How Mindfulness Can Fix Instant Gratification Culture
In our home we watch a lot of old classic movies as a family. Amongst them are “Elmer Gantry”, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “The Odd Couple”, “King’s Solomon Mines” and many others (we usually go with the first production if there were multiple). What that has made me notice is how much slower movies were 40, 50 years ago.
I remember particularly thinking that during a scene where a man parked his car, stepped out, went around it then walked into a building. All while the camera held the same angle and showed the shot from beginning to end. I was sure that, in a more current movie, that scene would have been cut after the first 5 seconds when it was already sub intended that the man was walking toward the building, and moved toward the following scene.
Movies are just one cultural indicator of how the way information feed to our brains has changed and picked up pace at an incredible rate over the years. Humans, as we are, have adapted. I have recommended some of these movies to younger people I know. After a few attempts, they confessed they just cannot stand the lower pace!
No wonder we are all addicted to instant gratification. In a world where information is presented to us at super high speed, our brains, which are wired to seek pleasure, cannot endure waiting to receive stimulation.
Even as I write this blog, the editing tool tells me to not write too long sentences and points out to me if I do! Like this last one! Because the reader is not expected to be able to handle too long sentences!
How our Instant Gratification habit hurts us
It’s all at our fingertips: online shopping, fast-food, entertainment, leisure. With TVs, computers and smartphones, our brains are now accustomed to receive immediate pleasure and this just snowballs into an empty cycle that just leaves us wanting more. The speed of the gratification is reflected in how long the pleasure lasts, which is not long – and we are soon looking for our next “fix”.
Not to mention that the nature of this instant pleasure culture is usually based on unhealthy habits. Fast industrialized food, shopping splurges, mind numbing entertainment, just to mention a few. None of this is an issue if indulged on occasion, of course. The problem is when it becomes a way of life. When these habits leave you constantly eating unhealthy, overspending, and surfing the web/watching TV in detriment of healthier habits, such as spending time with family and friends, exercising, even sleeping. Let’s not take a guilt trip here. If you find yourself in this situation, realize it’s ok, and commit to making an incremental change for the better.
What is mindfulness and how does it counteract Instant Gratification culture
What does all this have to do with mindfulness and what is it?
Mindfulness is the practice of intentionally being aware of the present moment, as opposed to thinking about what has been or will be. The present is the only moment when we can do something that will impact our future. There is nothing we can do to change what has happened in the past (although, naturally, you can determine how you will react today to something that has happened).
Additionally one of the characteristics of being mindful is to observe yourself and your surroundings with no judgement. That means to just take note of things as they are, without qualifying them as good or bad, for example.
The benefits of mindfulness include reducing stress, depression and anxiety. Bringing your consciousness intentionally to the present can go beyond that, however. It has the power to help you self connect to your body, feelings, emotions and thoughts and be highly therapeutic. Generally, people tend to handle life’s difficulties by ignoring or numbing uncomfortable of painful experiences instead of facing and working to resolve them.
How to slow down in an accelerated world
To be able to slow down your mind and practice mindfulness, you will need to check in with yourself and notice what is going on in your body and mind. Are you feeling focused, or disperse? Calm, or tense and anxious? Safe, or worried and scared? Comfortable, or in any physical pain or discomfort? Where are these feelings coming from?
Could unpleasant feelings be triggering your brain to seek for instant gratification?
Would you be able to sit with these thoughts and feelings and observe them without judgement? See if that impulse goes away. Try it for 5 minutes right now. You may be surprised to notice how you may not really need to buy those 3 new pair of boots you saw on a promotion after all (ok, maybe just one of them).
What you can do today
Meditating, journaling, taking a walk are all great suggestions on how to start practicing mindfulness and slowing down.
However, the best suggestion I’d give anyone would be to just: stop and breathe. Pause, close your eyes for a minute, pay attention to your breath and slowly bring your attention to yourself. Just observe, as if you were a passive spectator. What thoughts go through your mind and how they make you feel? What your other senses tell you from your surroundings: smell, touch, sound. Is it cool or warm? Breezy, noisy? For a few moments, just be.
The reward? If you can do this for a few minutes each day, you may realize your instant gratification needs will slowly start to melt away. You may notice those urges only occur now far and few between. Your physical, financial, and mental health will thank you. It’s very possible your friends and family will notice a shift as well for the better.
Mindfulness practice will make you become more self-aware, present, and centered. In an instant gratification world that doesn’t let you win on the long term, I’d say it’s worth a shot. Would you?