Not too long ago, the marshmallow test was trending across social media. In this test, kids are given marshmallows (or candy in some cases). They are left alone and instructed not to eat them while the adult is out of the room. The catch is that if they don’t eat the marshmallows when the adult is out, they get extra.

Some kids were patient enough to wait it out. They eagerly longed to consume what was before them but managed to restrain themselves. Some expressed visible discomfort in waiting. Other kids weren’t so patient. Some of them pounced on the plate as soon as the adult stepped out.

This experiment was invented by Walter Mischel, a professor at Stanford University, in 1972. It was intended to measure the ability to delay gratification in the kids being tested. According to the testers, further studies showed that the kids that waited out the experiment to get extra marshmallows fared better in life than other kids who didn’t. Well, I’m not sure of the factors they considered in drawing this conclusion, so I can’t really confirm its authenticity.

Now Or Later

Delayed gratification is simply forfeiting instant pleasure for future rewards. The concept of the marshmallow test is that in forgoing the instant pleasure from one marshmallow, you get rewarded with two in the future. As we go through life, we are constantly faced with our own marshmallow tests on different levels. From little things like forgoing some extra hours of sleep or ditching a movie to study for an upcoming exam to larger-scale issues like sticking to a healthy diet for a healthy lifestyle or cutting down on large purchases to save adequately, there’s always an opportunity cost somewhere.

When faced with these choices, it is intrinsic in our neural configurations for our brains to crave the options that offer immediate rewards. But it is important to note that our reactions to such situations have ripple effects that extend beyond the moment.

You Cannot Eat Your Cake And Have It.

The conflict here is that most times, the instant pleasure we crave doesn’t support the overall results we desire. For instance, many folks desire to live healthy lifestyles, but the instant gratification derived from consuming that slice of pizza or the extra burger does not support this desire (Well, I eat both. Lol). Watching a movie or getting those extra hours of sleep can be pleasurable, but these things don’t support our grades.

The ability to override this craving for instantaneous pleasure in exchange for more substantial future rewards is instrumental in cultivating more productive and fulfilling lives. As a result, it is necessary to develop self-control over our desires.

The brain wants what it wants at the moment, but the mind is aware of the long-term cost of fulfilling those demands. This brings about an internal conflict within us, just as was expressed by some of the kids. For some, the battle ends before it even starts, and they instinctively move to fulfill the instant craving only to regret it later. For the others, the conflict lasts much longer.

Our minds try to convince the brain to endure longer for better rewards in the future. If it succeeds, good for us, and if it doesn’t… well, we live with the consequences. Thus it is paramount that we take control of this battle and define the outcome.

Think Long Term

The issue of delayed gratification is also a battle between “short-term” and “long-term”. As mentioned earlier, the short-term reward jeopardizes the long-term expectations. Of course, it is sometimes uncomfortable to endure for whatever reward there is in the long term. Nobody really enjoys studying hard —at least, not me. Sticking to a healthy diet and going to the gym as often as you need to can be difficult. But if we can set our gaze on the long-term rewards at stake, they fuel us to push the “marshmallow” aside and wait for some extra.

Whenever you’re faced with this trade-off, ask yourself: Which do I want more? Which is more important to me? The short-term pleasure, or the long-term rewards? Do I want to consume the one marshmallow at the moment, or do I wait it out to get some extra?