Instant Gratification vs. Delayed Gratification | Hit Your Body Goals with Delayed Gratification.
Updated: Sep 16, 2022
Instant gratification is so satisfying. That sweet ice cream at the end of the night REALLY hits the spot, and you feel immediate instant gratification of sugar hitting your brain. On the flip side, however, you don't feel the negative effects of the ice cream. You don't gain any weight after that first ice cream. You don't instantly bust out of your jeans (who wears jeans anymore right now anyways?) BUT...the sum of many of these decisions that satisfy instant gratification DO add up. After a few months of giving in to that instant gratification, maybe you do gain a few pounds. Maybe your pants don't fit like they used to. Maybe you lose that confidence you had when you were leaner.
Let's say that you do make the decision to resist the ice cream. You don't get the "reward" instantly when you say no. When you decide to go for a run vs. sit in the couch and eat Doritos, you don't instantly lose 5 pounds. It is delayed. The payoff or the reward for the healthier choices is DELAYED GRATIFICATION.
Do you see where I'm going with this? Unhealthy choices typically = instant gratification. Ex. ice cream, eating the chips instead of going for a run, etc. Healthy choices typically = delayed gratification. Ex. hitting the gym for 2 weeks in a row or ditching ice cream for a month...you don't see the payoff from these. They are delayed.
My point with calling out instant vs. delayed gratification is to ask you one very important question.
That question is, "Who are you casting a vote for with you choices"?
Whether it's the choice to go to the gym, ditch the ice cream, drink water instead of soda, or say no to that extra glass of wine, is the choice you are making casting a vote for the CURRENT YOU (aka instant gratification)? Is the choice you are making casting a vote for the FUTURE YOU (aka delayed gratification)?
Each and every choice we make each meal, each day, each week does add up. You will not instantly feel the payoff from the healthy choices. The reward is delayed. Let me tell you, though, casting a vote for the future version of you is going to pay off in the long run. The 'interest' will compound and you will see a return so high off of your investment, you'll be rolling in it.
If you want to dive a little deeper on this topic, listen to episode 71 of The Fit Life with Jessica Podcast Here.
Think about this. Think about resisting the temptation. Consider saying no or delaying that gratification so that you can cast a vote for the future version of you. The highest vibe, healthiest, most energized version of you.
SHE will thank you for it. Trust me.
