Why Delayed Gratification is the Most Essential Life Lesson
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Impatience is one of my most fatal flaws as an individual, always wanting something to happen now, whether getting an assignment done, wanting an event to happen sooner, or feverishly tapping my foot until a machine is open at the gym. Impatience has flooded my psyche throughout my whole life, and while it has fueled me to get work done quicker and push for success faster, it has compiled an anxiety within me that never relents. Conversely, over time, I’ve adjusted to the notion that solely trying to rush through life prevents a sense of delayed gratification. Not giving yourself these moments of patience when waiting for a desired expectation can lead to a feeling of always feeling behind, needing to have everything done with your future planned out right now. The primary issue one can face when dealing with focusing on trying to bulldoze through life is never really getting to live in the present moment of progress, to genuinely sit into every phase of growth to delve into its full potential. Allowing yourself to be dragged by tasks or ignoring them out of overwhelm prevents us from delving into each of our stages, rather than cutting them short due to impatience.
If you’re unclear on delayed gratification, my definition encompasses focusing your actions toward improving your future self, whether this is through doing a task with entire presence rather than being on autopilot or choosing to face your emotions head-on rather than going on your phone as a mechanism to distract from these feelings of discomfort. I'm sure anyone can say that they have experienced a critical decision where they had to choose whether to stay comfortable in their stagnant everyday pattern or if they needed to push to make some overwhelming shift in their life. However, I want to argue that focusing on delayed gratification is when you choose discipline for the actions that nobody sees. Instead of rushing to complete a task half-ass just to get it done, truly taking the time to put in your full effort will aid you in the long run. It's a small win that no one acknowledges but you. No one else is seeing if you wrote something out yourself or if you just quickly used ChatGPT. No one sees if you skip the gym for a few days just because you aren't feeling it. No one sees it but you. Keeping these daily promises to yourself establishes higher self-esteem and trust, knowing that you do what you promise yourself you will do. This higher self-esteem and trust establish that even though the moment may seem minuscule or a simple action change can feel futile, it blossoms into a brand new aspect of yourself over time. These habits breed self-confidence.
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It is not just the results from going to the gym four times a week that breed security in the self; it is in the act that we draw this sense of oneness. Every time you do a task you thought you couldn’t complete, you are practicing delayed gratification—having gone through difficulty at the moment to allow the future self to be in a more optimal position. Delayed gratification doesn’t necessarily come from completing physical or mentally taxing duties. You can curate a higher standing for the next day just by planning your outfit or setting aside the food you want to eat ahead of time. By doing these smaller obligations ahead of time, you are giving your future self moments to breathe and take your time the following day to feel confident that you put in the thought to arrive as your optimal self.
By quieting down the constant distractions that play out in our everyday life and bringing back intention with each of our actions, we gain back the sense of direction in our lives, understanding that delayed gratification allows us to familiarize ourselves with the duality of existence. Going through the cycle of putting in the time and energy to compile our daily habits into fruition, and going through each day without self-judgment for not completing everything on our to-do list. The significance behind each cycle is not rushing it. You want to achieve the next stage of your journey, knowing that you are fully committed to each instance of the present; even mundane moments teach us appreciation for the next cycle of gratification. Practicing self-discipline is a lifelong commitment to your development and having this authentic awareness of holding yourself accountable and having this grace because one day of unalignment does not equate to failure. It's a chance to trust yourself and know you will return to the flow even if it doesn’t feel ideal. Your future self will find a sense of gratitude.
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Whether seen by others or not, every act of discipline is an investment in ourselves. Overall, these consistent actions over time build into our individual growth. Giving ourselves a chance to embrace the imperfection of each chapter of life. Balancing this ambition to achieve more for yourself while providing space for progress that isn’t in haste. Ultimately, delayed gratification offers the opportunity to slow down, embrace each stage of evolution, and approach life with intention and purpose, knowing that each step, whether the most ideal or not, brings our behaviors closer aligned to our inner selves.
Strike Out,
Author: Emily Montarroyos
Editor: Lindsey Limbach
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