3 Signs You Are an Instant Gratification Addict

You can get almost anything at anytime on the Internet.  With invention of the Smart Phone and tablet things are now available anywhere you go.  The more readily the information and services are the more we seem to want and the less tolerant we are to wait for anything.

The question is, do we need things immediately or do we just want it because we can have it?  Have we become greedy for information and pleasure?  Everyone wants to experience pleasure in their life.  Pleasure feels great but it doesn't last very long.  That is why we keep seeking it and often push the limits of normal behavior to try and squeeze every last bit of pleasure out of everything.  They say good things come to those who wait...  so why can't we wait?  Are we addicted to instant gratification?  Here are 3 signs:

1. Lack of Self Control
Do you have a hard time stopping certain behaviors like drinking, eating, speeding, spending, or talking about yourself?  This could be a sign that you want to feel as good as can, as soon as possible, and as much as possible no matter the consequences.

2. Gossip
Do you find yourself participating frequently in conversations about other people?  Do you make it a point to share any details you know about certain people at work or in your family?  This could be a sign that you need to feel good by making other people look or sound bad.  You may feel more superior when you talk about the questionable behavior of other people.

3. Desires are too Strong
Do you have to have the latest technology gadget, fashions, celebrity news, or information? Do you often find a way to justify the purchase of things that you really don't need?  Do you have to know everything about what is happening in the news or inside of a company?  You may be passionate about something but love it so much that your desire has reached an unhealthy or obsessive level.  Knowing everything you can about one subject can make you feel good.

If you have some of these signs and experience them on a daily basis you may be addicted to Instant Gratification.  While some of this behavior could be harmless, some of it could be causing you to act in ways that others perceive as questionable.

Here are some things to consider to help curb the need for instant gratification:

1. Acknowledge there is a problem.  Admit it and begin recognize what it looks like.

2. Set boundaries so that you are not tempted.  Don't go to bars.  Don't eat dessert. Don't buy anything for 30 days, Turn off your phone at meals and meetings.

3. Set limits of time, portions, spending, etc. only allow a specific amount of time to spend on your passion or behavior, i.e. once a week, once a day for 30 minutes, etc.

4. Get help.  Find an accountability partner or speak to a counselor.

5. Look at the root of your behavior.  Is there something else missing or not right in your life that this behavior is covering up that needs to be addressed?  Find it and address it.

6. Think bigger.  Instant is small but waiting for something better is bigger thinking and could be more of an investment in your future.

7. Pray for guidance.  God is big and can help you see how blessed you are and how to be content with what you have.

8. Spend time on more important things that add value to other people or to your future such as: Volunteer, take a class, read a book, exercise, teach, spend time with kids or seniors.

9. Go cold turkey!  For example, cancel your text plan, give up sweets, be silent for hours, return the gadget to the store.  Take drastic action to jump start your new line of thinking.

10. Make sure the person you are talking about is in front of you or always assume that what you are saying will be heard or scene by the person.

Start seeking joy rather than pleasure.  Joy is God given, longer lasting, and usually it is a better experience than anything you can imagine on your own.  Joy is harder to find but usually well worth the wait.  Let go of the need for instant gratification and embrace the process of things happening at their own pace.

Selection Season - Tell 10 Friends!

What is it about Fall weather that makes you feel so good? The kind of weather that requires you wear jeans and a sweatshirt. Maybe it is because it reminds me of football, the beginning of the Christmas season, memories of going to Grandma’s house, or maybe it is just the fact that you are no longer limited to indoor activities. Whatever the reason this is my favorite time of the year.

Does anyone else get the emails that ask you to forward to 10 friends and see what happens? Up to this point I have refused to participate but I have always wondered if it is worth me annoying my friends with a silly email to find out what would happen. I mean, it is just email… how many exciting things could happen—really?

It is selection season! Everyone around me is having to make their 2008 health care plan selections. I think it should be called Health Care Gambling Selections. The plans that are offered force you to make a prediction about your health—to gamble with your health. What does it mean if you bet against yourself? At face value I guess it means you will be paying more to the insurance company. It makes me wonder if betting against my health is actually bad for my health. Does it give me an out for living well all the time? Is it healthier to use my insurance selection as a motivator to live well? Shouldn’t I be taking comfort in the fact that I am eating right, exercising, and have no symptoms of concern right now?

If I am doing everything I should to stay healthy I should be betting against the insurance company and saving my money. It seems like it should be an easy decision but the fear of the unknown is an amazing thing. You just never know what will happen over the course of a year. I guess we have all heard the stories about people who got sick or injured and had financial problems because of unexpected health care costs. No one wants to go through that if they don’t have to. So the gambling games goes on and now it seems like a decision that is less about cost and more about what will give me peace of mind.

Human Engineering and Honorary Membership

Is it wrong that I am actually looking forward to another season of Dancing with the Stars? I am the last person you would think that would actually enjoy ballroom dancing on TV. I mean who could turn away from the visualization of Wayne Newton doing the Cha-Cha!

Being sick really stinks. Each time I am sick I am so impressed with the engineering of the human body. I am not able to be in awe for the first 4-6 hours of being sick but once I realize that I am not going to die then I start getting fascinated. I mean God really thought of everything: a point of entry, a holding cell, filtering system, recycle system, a manufacturing center, and most important and exit route! The only thing that seems to be in question is the shelf-life but I guess he has a plan for that too!

Dr. Oz is the man! Where does Oprah keep finding these people?

Is it a social embarrassment if you buy fake designer bags? The real ones that run $300-$1000 are no doubt cute and stylish, but am I just a wanna-be or am I a smart shopper if I buy knock-offs for $30? If you get a real bag does that mean you are paying a lot to be a genuine member of that kind of crowd? Is it about the bag or is it really about buying a membership to an elite group? Maybe if I carry a fake I am I searching for membership too but just not willing to pay as much for it. It could mean that I am okay with just being a honorary member of that crowd.