The uphill path has less traffic

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Naval Ravikant has a fascinating concept about decision-making that's worth exploring.

He calls them "uphill decisions" - deliberately choosing the harder path in the short-term because it typically leads to dramatically better outcomes over time.

This approach completely transforms how we might evaluate choices in life.

Uphill vs. Downhill Decisions

An uphill decision might be:

• Waking up at 5 AM to work on your side project

• Having that uncomfortable conversation instead of avoiding it

• Deleting social media apps that distract you

• Saying no to the project that pays well but drains your energy

A downhill decision is the opposite:

• Hitting snooze repeatedly

• Ghosting someone to avoid confrontation

• Reaching for your phone every time you feel bored

• Taking on work that pays the bills but leads nowhere meaningful

The fascinating thing is that most people intuitively understand which path is which. But knowledge isn't the problem—implementation is.

The Hidden Advantage

Making uphill decisions has a secret benefit beyond the obvious results: these paths are significantly less crowded.

While everyone rushes downhill, choosing the challenging route gives you space to work without the intense competition that comes with easy paths.

Perhaps this explains why some people achieve seemingly impossible things - they're not necessarily more talented, just more willing to consistently make difficult choices others avoid.

I saw this play out recently with two friends who started similar businesses. One took every shortcut available - outsourced the core work, used AI-generated content, and prioritized quick growth tactics. The other built slowly, developed real expertise, created original material, and focused on quality over speed.

Two years later, the first business struggles against countless similar competitors, while the second has become the go-to authority in its niche. The uphill path created a moat that's now nearly impossible for competitors to cross.

The Compounding Effect

What makes uphill decisions so powerful is that they compound over time.

Each difficult choice builds on the previous one. The first few uphill decisions might show minimal returns but continue long enough, and the results become exponential.

Think about health. The first few weeks of consistent exercise feel like pure effort with little reward. But after months and years, the compounded benefits are enormous - not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too.

The same applies to learning difficult skills, building relationships, saving money, and creating meaningful work. The pain comes early; the rewards come later and multiply.

Breaking the Short-Term Bias

Our brains are wired to prefer immediate rewards over future benefits. Psychologists call this "temporal discounting" - we discount the value of future rewards compared to present ones.

This made perfect sense in prehistoric times when survival demanded immediate returns. But in today's world, where long-term thinking creates the greatest advantages, this instinct works against us.

To override this bias, I've started using a simple mental model: imagining my future self as a different person I'm responsible for helping.

When I'm tempted to make a downhill decision, I ask: "Am I being fair to my future self, or am I stealing from them to benefit my present self?"

Framing choices this way makes the long-term consequences feel more real and immediate.

Making It Practical

Here are some ways I've applied the uphill decision concept:

Work: I now batch my most challenging tasks at the beginning of the day rather than clearing easy tasks first. While it feels harder, I've noticed my creative output has significantly improved.

Health: Instead of pushing exercise to "when I have time," I schedule it first and work around it. Initially, this created scheduling stress, but now my energy and focus are much better for important work.

Relationships: I've started addressing small tensions immediately rather than letting them slide. These conversations feel awkward at first but prevent much larger issues down the line.

Learning: I've replaced casual reading with more challenging material that requires full concentration. It's less immediately enjoyable but provides insights I can actually apply.

The Key Question

The next time you face a decision, ask yourself:

"Am I avoiding this option purely because it's uncomfortable in the short term?"

If the answer is yes, that's your signal. Your discomfort might be pointing toward your greatest opportunity for growth.

This week, identify one uphill decision you've been avoiding and commit to climbing it. The view from the top is always worth the effort.

Until next time,

Raihan | Mindful Maven