in full until it comes back in folds. Sacrifice while you’re at it, for the greater good and for your own good. 

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