It can be easy to look at others and desire to have their lifestyle, their success—perhaps even their character—and yet be oblivious to what these things actually cost.

It’s like the musician or writer who worked diligently 20 years before she became an “overnight success.” We often focus on the “success” part, and forget about the years—even decades—of grueling practice it took to get there.

There is alway going to be trade-offs. And anything worth having is going to cost us something. The question is, Is the price required one we’re willing to pay?