Fast food. 24-hour shipping. Instant replies. Complete series available immediately. We've been trained to expect instant gratification.
And then we get frustrated when habits don't produce results in a week.
The temporal disconnect
The problem is that our expectations don't match the reality of human change.
The body changes in months. The mind changes in years. Identity changes in decades.
Patience as superpower
In a world of instant gratification, patience has become a competitive advantage. People who can wait, win.
Most people quit exactly when results are about to arrive. Patience is staying a little longer.
Cultivating patience
1. Change the metric. Instead of measuring results, measure consistency.
2. Think in years, not weeks.
3. Celebrate the process. Find satisfaction in doing, not just in results.
4. Remember those who quit.
The long game
Habits are a long game. The winners are those who keep playing when others have left.