Reward in the Waiting

🤔 Why we make unhealthy choices and two ways to turn it around

Photo by Ksenia Makagonova on Unsplash

Why do we do things that are bad for us even when we know they're bad for us?

Remember this: Every behavior has a benefit. (At least at first.) 

James Clear unpacks this in his book Atomic Habits…

"Why would someone smoke if they know it increases the risk of lung cancer? Why would someone overeat when they know it increases their risk of obesity? Why would someone have unsafe sex if they know it can result in sexually transmitted disease? Once you understand how the brain prioritizes rewards, the answers become clear: the consequences of bad habits are delayed while the rewards are immediate."

We aren't great at delayed gratification. We want pleasure and comfort in the moment, sacrificing long-term happiness for right-now pleasure. 

So, how do we overcome this? We don't. We're doomed. 

Kidding. We practice. Two of the best examples I know are exercise and meditation. 

When you work out, you don't expect to see muscle growth or weight loss the first day. (Well, some of us do. But we know that's not how it works.) Aside from an energy boost and a sense of accomplishment, most of the benefits don't show up until weeks or months down the road. 

Those who keep going eventually see and feel progress. Soon, this new habit also starts to affect life outside the gym. 

At first, meditation feels like sitting in time out—"Go sit in the corner and don't make a sound!" It feels unnatural and unproductive. Many even fall asleep. 

However, meditation studies have shown that the brain begins to change even in as little as six weeks. Focus improves, stress hormones are lowered, and self-awareness increases. 

Exercise and meditation practice teaches us the benefit of investment. We learn to plant seeds now for a harvest to come. 

Once we experience the benefits of these new habits, we become more resistant to the quick hits of the moment and develop self-control. 

We learn to find reward in the waiting. 

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