The Art of Delaying Gratification

 

In today’s world, where our purchases are just a matter of one click and information is widely available and accessible, instantaneous gratification is a normal event. With a large number of smartphone users and PC with unlimited internet and network services, it is easy to get what you want at the exact time you want it. But instant gratification is not always a good option to resort to. You know, the decision of buying that awesome Nike shoe you just saw online or giving it up to save enough to buy your residential home in the future. It is essential for all and sundry to develop the skill of controlling urges and impulses in every life activity. When it comes to the achievement of a certain goal, usually long-term, the act of delaying gratification will help you get it done more than anything else. 

In a real-world situation, truth be told, it’s unrealistic to actually get everything you want, let alone get it immediately. You also know that it is just an impression is a false one created by instant gratification that it is either you get it done now or never. Hence the significance of learning the art of delaying gratification becomes important for you. It helps you buy more time in every situation to absorb the reality, learn from your mistakes, and thoughtfully come up with a whole lot of effective plans. What then is the concept of Delaying Gratification? And how can you develop this important skill?

A globally accepted as well as a standard definition of delaying gratification is the ability of an individual to delay an urge or impulse for an instantaneous reward in order to be entitled or qualified for a better and more favorable reward at a later time. For most successful individuals, delaying gratification has been one of the key factors that they attribute their success to during interviews with them. For you to achieve a particular goal, you need to have a better understanding of what it takes to give up a short-term pleasure for a far-reaching, long-term goal. Even though it doesn’t always appear possible as the hormone-running route in the human body system is always overwhelmed by an available entity rather than that which is at a far-reaching end. 

The act of controlling yourself from getting engrossed in a pleasure that lasts for just a little period is a great virtue that, should you develop it right from an early stage in life, it would drive such person to a greater height. However, it is so unfortunate that the world we live in today only sends discouraging messages that the chances are that you can lose the comfort now and forever. Simply put, the common and rampant saying that “It is either now or never” has rendered waiting for a long-term reward less attractive. 

Nevertheless, it is still important to make it known that delaying gratification is a muscle that you, I and every human being should grow to serve our future selves better. In most cases, it is more beneficial an option to get comfortable being uncomfortable. It is really not easy making a choice between getting the new latest pair of shoes or saving for your dream home.

Also, the terms self-regulation, self-control, and delayed gratification are three different phrases commonly used interchangeably. As stated earlier, the act of delaying an impulse or urge for a current and present reward in order to create an avenue for a future reward that’s far better than the present one in all ramifications is known as delayed gratification. Reports of studies have shown that the most successful people (in a particular set of respondents) are those that trained themselves to delay gratification. Self-control is a subcategory of self-regulation which stands like the foundation on which others are laid. Likewise, underneath self-control lies some separate entities such as impulse control and resilience to one’s ego, which sum up together in the process of delaying gratification. It is noteworthy to emphasize that the position of delaying gratification lies in between these two entities (impulse control and ego resiliency).

There is a gradual increase in the delay of gratification in an individual over a lifespan. That is, it is an infinite occurrence that takes place throughout a lifespan. It all starts when an individual is young when they tend to go through a fit or make a fuss when there is a little delay in their eating time. It is part of human nature and the attribute of the physical body to identify and even present pleasure as what we need in order to survive. Important things such as sleep, water, sex, food, and many others are needed for the survival of humankind and the prevention of extinction. Thus, it flows in our vein that enjoying these things is much more important and shouldn’t be delayed for anything. 

On a final note, it might seem tempting during the course of developing self-control to build as much strength as you can by denying yourself of anything and everything that comes with pleasure. It is likewise obsolete to deny yourself a reward you have earlier promised yourself; that’s a trick. Your brain always looks out for consistency to make its decision, so adopting that method might, in turn, develop another bad trait in the name of learning to delay gratification.