Imagine you are guided into a bare room and abandoned with one marshmallow, which you can eat at anytime. But if you do not eat it until the facilitator returns, you will be given one more marshmallow. What would you do? Eat the one immediately? Or wait a few minutes for two?
This experiment has been conducted on countless squirming children. And hilarity usually ensues. The temptation for the yummy marshmallow is most times too overwhelming for the youngsters. As seen in this cute and often hilarious video:
The underlying concepts of the marshmallow experiment holds true for your life as well. Do you have a marshmallow you’re dying to eat? However, if you hold off, is there another one waiting?
The Moral of the Story
It is often very easy to accomplish a portion of your desires. But, in turn, blow it just as quickly. Knowing all too well that you should have reinvested your success back into your dreams.
Put in other words, we all have that inner child in us, begging for that marshmallow. However, our level of self-control will directly affect our ability to accomplish any goal. And earn that second tasty marshmallow.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Bradley,
I agree. We too frequently fall for short-term gains rather then go for the longer-term and more sustainable benefits. That’s human nature.
The trick is to remain focused on our vision or long-term goals. Now that’s a real challenge. But as I wrote in one of my post, I think we need to keep that vision close by so that we can review and act on it everyday.
Love your blog.
Michel J. Gagnon´s last blog ..Be All that You Can Be
Exactly!
The method I use to combat cashing in early is visualizations and affirmations. Everyday I look at pictures and imagine myself enjoying my dream goals. For instance, I am a car fanatic. And one of my main goals is to own, free and clear, an Aston Martin. So I have a picture of the car as the background on my iPhone with the words “What are you doing to achieve this?”
Thanks for the comment Michel!
That’s a great tip. I’ll try it out.
Michel J. Gagnon´s last blog ..Be All that You Can Be
So cute! And I have to say I admire the little red haired girl who nommed down the first marshmallow straight away . . . she knew what she wanted and seemed perfectly happy with her choice!
Of course, you have to reinvest and be patient, but where do you draw the line? What would have happened if the lady would have re-entered the room, put the second marshmallow on the plate and then told them if they waited again, they’d get four marshmallows? And then eight? At what point does reinvesting and delaying gratification for more rewards become losing sight of the goal? You have to allow yourself a marshmallow sometimes!
Tammy´s last blog ..The State of Online Video
Great points Tammy! I would have to say that knowing when to cash in is an extremely tough one. I imagine that you would ultimately determine it “from the gut.” In other words, when it feels right.
Thanks for the comment!