Member-only story
Delayed Gratification
Its in the small print
We hear much of the infamous dopamine hit which motivates us to doom scroll on our mobile devices — hit me with another one. The chief motivation is to avoid the crash you experience when you stop. It is particularly problematic when you are scrolling in the bed, not simply because you’re tempted to delay your much needed sleep but also because you’re working against your body’s own natural hormonal triggers.
The gastronomic equivalent is fast food which plays havoc with your blood sugar levels and, again, interrupts your body’s natural processes which are coordinated throughout all bodily functions.
Your body coordinates extremely complex and remarkably efficient processes which can normally handle the odd binge but struggles immensely when immediate gratification is demanded on a regular basis.
While delayed gratification can have a moral dimension it’s simply good practice and when your happy place isn’t being continually crashed it works much more efficiently.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick
Proverbs 13:12
Hope and delay
Learning patience, along with delayed gratification, is a great regulator. Most of life’s greatest rewards tarry. A gold medal doesn’t come from one session at the gym and winning…
