We know — it has been measured in many experiments — that children with strong impulse control grow to be better adjusted, more dependable, achieve higher grades in school and college and have more success in their careers than others. Success depends on the ability to delay gratification, which is precisely what a consumerist culture undermines. At every stage, the emphasis is on the instant gratification of instinct. In the words of the pop group Queen, “I want it all and I want it now.” A whole culture is being infantilised. .Jonathan Sacks
About This Quote
In the face of a world that is increasingly dominated by instant gratification, we have forgotten how to delay gratification, a skill that is essential to personal and professional success. The ability to delay gratification is not necessarily something we were born with. It has been developed over time as part of our personality. When we were young, each course of action had a consequence for us and we chose the course of action that was best for us.
As we grew older, we learned that sometimes there was no direct correlation between how we chose to act and the consequence we received. Some courses of action led to success and some did not. As we matured, we learned that what worked in our life may not necessarily work in others and vice versa.
Each time we chose a course of action, the idea was to learn from the outcome and adjust our choices accordingly. Unfortunately, many children are now being raised in a consumerist society where instant gratification is highly valued. When they want something, they want it right now and there is no point trying to delay gratification.
If you want something bad enough, you will find a way to get it even if that means doing something underhanded or unethical to achieve your goal. And this is exactly what kids who live in such an environment learn: There is no point waiting because doing so will only lead to failure and frustration.
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