DECEMBER: The Long-term You and the Short-term You
Every woman is carrying something hard — often quietly, often with great courage. When life feels heavy, it can seem as if there is only one version of you enduring it all: the you who is tired, hurting, overwhelmed, or simply doing her best to make it through the day.
But in truth, there are two of you. There is the short-term you — the “now” you, the “immediate” you, the one who feels everything intensely and wants relief, comfort, or certainty. And there is the long-term you — the “becoming” you, the “ultimate” you, the woman you are quietly shaping through each choice, each shift, each moment of courage. Loving yourself means loving both of these women.
If you only honor the immediate you — letting her chase what soothes, distracts, or brings quick comfort — it can sometimes come at the expense of the woman you are becoming. And yet, even missteps and heartbreaks in the short term can be profound teachers that ultimately serve the long-term you. Every stumble offers a moment of course correction, realignment, and growth.
This conversation is a reminder that we are not alone in the hard things and that somewhere inside each of us is a compass pointing toward the life we want most, which often lies on the road we avoid the most.
Name one thing the “immediate” you wants, even if you know it might not serve the “long-term” you.
What do you love about that short-term desire? What does it reveal about your needs or longing?
What is one course correction you know would serve the long-term you even if it’s hard? What feels like the hardest part of making that shift?
Think of a time you slipped or made a choice the long-term you wasn’t proud of. How did you rise again? What turned the tide?
As you hear others share, what do you notice? What resonates with your story?
Takeaways.