365 Days With Self-Discipline: 365 Life-Altering Thoughts on Self-Control, Mental Resilience, and Success

Day 357: On the Rare Indulgenc e

Rare indulgence produces greater pleasure.

—Juvenal

 

357

Here’s  a  simple  trick  to  postpone  acting  on  a  temporary  urge:  tell

yourself that you’ll engage in it later, and your reward for postponing it will

be the greater pleasure it will give you.

I know, it sounds like an overly simplistic tip, but try it out.

I  regularly  tell  myself  that  I’ll  reward  myself  with  something  that  I

crave right now, but only after I finish my work or any other important (or

uncomfortable) task that I have to perform.

That  way,  I  stop  obsessing  about  getting  the  reward  right  now  and  I

actually want to get it later, because I know that it will taste so much better

than giving in to it now. 

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