We live in a world filled with distractions. Everywhere we look, we can find instant pleasures available for next-day delivery right to our homes. In a culture surrounded by messages saying that we can lose the discomfort right now, delayed gratification, which refers to the ability to wait for a long-term reward, is less attractive. But research shows it makes all the difference in achieving a more important and satisfying goal.
Delayed gratification and instant gratification involve the timing and approach to achieving satisfaction or rewards. The former requires self-discipline and the ability to manage impulses, while the latter often involves giving in to immediate desires. An example of this could be when a young man chooses to resist the urge to splurge (挥霍) on luxury items and instead save money regularly and patiently to buy a house. The delayed gratification is the goal and satisfaction he would achieve from owning a dream home, rather than the instant delight of impulsive shopping.
Delayed gratification has to do with one's natural ability and environment and what one is taught. Learning to delay the impulse for immediate pleasure in favor of long-term satisfaction is a skill required for progressive and long-term growth. We can start by making small changes every day and staying consistent with those changes. Over time, these habits can accumulate and lead to big changes and results. Consistent reminders of why we want to reach our goals can also help.
If we were all masters at delayed gratification, our environment would not be filled with "quick" solutions to everything under the sun. Our culture demands that successful humans rise above the constant distraction to self-motivate and delay personal gratification in favor of distant goals. However, a balance between our thirst for instant rewards and our desire to create longevity in our career, relationships, and health is difficult to achieve. Our entire lives require that we weigh the choices of "okay right now" vs. "bigger better later". It takes a joint effort to override the environment to create our successful personal worlds.