Nowadays people are notoriously impatient. We don't want to wait for anything. Our country is home to fast food and drive-through banking. So, when it comes to our private lives and eating habits, it's no wonder that our general inclination is to indulge ourselves. Why wait if you don't have to? Gratifica­tion, preferably immediate, becomes the order of the day. The problem, of course, is that a pattern of instant gratification has its downside. The downside is that instant gratification may not be in your best interest. An inability to stop acting like you must have it, and have it now, is one reason you might veer from your goals. A repeated pattern of instant gratification can be a hidden barrier to reaching your goals. The central strategy is to help you change your "I must have it now" mind-set and learn to practice patience. A hard fact of life is that you can't meet your goals and simultaneously indulge every craving and desire when you want it. If this paragraph makes you move a little in your seat, feel uncom­fortable, or whisper to yourself, "Hey, are they talking about me?" then please continue reading.

What Is Practicing Patience?

Practicing patience is the means by which you will learn to pinpoint those moments when you think you must have what you want and transform them into opportunities to act in your long-term interest. Practicing patience boils down to small acts that add up to big results over time. It means deciding to act in your own interest no matter what it takes. Does it mean never being able to satisfy your cravings? Absolutely not! It means satisfying your cravings in ways that won't be hurtful to you. Practicing patience is important because it will help you act on your true needs. The great part is that when you learn to practice patience, you'll become less interested in participat­ing in actions that don't lead toward your goals. For example, you will pass up a dessert with the feeling that you really don9t want it or you'll find being sedentary is increasingly unsatisfying. Can you imagine that? It's true. When you under­stand that there are no quick fixes and you begin to practice patience, you exert control over your life, and that will ulti­mately bring you satisfaction and success.

How Are You Doing Now?
If you don't know immediately whether instant gratification is a reason you veer from your goals, read the statements below and check off the ones that describe you best.

When I want something, I generally allow myself to have it.
- I won't wait long for something I want.
- If I want something done, I want it done now.
- I indulge myself in unhealthy habits without thinking.
- Waiting is torture.
- I interrupt myself when I notice I'm about to go against my game plan.
- I can wait to get what I want.
- I have met a larger goal by taking small steps.
- A slow and steady pace fits my lifestyle.
- I generally weigh my actions against my overall interests.

If the last five statements seem to describe you best, then the need to immediately satisfy your desires may not be one of the primary reasons you veer off track from your goals. How­ever, if the first five statements describe you better than the last five, then learning to practice patience may help you attain your goals.

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