Instant Gratification
Have you had the lovely experience of having your two year old throw a tantrum some where because they wanted something, and not only did they want something but they wanted it NOW?
Yes, here I am, sharing another embarrassing story on myself. I so clearly remember carrying my infant daughter in her car seat, with one hand, diaper bag hanging off my shoulder, and my two year old had a hold of my other hand. As we, along with a whole group of ladies that I was suppose to be enjoying lunch out with walked through the first doors of the restaurant, there was a vending machine with candy…of course right at eye level for a young child. It was lunch time, we were all hungry, my hands were over full and the brightly colored candy caught my toddlers eyes! You can picture it right?
You know what’s coming and at that moment I did too. He started to ask for it, first nicely, as I calmly tried to let him know that we were going in for lunch and he would be eating soon, his level of intensity rose and rose and rose!! Soon, he was in a full on melt down in the middle of a whole lot of other people. And to be honest, I was on the verge of one myself. He didn’t want to wait for lunch, he wanted…
Instant Gratification.
It happens with young children but not only them, us too, we can get caught in the “I want it NOW” trap. It’s a form of self sabotage.
Do you recognize any of these scenarios:
“I should get up 30 minutes earlier to get my workout done…but laying here in bed feels too good.”
“I need to prep my food to set myself up for success this week…but sitting here on the couch scrolling social media is easier.”
“I should order a tea with honey in the drive through…but that whipped cream topped foamy drink looks so tasty.”
Letting go of what we really want just to satisfy the instantaneous craving that hits us is common.
Here’s a few tips to help you let go of that deep down need for instant gratification so you can stay on track to your goals:
1: Have an accountability coach or partner. This is huge! Knowing that someone is keeping you accountable to your goals makes saying no to that instant gratification so much easier!! Be HONEST and write down EVERYTHING!!
2: Keep your goals in front of you. A strategy we haven’t talked about for a while, that you may find helpful…Have a picture of you at the size you want to be some where that you will see it often, or write out your goals and put them in places that you often look. Can both help you for go the Instant Gratification for the Long Term Results.
3: Celebrate when you forgo instant gratification. Each time you make the choice that is going to take you closer to your goals instead of caving in to the instant gratification, celebrate!! Be proud of yourself. This gives your brain a little shot of dopamine and helps make the good choice easier next time. A simple smile or a fist pump or saying out loud, “good work!” can go a long way!
4: Practice! By practicing forgoing instant gratification and pressing in to do the hard work to reach your goals you will get better and better at it and soon you will be at your goals and it will just be who you are! You are training your brain to develop self control and let go of the impulsive Instant Gratification.
On those days when you just don’t FEEL like doing the right thing
When you don’t feel like working out, when you don’t feel like choosing the apple instead of the donut, when you don’t feel like being the positive one in the conversation, remember the screaming toddler that’s trying to throw a fit and getting that instant gratification, you have to press through the discomfort and say have a chat with yourself. Always in a loving way, sometimes just a little more DIRECT!
I hope this helps you keep moving towards your goals!
💚 Elsa
