Bankrupting Your Future Self

Hurry! Flash sale! Today only!

How many times have you walked into a store and been made to feel like if you don’t act right now you will be missing out on the best deal of your life?

It's ironic, isn't it?

At every opportunity, we're bombarded with messages to act now before something we’re told we should value disappears forever. The pop-wellness community constantly touts the importance of "living our best lives," yet we often feel like we're missing out on something essential. This feeling is, in a way, the very definition of FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out, one of the oldest tricks in the book.

Savvy salespeople play into our innate human desire for inclusion and fear of exclusion. After all, for much of human history, being ostracized meant certain death. Social isolation (self-imposed or not) increases the risk of depression, anxiety, heart disease, stroke, dementia, psychological disorders, obesity, a weakened immune system, and a host of other ailments - even early death.

If you go to a car dealership, an especially skilled salesman will try to convince you that if you walk away, the price of the car will almost certainly double tomorrow - the deal is today only. Talk to a life insurance representative and he will sell you on the fear of your loved ones being unprepared in the event of an unexpected death or accident. Heck, when I worked at Bath and Body Works, we were instructed to tell customers that our sales changed every day and if you wanted the lotion for Buy 3 Get 3 Free or candles at $11.95, you’d better fill up the basket now because they’re sure to vanish overnight.

And it worked!

FOMO is a powerful motivator, and we all fall prey to it from time to time, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. FOMO has served plenty of sociological functions, especially in our early development. Nowadays, it’s most often associated with financial implications. Walk away from this deal, and you’ll lose $2,000. Leave now, and this candle will never be back in stock. Say no today and the price will double tomorrow.

But what about the cost of neglecting your health and wellbeing for 30 years? What's the cost of ignoring the signs that your body is struggling to keep up?

• Waking up tired and never feeling rested?

• Feeling like you're always rushing from place to place?

• Never having enough time for yourself because you're always doing something for someone else?

• Showing up to a job you tolerate at best for 8+ hours per day, only to collapse on the couch because you're mentally exhausted?

• What’s the cost of denying yourself doing the things you love with the people you love?

What’s the cost of only having one hour a day, one day a week, or one vacation a year where you actually feel like yourself?

Maybe you're like me and you've been trained to think in dollars and cents about everything. When there's no clear dollar ratio, it can be difficult to evaluate the cost of “missing out” when it comes to subjective, ambiguous concepts like “health.” Let me break down what a complacency budget might look like in your life.

Which of these sounds familiar:

• $400/month on eating out because you're too tired or too lazy to cook.

• $500/month on "retail therapy" because it's the only way you can feel in control or because you don't trust yourself with money.

• $600/month on doctors' appointments, medications, pills, sleep aids, alternative therapies, weight loss treatments, or supplements to treat symptoms (bloating, muscle soreness, headaches, or lack of energy) and ignore the root cause.

• $200/month on groceries you don't eat because you don't have a plan.

• $40/month on a gym membership you barely use.

• $60/month on streaming subscriptions to numb the boredom.

How about $20,000 on knee replacement surgery because you chose the couch and a coldie over functional movement?

What about aging so poorly that you spend your twilight years bed-ridden and in progressive assisted care?

The list goes on, but I'm not here to scare you. The point is to illuminate that the cost of complacency extends far beyond your monthly budget — your relationships, job performance, even your retirement plans are all reflections of your overall wellbeing. I'm not naive enough to think a "good life" means spending all your money on organic produce, yoga retreats, and wellness books. But ask yourself: why are you spending money on Netflix, Chipotle, and protein powder you don't drink? Is it supporting the life you are actively choosing, or distracting you from the life you have?

Imagine how much better you would show up if you were well-rested, nourished, and moving in healthy ways. How much better would your day-to-day be if you felt in control of your health and empowered to make decisions that supported your happiest, wealthiest self?

As the saying goes, "You can pay now, or pay later." You can continue to numb the discomfort, treat the symptoms, and microdose living. No one is stopping you. You just have to be willing to pay the price. 

If you're tired of paying for a life that doesn't feel like how you thought it would, then it's time to invest in building a life on your terms.

I have a few spots available in my 3-month coaching program, NeoNexus. My clients are building morning routines that start their day calmly, mindfully, and intentionally. One client is constructing an investment proposal for his business, and another is crafting a resume that attracts the job she wants. We're improving communication, physical fitness routines, and even meal plan structures. Whether you're looking to overhaul your day-to-day, change careers, or just find more joy with the people around you, let's get to work. Your first step is filling out the NeoNexus Onboarding Application. Or, if you want to jump on a call to see what this program could do for you, you can book a call with me here. 

Life happens one way or the other. Will you continue to let life happen to you, or are you going to decide life happens because of you?

Until next time, live uninterrupted.

~Coleman