Instant Gratification

We are addicted

Why do people smoke cigarettes? If you were to ask a long-time smoker, they would probably give you an answer along the lines of “I’m addicted” or “I can’t stop”. Similar self-defeating phrases are constantly conjured up in the head of the average, everyday smoker. Those may be valid reasons why smokers can’t quit, but are those the real reasons that the habit continues day after day?

Despite the year being 2014 and common knowledge indicating that smoking cigarettes is one of the most dangerous killers in the world, many people continue to smoke. Now, there are also many former smokers who would consider themselves “addicted” at one point in their lives, but today are completely smoke free. If these people were successful in kicking their habit despite being “addicted”, then why can’t the other group of “addicted” smokers defeat their habit also? This group, the ones who continue to smoke, certainly are addicted. Surprisingly, it may not be the nicotine they are addicted to. What these smokers are addicted to is instant gratification.

Think about it. Despite hundreds and thousands of health studies that suggest smoking will cause serious health problems and over 400,000 deaths a year in the United States alone, there is a large group of people who continue to smoke. Not only that, but there are many people who have proven in the past that it is possible to kick the habit even if you are the self-proclaimed most “addicted” smoker, yet some smokers don’t even try to quit. I have heard before that every cigarette takes about 7 minutes off the smokers lifespan. A cigarette today for 7 minutes of your life later. A pack today for 140 minutes of your life later. The great feeling of smoking that cigarette today for risking potential sickness, disease, and extreme pain later. In essence, this is instant gratification at its finest.

The reason why people smoke is the same reason why some people ironically spend a great deal of money playing the lottery, why some people eat junk food all day everyday, why some people will make that purchase today despite knowing they won’t have the money tomorrow, why some people have the “play today work tomorrow” mentality. Almost everyone is addicted to instant gratification in some way or another, its just that most people have never even realized it.

Just imagine what your life would look like if we simply ignored instant gratification and put all our focus on the bigger, long-term picture. Imagine putting down that cigarette today for a healthier and happier tomorrow. Imagine saving all the money you spend on playing the lottery today to start up a business that will yield a great deal of money tomorrow. Imagine not ordering those buffalo wings the next time you go to Hooters but instead ordering a goddamn. Imagine what we can accomplish over the span of our lifetime when we simply change our mindset to “work your fucking ass off today so I can have everything I want tomorrow”. Imagine what your life would look like.

Don’t hesitate to get up and take action today. The longer you wait, the longer you submit to instant gratification. Get out there and make something happen today.