When I was in junior school, my teachers often told me to eat my greens first and then dessert. Even back then, screw what teachers had to say. I used to say to my mate’s let’s dig straight into the desert. Growing up into adulthood, eating your greens first was a metaphor for life; what is psychologically good isn’t always pleasant but is good for us. The reward comes later.
In philosophy, there is something called Hedonism, first introduced by Aristippus, a loyal disciple of Socrates. The ideology states that we can only be happy if we seek pleasure in all forms of life. We will only be fulfilled through stronger desire, indulging, acquiring more and numbing the mind endlessly. Epicurus later argued that pleasure was chief in a good life within before it becomes suffering incurred in overindulgence. However, Hedonism is a flawed philosophy. Otherwise, drug addicts, alcoholics and sex addicts would be very satisfied and content. Living on a hedonistic treadmill leads to everlasting dissatisfaction.
One of the founding fathers of psychology, Sigmund Freud, argued that Hedonistic characteristics are natural functions of human nature, and desirable outcomes influence behaviour. Therefore, we are driven by gratification, not forgetting how obsessed Freud was with sexual pleasure.
Moving Forward…
Ok, so we have established that pleasure has some importance, but it’s more about delaying it for the right moment. For about two thousand years in the ancient world, philosophers would preach the idea by telling us to suppress passion, ignore pleasures, and avoid them altogether. Instead, focus on reason/logic instead, but to ignore pleasure is taking away the fundamental part of nature. So, what is the winning formula?
Well, work hard and then play hard; that is as simple as that. Work hard on the task and then reward yourself with a treat afterwards; that is why as children, we are given a lollypop or gold stars for a good day’s work.
Psychology refers to this as the Marshmallow effect, resist temptation first and have a reward to look forward to in the future gives us the motivation to preserver because we are influencing the emotion. There’s nothing sweeter than nothing that you earned something rather than presented on a plate that you went through doubt, pain, struggle and pressure to get the task done finally.
For example, after completing your weekly exercise workout, you can reward yourself with a cheat meal; the reward pushes you further.
Pareto principle, referred to as the 80/20 rule, states 20% of your effort make 80% results. Learn to give the brain an incentive to get something back in return after all your hard work.
Pain First then reward
The book tools for titans by Tim Ferris touches on the idea that being a highly driven individual boils down to having an incredible pain tolerance. If you can focus on completing the duty and your threshold to suffer is excellent, it will effectively lead to a result. There is no guarantee ever to achieve Steve Job level success, but how you define success will lead to your happiness by lowering your expectations. Don’t underestimate how hard you work just because you’re not at the top of the mountain just yet. Even Michelangelo had to suffer to pain the magnificent Sistine chapel; he wrote a poem about his struggle. Greatness is when opportunity meets years of preparation.
Work on the task, then reward yourself for your efforts; this will develop better behaviour patterns which lead to better habits. Don’t indulge in 100% pleasure or mix business and pleasure. Remember that you reap what you sow.