Yes My Friend, we live in an environment where it’s all about me, my needs being satisfied, and I want those needs to be met immediately. I also don’t really care about the consequences of my actions, as long as I receive my ‘Instant Gratification’. What a really sad commentary this is on our modern day society. Everyone wants the best, and incidentally there’s nothing wrong whatsoever with that; however, it’s what people do to get what they want, which is where the problem comes in. People want their rewards immediately, they want ‘Overnight Success’ without putting in the time and effort to eventually succeed. They’re looking for ‘Instant Success’ and thus do anything to get it, including illegal matters , which so often ends up with them spending the time they were not prepared to put into worthwhile pursuit, in prison for their dishonest actions.
In today’s crazy world, so many spend their days in pursuit of ‘Instant Gratification’, and My Friend, it’s contributing to a whole lot of stress for everyone. A person wants to feel good, feel happy immediately, without realizing that ‘Happiness is a byproduct’ and not a pursuit in itself. So drugs of one kind or another are used with deadly effects, on not only the one who takes the drugs, but on society as a whole. Drug use is one of the major contributing factors to violent crime, in our previously peaceful communities.
Another byproduct of people seeking ‘Instant gratification’, without caring about the consequences of their actions, is the vast number of kids with single parents, many of whom become delinquents, further exacerbating the crime problem worldwide. Yes My Friend, people have got to be taught to be much more responsible for their actions, and to sometimes put their gratification ‘On Hold’ in the best interests of, not only themselves, but society as a whole.
I guess that it’s a matter of A. Understanding exactly how life works, thereby understanding that for real and lasting happiness, everything has to be earned, and that takes time, and B. We need to diligently practice ‘Self Discipline’ as we go about our daily activities, which will deter us from constantly opting for the easy way out, the path of ‘Instant Gratification’.
In Scott Peck’s great book ‘ The Road less Traveled’ in the Chapter dealing with ‘Discipline’, he writes as follows “Delaying gratification is a process of scheduling the pain and pleasure of life in such a way as to enhance the pleasure by meeting and experiencing the pain first, and getting it over with. It is the only decent way to live”. That really puts it in perspective, doesn’t it? We’ve all heard that well-known saying ‘There’s no gain without the pain’ and I guess that Dr. Scott Peck was saying the same thing.
My Friend, if you want to be truly successful in everything which you undertake, and if you want your success to be permanent, please don’t take ‘Short Cuts’. Do the work necessary, instead of taking the easy way out, delay your gratification, and you’ll have a wonderful life.
THINK ABOUT IT!
