Hello!
How are you doing?
Where are you on the deferment of gratification scale? The ability to delay gratification has been associated with a wide range of positive outcomes. Gratification delay in children predicts better scholastic performance and better coping skills
There are a variety of studies which look at the12 contexts of gratification:
1. I am good at saving my money instead of spending it at once.
2. I enjoy something more when I have to wait and plan for it.
3. When I was a child, I saved any pocket money that I had.
4. When I am in the supermarket, I usually buy a lot of things that I had not planned to buy.
5. I am constantly without money.
6. I agree with the philosophy: “Eat, drink, and be happy, for tomorrow we may all be dead”.
7. I would describe myself as often acting without thinking about my own good.
8. I often think that it is important to wait and think things over before deciding.
9. I like spending my money immediately after I get it.
10. It is hard for me to avoid losing my temper when someone “makes” me very angry.
11. Most of the time, it is easy for me to be patient when things keep me waiting.
12. I am good at planning things ahead
We can constantly hear those statements in our society. This is especially true for those who claim that we are slowly evolving towards instant gratification, but is it true? And do we do it in all contexts?
Are there moments when instant gratification is good? And how do we “tame” that impulse for our own benefit?
- Look at the implications for the future
Assess each situation for its own merits, by considering its impact, time frame, and importance on you and those around you - Understand your motivation
When you “want to do something”, are you trying to demonstrate something to somebody else? Will your actions benefit others in any way? Will it make you happy? - Keep the eye on the prize
Some endeavours take time (for example, university degrees or starting up a business from scratch). It takes additional discipline to hold out for longer periods to achieve the desired long-term results. Keeping an eye on the end goal and asking yourself, is the wait worth the gain? Assessing that the wait and focus is a valid task, this encourages you to persevere at the task in hand. - Treat yourself
There’s no need to give absolutely everything up, “life is too short”. Look for the balance: what can you do that allows you to enjoy the present without compromising the future? Choose the time and the type of treats carefully, ensuring you are not putting your end goal at risk
With most things in life, there are choices, and each choice has an action and/or a consequence. Even the apparent wait and see can have unintended effects on the end goal. Make sure that the decisions you are making are right not only for you but for those around you too
One of my coaching teachers used to say “You can pay now, or you can pay later, but one way or the other you are always going to pay!”, my question is.. Which is the best way?
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