Sacrificing to succeed
“He who would accomplish little need sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much.”
— James Allen
Reflection
James Allen teaches that sacrifice is not an unfortunate requirement but a spiritual law woven into every form of progress. Nothing great is gained without giving something up. When a person chooses to achieve more, they must release whatever prevents that growth—old habits, familiar comforts, wasted hours, and the subtle distractions that quietly erode momentum.
Sacrifice forces clarity. It asks: What do you want badly enough to change for? What vision is strong enough to reorder your daily life? When you sacrifice intentionally, you stop living by impulse and begin living by purpose. You exchange the immediate for the meaningful.
Many people desire success but resist the discomfort that precedes it. They want the fruit without tending the soil. Yet every meaningful achievement is built on disciplined choices—small, repeated surrenders that accumulate into strength.
Sacrifice is not loss. It is investment. It is the willingness to lay down what is good in order to rise toward what is great. And with every act of sacrifice, you affirm that your future is worth the price.
Achievement is not mysterious. It is the harvest of sacrifice—chosen, repeated, and honored day after day.
And that’s worth thinking about.
— Vic Johnson
Putting It Into Practice
- Name one sacrifice that would meaningfully move your progress forward.
- Replace a low-value activity with a high-value action today.
- Clarify how achieving your goal will justify the sacrifice required.
One Question To Ponder
What are you willing to release so you can rise?
Get Weekly James Allen E-Meditations
Each week we send a short, powerful meditation based on James Allen’s writings.
Think better. Live better.