Let’s
play a game! I have here chocnuts and I will give one to each of you
(distribute). You can eat it now. But, there’s a twist! If you’ll finish
listening to my speech without eating that chocnut, I will give you more later!
Tonight, I will share with you a concept which I apply
in my life as I make choices. In his book entitled “Who You Are When No One is
looking”, Bill Hybels emphasized the term “delaying gratification” as an
important ingredient of discipline. Gratification,
in its simplest form, is that feeling of satisfaction or happiness we get from
achieving something or indulging in a pleasure. Delaying gratification is choosing to resist
the temptation of an immediate reward in favor of a more significant one that
comes later.
Delaying
gratification sounds difficult to do but I have come up with three points that
helped me ace this.
First
is reflect. Reflection
is my compass in decision-making. It involves evaluating every decision against
my ultimate goal. I knew that short-term indulgences could jeopardize my
long-term success. In
2012, I decided to take the CPA Licensure Examination. That time, I was working full-time as a
regular employee at JG Summit; and I cannot afford to quit my job, just for the
sake of getting the CPA License. I
reflected and list down the gratification which I can delay for the next six
months as I prepare for the boards while working during weekdays. I planned my study schedule around work commitments. I enrolled in the weekend classes of the CPA
Review Center, that is every Saturday and Sunday, from 8am to 6pm. I was an “8-to-5” employee during
weekdays. Weekend review is not enough,
I have to study on weekdays to finish the review materials. I managed my time effectively to prioritize
exam preparation over personal leisure.
This includes taking quick snacks for lunch, limiting my night sleep to
four hours maximum, spending all weekends at review school, and utilizing my
time off work for studying. Balancing my
job responsibilities with exam preparation was no small feat but reflecting on
what matters most helped me a lot.
Next
is reject. Rejecting immediate gratification was perhaps
the toughest part. It meant turning down invitations to events, saying
"no" to social outings, and resisting the allure of instant
pleasures. But with each refusal, I reinforced my commitment to my goal. Every
sacrifice was a step forward, strengthening my resolve to pass the CPA exam and
secure a better future for myself and my family. During
my six months preparation for the boards, I’ve been invited to events like
birthdays, church activities, family gatherings, and night out with friends;
but I had to say “no”.
Finally,
reward. Delaying gratification doesn’t mean you should never indulge
yourself. In fact, rewarding yourself is essential for maintaining motivation
and recognizing your hard work. The key is to choose rewards that come after
achieving significant milestones.
During
my review, my friends set a night swimming in Laguna and they persuade me to
join. Before saying ‘yes’ to their
invitation, I inculcate to myself that I have to pass the mock boards provided
by the review center first. And I did! I
joined them. I rewarded myself a
night-off from my routine of work-review-nap.
After that night swimming, I became more motivated to push through with
my review and pass the boards so I will not miss any more fun activities in the
future.
Delaying
gratification is a powerful tool for achieving long-term success and happiness.
By reflecting on our choices, rejecting short-term pleasures that don't align
with our goals, and rewarding ourselves appropriately for accomplishments, we
can cultivate a more fulfilling and successful future.
Who
among you were able to reach this part of my speech without eating their
chocnut? May I see a raise of hands? Congratulations! You’’ll get more chocnuts later!
In
the 1970s, psychologist Walter Mischel’s marshmalow test studied delaying
gratification. Preschoolers were given two options: they could eat one
marshmallow immediately or wait 15 minutes for two. Years later, those who waited generally
showed greater success in life, highlighting the long-term benefits of
self-control.
Fellow
toastmasters and friends, can you apply these three Rs of delaying
gratification in your life? I believe
you can do it! Reflect on your goals,
reject distractions, and reward your achievements. Your future self will thank
you for the bonus chocnuts!
