How to Evaluate Your Life Decisions Through ROI So Even Soviet Grandmothers Would Approve

In the great tradition of Soviet problem-solving, where a single pickle jar could serve as a drinking glass, flower vase, and retirement fund, our grandmothers mastered the art of maximizing life's return on investment. While Silicon Valley churns out apps reminding us to breathe, grandmothers silently evaluate our life choices with the precision of a nuclear physicist and the warmth of a Siberian winter.

Let me tell you a secret: these masters of meaningful glances didn't just perfect the art of guilt-tripping you for not wearing a hat in May – they understood something profound about value that our modern "productivity gurus" miss in their examples about fucking coffee cups, avocado toast, and the spoiled generation.

The Ancient Art of Value Assessment (or Why Grandma Was Always Right)

The modern self-help industry tries to convince us that success comes after downloading yet another habit-tracking app or following a morning routine that could exhaust a military unit. Meanwhile, our grandmothers achieved enlightenment somewhere between fermenting cabbage and ensuring their grandchildren never experienced the tragedy of being "too skinny."

Four Dimensions

During a particularly torturous accordion lesson, when my enthusiasm for music rivaled a cat's love for water, my teacher shared a concept that, surprisingly, turned out to make more sense than most TED talks I've watched since:

Every decision can be viewed through a 4-dimensional space, probably nonsense from a physics perspective, but nevertheless.

1. Growth Potential (or "Does this expand your capabilities?")
   • Every new experience and skill is an investment in your abilities
   • Development is a continuous process of learning and adaptation
2. Energy Potential (or "Does it energize or drain you?")
   • Assess how much energy you get from an action or decision
   • Find balance between energy expenditure and replenishment
3. Future Alignment (or "Does this serve your future self?")
   • Every decision today shapes your tomorrow
   • Consider how this choice will affect your long-term goals
4. Joy Factor (or "Does this bring genuine satisfaction?")
   • Measure success not just in achievements, but in personal satisfaction
   • True value includes emotional well-being

If you want, you can draw bar charts and plot along the X-axis to make it seem less silly with the four-dimensional space. Hee-hee

Modern Application

Before dismissing this as another life hack that will gather dust alongside unused meditation apps, I already have 2 I don't know how to revive, consider this: every time you make a decision, you're standing at a crossroads in this 4-dimensional space. It's like playing chess, except instead of moving pieces, you're moving parts of your life while a chorus of judgmental grandmothers watches from the sidelines.

From Expenses to Investments: Transformation

Start viewing your choices through these four dimensions. That expensive coffee might be an expense in your bank account, but if it fuels a meeting that could expand your network (Growth), energizes your morning (Energy), works toward your goals (Future), and brings genuine pleasure (Joy) – congratulations, you've just transformed an expense into an investment that even the most skeptical grandmother would approve of.

Remember: ultimately, the best life ROI often comes from those things our grandmothers tried to teach us while we were too busy rolling our eyes. Sometimes the best way to increase productivity is to simply listen to the wisdom wrapped in a knitted scarf and seasoned with unsolicited advice about your choice of jacket in this weather.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go practice the accordion. Not because I want to, but because somewhere in the 4-dimensional space, my future self might say thank you. Though I seriously doubt it.

Just kidding, of course not, I hate it. But it's true that 8 years of studying at the gymnasium did something to my brain. The children who studied there had different eyes, as my mom's friend used to say. So basically, I'm that mom's friend's son. I don't know if you know this meme. That's all folks.

As always, I invite you to share your opinion in the comments
With love 😽 🤗 😘
K