The idea of waiting for things to take place is almost inconceivable for many of us, especially when it comes to our financial future. After all, we know what we want and we want it now! That is the instant gratification mindset, which affects us in all different areas of our lives, not just our finances. We live in a time of fast food, the microwave, email, text messaging, commercial free binge watching and anything else you can think of. Which…don’t get me wrong, are great and pretty cool things that serve their purpose in the world we live in. Although, when it comes to money and finances, that mindset of instant gratification can (and will) wreak havoc not only for the future health of our finances, but our present financial health as well. Delayed gratification and sacrifice are two timeless principals that will never change in this quickly changing world.

These are Two Timeless Principles When It Comes to Money

Patience is a virtue. That’s a phrase I’m sure you’ve heard many times, but it’s not always an easy one to live by. Having to limit your capacity to receive something now for the enjoyment of being able to have something better and bigger afterwards is difficult. Waiting patiently for the future to get what you want is the sacrifice you make by only getting what you need now.

Imagining and envisioning your future is challenging for a lot of people and that is where small, clear financial goals come into play to help you see the progress you’re making toward your future. It is in the little steps that you take now that will add up to the significant results later. The initial results may not seem like much at first, but time and patience will win big in the long run.

“The ability to discipline yourself to delay gratification in the short term in order to enjoy greater rewards in the long term, is the indispensable prerequisite for success.” – Brian Tracy

Having a plan with goals is the first step. The grit and determination of sticking with the plan for your own future, day in and day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for many years and working really hard to make that long run a reality is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Keeping in mind that the rewards will be delayed is the key factor for building your financial future.

It’s the ability to delay gratification that makes investing possible. You invest when you believe (or know) that by delaying gratification, you can expect greater rewards for your future. That’s what investing is all about! It’s about using your money now to buy time (financial freedom) in the future.

Before you go, I want to invite you to join my FREE email list community. By signing up today, you’ll get notifications of my latest posts. Plus access to my FREE Resources Library. Click Here to sign up!