The Power of Delayed Gratification: Why Self-Control Is the Ultimate Currency of a Meaningful Life

We humans think about many different things, and there are many things we can't afford, whether it's an expensive car, an expensive house, or anything else that's very expensive. We might be able to afford it by taking out a loan, but we would have to sacrifice a lot to do so. That's where the concept of self-control comes in. Self-control means that we could buy something, but we choose not to because we exercise control. We know that this thing won't give us lasting happiness. For example, you buy a new smartphone, but it will only give you happiness for 10 days or a month. Yes, it will feel like a new smartphone at first, but after that, it will start to feel old and boring. That's where the concept of self-control comes in. If you hadn't bought that phone, you would have saved a lot of money, which would have been much more beneficial for you.

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In today's world, where everyone is buying something or spending money on one thing or another, self-control has become even more important. There are distractions everywhere: social media, instant entertainment, junk food, and everything is readily available. We want everything to happen instantly. Because of this, we lose patience and gradually lose control over ourselves, getting angry over trivial matters, becoming demotivated by small failures and giving up on tasks, and holding onto anger for a long time over minor issues, or forgetting our long-term goals. Self-control teaches us to manage these things. Sorry, it's not always necessary to react immediately, because if you act too quickly, things might get worse. Sometimes, pausing to think and then taking action makes things much easier.

The biggest benefit of self-control is evident in our decision-making. When we have to make an important decision, we can easily get carried away by our emotions and make a rash choice. Later, we regret it. However, if we control ourselves and keep our emotions in check, we can avoid making wrong decisions driven by anger or sadness. Later, when the emotional turmoil subsides and we feel regret, we think, "I wish I had been more in control at that time." Self-control saves us from future regrets. When we make decisions, we often let our emotions guide us or listen to our gut feeling. But if you control your inner self, you can save yourself from future problems and avoid making mistakes.

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One of the biggest reasons and secrets to being successful in life is self-control, whether it's in studies, career, or business. One thing is absolutely essential everywhere: self-control. Studying every day might seem boring, and going to the gym can be exhausting, but if we stay in our comfort zone, life won't be easy, and we'll face difficulties repeatedly. But when we have self-control, there's one more thing we need to learn. That is discipline. Discipline is something that teaches us that whether you feel like it or not, whether you want to go to the gym or not, you have to go because you've decided to go. And this is what makes a person disciplined. If a person goes to the gym every day, it means that person is disciplined. They are very focused on their goals. They want to make their future better.

Emotional self-control plays a very crucial part in life. We cannot live without emotions, but we can control our emotions, and this makes us better, more capable, and more confident individuals. When we understand and regulate our emotions, we become mentally stronger. If sadness comes, accept it; if anger comes, express it, but not in a destructive way. Self-control means that when you are angry, you don't say anything at that moment. You remain calm at that time. You cool down your temper because in anger, a person often says things that they shouldn't have said, or they say things that they later regret, wondering why they said it, especially when the other person wasn't even at fault. Such situations arise in life where people say things in anger that they shouldn't have said, and we need to understand this very well.

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Self-control is the most important aspect of our financial life. In today's world, spending has become easy because we are constantly bombarded with temptations. Sales, discounts, and EMI options are everywhere. We buy things without thinking because we feel that since we're using a credit card or EMI, we're not spending our own money. But eventually, that money will come out of our pockets. Then we'll feel terrible, thinking, "I didn't even need this! Why did I waste money on it?" This is exactly what all credit card companies and EMI providers want—for you to buy unnecessary things so they can earn substantial interest and you end up paying more. So, before buying anything, think to yourself: "Do I really need this? Can I manage without it?" Only buy it if the answer is no, you can't manage without it. There's a big difference between what you need and what you want. Need is something you can't live without, while want is something you can live without, but it's just a desire.

Posted Using INLEO