Desire for instant gratification dulls desire to experience life's journey

Suzanne Mercier - Tuesday, May 18, 2010

So many of us are into instant gratification.  We buy things when we don't have the money, just the credit.  What happened to lay-by?  We want a health practitioner to fix our health problems in an instant when they reflect a lifetime of indulgences.  I remember wanting to play guitar, picking it up and getting frustrated because I didn't get it immediately.  Needless to say, I don't play guitar now - something I still regret although not enough to do something about it.  No, we're not good at waiting for much at all.  If we have a problem, we want it solved NOW!

It's the same with personal development.  We want to be "better" now.  We don't want to go through the pain and angst of the journey during which we uncover the layers of garbage we've covered ourselves in - the masks, the protective mechanisms, the double brick defenses.  But unless we're willing to go on the journey, nothing changes.  Remember the definition of insanity?  Well, wanting things to be different in our lives but not being willing to change what we do is just that.

How can we get past the self-imposed limitations and how can we see who we truly are and what we're capable of if we're not willing to go on the journey?  Yes, the journey involves entering the unknown.  We know what it feels like to be who we are in the world right now.  We don't know what it will mean to be real. 

In my experience, the journey is filled with challenges, certainly.   Unlearning old habits isn't easy.  It can take a while before we pick up what's happening and then give ourselves the choice to change it.  The journey isn't always pretty - crucial and real conversations ask a lot of us.  The upside though is an increased liking of myself, a lighter feeling, more joy for no apparent reason.  So, yes, this journey has its challenges.  The upside, though, is so much more than I had ever imagined.  And I'm even getting a handle on the instant gratification because I do think it stops us from making the tough decisions that come along the road.

What do you think?  I'd love to hear.
All the very best
Suzanne