Immediate Versus Delayed Gratification

[diwana]

Re: Immediate Versus Delayed Gratification

@inspiron

See i think some people arent wired to even think that saving will give them gratification, if that makes sense.

For example with myself im not going to use a money example but lets say a food example.

There is a piece of rich fat delicious chocolate cake infront of me. I want that chocolate cake, i might know somewhere at the back of my head that if i eat this cake now it will not be good for my health, but i dont even think ‘maybe i will feel good if i resist the temptation’ my brain doesnt get that far it just thinks ’ i want that cake and i want it now’ and the impulsivity takes over.

Nothing wrong in having temptation to something. What one does and how one satisfies the needs is one may need to focus on.

@X2

I am usually not seen as a religious person, but this is among those areas that when religion talks about aitedaal..or balance, it applies to all aspects of your life. I intentionally dont use religious examples because in my experience then discussions go on a tangent (btw diwana if you are reading this that is why i did not specify the perfect example we all have in that other thread)

There are a lot of impulses, and in some cases being impulsive is perfectly fine…one can not be a miserable miser never enjoying anything, never doing anything spur of the moment, never indulging…a monastic lifestyle where you eschew all or most gratifications.

so some times is it perfectly fine…even better to indulge…so you dont say no to yourself at all times, but then at the same time saying, well I just had a big slice 2 days ago, and I want to fit well in my clothes for the wedding this summer or feel healthy or whatever it is to remind yourself of the future good of saying no right now. Or a balance approach where you take a small portion ..a few bites rather than a big slice.

I remember one of my good friends from college who always used to say..dont deny yourself your choti choti khawahish…there are many things in life we want or wanted and it is not on the cards yet and may never be, but when you keep saying no to yourself, you are telling yourself you are not worth it. so indulge every so often. I started thinking that he is really a wise spiritual man..and then he changed the topic and started giving some other guy maan behen ki galiaan…kher..wisdom wherever you find it..right?

These choti choti khwahishan keep one going further.

The life then becomes similar to** fireworks theme**. (Or roller coaster fun ride theme)

Small firecrackers interruped perodically by the big ones… to make people anticipate for these bigger ones while still enjoying smaller happy moments.

@Niksik

I guess you just have to figure out how to balance them out.

A lot of people live paycheck to paycheck, never save up for the future. Been there done that. But then you grow up. We have needs now and will have needs later so you figure out what’s a now thing and what’s not. You have to have goals in life…like for everything, and reward system for those goals.

I don’t know if I made sense.

Yes, being aware of what is essential now and will be needed tomorrow is what can bring some balance.

@Nutwer

The ‘interest’ or ‘marginal benefit’ of consuming/using somthing tomorow and not today, plays a significant role in deciding whether to go ahead with an act of consumption.
For example; putting your money into the bank rather than consumeing it now depends on the ‘interest rate’ and the concording total sum of money you recieve tomorow. If you value what you recieve tomorow higher than what you have today, then you will save. Otherwise you will not save.
Therefore, if I value the version I get of a service tomorow higher than what I get = today + waiting time, I will use the service tomorow.

Good point. Bascially you described a rational approach for delaying gratification.

One must have some surplus money to be able to do that. What percentage HAS to be saved is different from what CAN be saved.

Obviousy to get to the point where one can have surplus amount of money to save, is based on prior planning.