Note: This article is taken from the blog of Varun Pahwa, and it helps us overcome our need for instant gratification.
Then we return to our responsibilities, but not even five minutes later, we find ourselves engrossed in those distractions again.
It's easy to give in to instant gratification, but this short-term reward can come at the expense of long-term goals and meeting them. The good news is that there are nine ways to overcome the "right now" mindset and become pleased with what you have.
Ways to overcome the "present moment" mindset
These ways are:
1. Knowing the reasons behind instant gratification
Allowing instant gratification to become a dominant part of your life comes from three reasons: habit, poor self-control, and lack of self-care.
Knowing these three reasons for instant gratification will help you recognize its risks and eliminate these problems. If you have these problems, you can become more aware of your habits. Once you realize that instant gratification is one of your bad habits, you can start doing something about it.
2. Taking control of your life
When I first decided to lose weight, I was surrounded by dozens of things I wanted to have. I imagined my ideal weight. My friends and family were trying to steer me away from my health goals, but I ignored their opinions and took hold of my life.
If I got up and went to the cafeteria and told my friends I had something healthy, they probably would've told me what a loser I am. Though I didn't have time for this, I had to eat the food I wanted. So, I took control of the food I wanted to eat.
3. Creating a plan
Dealing with problems without a plan can be difficult, but it'll help you more than anything else. Thinking things through in advance and planning will give you the required structure. When you develop a plan, you know what you want, your destination, and how to reach it. If you don't know where you're headed, you don't have a direction; if you have no direction, you won't know how to get there.
4. Embracing failure
Failure is the key to improvement and self-growth. An average person, within a decade, learns to do many things. In that decade, they learned to drive the car, play tennis, write, control the computer, read books, dance, etc. In the same decade, they know to fail, as they'll stumble and fall a lot before they master the skill they want. A culture of continuous work encourages us to have and do all the things we want.
Living in the instant gratification bubble can lead to impulsive behaviors, as all the problem-solving skills that come from failure, which leads to success and achievement, are a double-edged sword.
5. Stop comparing
Stop comparing yourself to others. It'll only make you feel less than you are. You're looking for shortcuts to improve yourself or your life right away. Be the best version of yourself, find contentment and motivation, focus on your own life and the happiness you want to feel and don't let anyone else's life drag you down or make you think that it's better than yours.
6. Practicing Mindfulness
Get over immediate gratification by practicing a mindful life. This means being patient and attentive to everything around you. Learn to pay attention to what you feel in your body, and imagine how you want to feel in this moment. What would you do to feel better? For example, if you're working towards better fitness, check how you're handling your body and think of the food you need to eat to feel healthy and strong.
7. Learn to say No
We've all been told "no" one way or another throughout our lives, and there is a big difference between the results of "yes" and "no." If you say "yes" to something not tailored for you, it'll only hold you back, and I'm not sure where this might lead. This is why learning how to say "no" is important. You have to set boundaries in life and know when to ask for too much quickly and when to retreat and say "no."
8. Gaining another perspective
As tempting as instant gratification sounds, think about it for a second. Your relationship with food can be a great example, as going for fast food won't spoil your diet. Then, when does it become too much?
Many of us are so used to instant gratification that we always do it. It can be very tempting, you may even become a slave to a lifestyle of instant gratification.
9. Enjoy the moment
The next time you want to get something right away, stop and think about how you feel.
- Is it urgent or important?
- Does it serve a fundamental purpose in your life?
If it's urgent or important, you'll be able to solve it as soon as possible, but if not, give yourself a break. Most of us don't need the luxury of instant gratification. The beauty of enjoying the moment is that there's no time limit, you're born to learn, not to have fun or go after trivial things. What will happen tomorrow will be taken care of tomorrow, live your life and enjoy every second of it to the fullest.
In Summary
Instant gratification is the most common trap that gets you off track. Just like any other trap, temptation is easy, and the path is paved with lies. The moment you start following these steps, you'll become excited and empowered by your newly discovered energy. So don't be a victim of instant gratification. Be patient, and you'll get what you deserve.
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