Simply put, you always get what you deserve because you always get what you get. It cannot be any other way. Please read the last portion of the sentence again: “You always get what you get.”

It’s our mind that affixes the idea of deserve to a set of facts in an effort to bend reality to our will. We fail to recognize that we are attempting to achieve a standard that does not exist.

“Deserve” is right up there with “Fair” - pie in the sky piety.

“He got what he deserved.” No, he got what he got. “I deserve better treatment than this.” No, you got the treatment you got, period. “But that’s not fair!”

Deserve is what you come up with when you judge reality. You may or may not be happy with the result, but it has nothing to do with being deserving - a condition we made up.

Deserve is a word we have confused with desire. We may desire to have something be the way that it isn’t, and that mindset often prods us to take action that moves us towards that goal in the future.

Deserve contains inertia. It keeps us stuck in the mindset of entitlement.

Here’s a real world example:

Why can’t people lose weight and keep it off? It’s not that they don’t logically comprehend the main concept of dieting - eat less and you’ll weigh less, they do.

Rather than adopting a moderated eating plan, they choose one that’s filled with all the things they can’t have. It’s only a matter of time before “Deserve” is having a second helping of dessert.

Just think of all the things you deserve that add to being stuck in place. “I deserve a few drinks after putting in a hard day’s work.” “I deserve to have that job that my co-worker got.” “I deserve better treatment from my spouse.”

Notice again that “Deserve” contains no action. It’s a static concept that keeps you stationary.

When you approach life from the viewpoint that you are entitled to nothing, you will craft plans that lead you to something. If you stick with the “I deserve” angle of view, you’ll just add another dollop of glue.

Start noticing how often “Deserve” shows up in your life, and you’ll begin to see you’re being held captive by this paralyzing perception.

Each time you notice, you weaken its hold. This allows you to move forward if you dare be so bold.

All the best,

John