Instant Gratification

A recipe for anxiety

Ever wonder why anxiety and mental health issues seem to be such a problem for our children and grandchildren? It’s intrinsically tied to “Instant Gratification”, which is a hallmark of the millennials and genZers.

It’s also connected to the concept of disposable everything and functional obsolence; to small portions, to all-things-individually-wrapped. And about being connected 24/7 through real time social media interactivity.

Addiction to social media feeds into Instant Gratification, which is a concept that is mocked and laughed at and viewed as something both naturally progressing as a condition of living in this day and age….. and benign. It is shrugged off by the older generations as a deficit that must be expected of the younger generations; the natural result of being born into the technology age. But it’s not a deficit at all; it’s a conditioned response that is neither natural, nor is it benign.

The Instant Gratification Generation has been conditioned that it is normal to expect an instant response, and when that response doesn’t come back as expected, fear begins to blossom. Something must be wrong; with the self, the other party….or the relationship. WHY didn’t they get right back to me? Are we still friends? Did I do something wrong? Did something happen? Does it mean they’re mad at me? Did they find someone else?

When the instantaneous feedback loop is broken…..what happens is anxiety.

Emotional balance is the antithesis of Instant Gratification, generational or not, because emotionally balanced people are not addicted to things, and use technology as a tool that they control, not one which controls them. Balance is in and of itself, a built-in form of emotional self-defense.

How do you step out of the vicious circle of Instant Gratification?

First, stop viewing it as benign. Recognize it as the deleterious thing that it is.

Second, look for the places where it controls you. Be relentlessly authentic and willing to own your own weaknesses. Train .yourself to consciously identify the times when it is seizing control over you, rather than operating on default mode.

Third, begin taking back control by consciously not giving into the impulses; where you feel anxiety, allow it. Breathe through it….and as you do, realize that you are building your mental muscles. Remember, the first Universal Law, which is that everything in the Universe is Mental. When you actively work to gain control over your mental processes, you begin to take back your own personal power.

We must, as a human race, start to confront everything in our lives which we have given our Sovereignty to….and take it back, bit by bit. This requires introspection, a growth mindset, and anti-fragility. It requires consistent effort. It is hard work…but it is worth it.