| Definition Delayed Gratification is simply the ability to delay our impulses for an immediate want to wait for a bigger reward later. |
The indicators to recognise people who are able to delay their gratification are as follows: –
- They carefully think through important decisions, and they support their theories with research and analysis.
- They are able to start and sustain their efforts in pursuing long term goals.
- They communicate efficiently, as they are able to withhold the impulse to react or respond, when feeling extreme emotions (happy, sad or angry).
As the saying goes “Patience young grasshopper! Good things come to those who wait!”
It is true, there are many benefits to waiting and delaying your gratification. However, it does not mean we should defer all enjoyment to a later date and resign ourselves to suffering through the now for a better tomorrow. The trick of the trade is balance, and ensuring you make conscious choices between your ‘want’ of immediate pleasure and ‘the need’ to delay gratification. This module attempts to do just that by: –
- Helping you know exactly what is delayed gratification.
- Why it is important to inculcate these practices in our lives.
- Understand the edge some people might have from a biological standpoint, and ways to catch up to them.
- Giving you steps, tools, methods and paths to take to help you practice delaying gratification, and
- Instill precepts of self-control and discipline in our lives
