You do not have to take

Really that just dawned on me in my last game. I am playing d4. I got a Nf6 so played c4 when I got a c5. My initial thought was to take because c5 was hanging but thought no what would I normally do to either a c5 or e5? I pushed d5 and got a good game. Of course by good game I mean I won lol.

I need to keep telling myself that I do not need to take. Long term central positional advantage is better than a pawn.

It came to mind during the game because of this video.

YouTube