Why Delayed Gratification Is Primary

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Brian Kight

Commit every fiber of yourself to mastering delayed gratification.

In 2022 and beyond, this is not something anyone can afford to ignore. Marketing, advertising, technology, and ease of access to satisfy any impulse have advanced too far, too fast. 

Wise people have forever taught delayed gratification as a path to excellence. While that’s still true, our context has changed dramatically from the past. 

Delayed gratification is no longer just a means to create wealth, reach maturity, or advance above & beyond. Instead, it’s become an undeniable necessity for baseline physical health, mental health, and quality of life.

The difference now is how invasive and available instant gratification is (compared to 20, 200, or 2,000 years ago), how completely and constantly it targets us, and how often we have to decide whether to give in or delay.

The most significant difference is the personal cost of failing to build this timeless discipline. In the past, average discipline in delayed gratification was enough to create a happy, fulfilling life. Today, average discipline in delayed gratification is barely enough to hold a life together and is absolutely capable of destroying a life.

The world around us has changed. Therefore so have the requirements of us to manage ourselves well within it. The standard of discipline is higher now. Much higher. The sooner you acknowledge this, the sooner you can adjust to meet rapidly evolving demands.

You won’t be perfect. Neither will I. We don’t need to be perfect, but we do need to be great at delayed gratification if we want happiness in our lives, fulfillment in our days, and excellence in our efforts.

Answer the call. Do the work.

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