Here are some of the benefits of waiting for what you want, as well as techniques for becoming more patient.
Benefits of Delaying
Gratification
1. Improve your academic and job performance. Studies show that kids who learn to delay
gratification get better grades and higher SAT scores. These gains
usually continue throughout life, making them more satisfied and successful in
their careers as well.
2. Enhance your relationships. As our
patience increases, we become less vulnerable to anger and its tendency to
drive others away from us. We learn to look at the big picture and take other's
feelings into account.
3. Become more physically fit. Studies
also show that those less practiced at delayed gratification, or "low
delayers," tend to have higher body fat. If you appreciate the long-term
benefits of nutritious food and regular exercise, you're less likely to
overindulge in junk food.
4. Lower your risk of substance abuse. Drug
addiction can be one of the most painful consequences of seeking immediate
pleasure. Even legal activities like shopping or watching TV can be destructive
if we take them to extremes and allow them to crowd out more meaningful
endeavors.
5. Enjoy more contentment. Self-control enables us to set goals and focus
our energies on reaching them. We can make better choices, accomplish
more, and handle setbacks better.
Techniques for Delaying
Gratification
1. Recognize the complexity of your mind. Many
mental health experts now speak in terms of interactions rather than fixed
personality traits. Try to identify the circumstances where you have trouble resisting
temptation rather than labeling yourself as being weak. This can be
helpful in making constructive changes in your life.
2. Divert your attention. Just turning your attention away from the cheesecake or the remark you
find annoying will instantly make you a little happier and better behaved.
The more you learn to control your thinking, the wiser you will become.
3. Take a pause. Pausing for a second can
help you avoid reflexive responses that run against your best interests. Decide
if it's more important to see your kids or spend another hour at the office. Take
that morning run rather than sleeping for another half hour if the exercise
gives you more energy and keeps you healthier.
4. Think ahead. You can live in the moment
and still be responsible about planning for the future. Find the balance that
works for you.
5. Experiment with visualization. When
you've fallen in love with a pair of shoes that are too much for your budget,
picture them as just a picture lacking any real substance. They'll be easier to
forget.
6. Contemplate impermanence. If such
visualizations sound artificial, think about impermanence. Those $400 shoes
could get scuffed the first time you wear them, but setting that money aside
for retirement could give you a much better future.
7. Seek out good role models. Child psychologists
find peer modeling to be a highly effective tool for character education.
Whatever your age, pick up some valuable lessons by observing someone whose
patience you admire.
8. Reinforce your new habits. Self-control grows stronger the more we practice.
Have fun finding the strategies that work best for you. Look for daily
opportunities to delay gratification, whether it's a monthly savings plan or
transforming those late-night snacks into a more nutritious breakfast.
Throughout your life, you're likely to spend a lot of your
time waiting, so you might as well become good at it. Being able to delay
gratification is one of the most important qualities you need to reach your
goals. Fortunately, this is a skill that improves with practice!
Like my posts? Please follow me on Facebook or Instagram under Recovery Enthusiast. I also have a podcast on Anchor and Spotify under Motivations 4U. I'm also on YouTube; you can follow my journey. And if you really can't get enough of me, you can check out my courses on recoveryenthusiast.com
As always, stay
blessed and live your life Enthusiastically!!
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