Impulse is defined as a sudden strong and unreflective urge or desire to act. These thoughtless actions are often the reason we don't see forward progress in the goals we've set for ourselves.

Acting on impulse can be the reason we fail to achieve some of the greatest things we set out to accomplish.

We can't:

Unsay the hateful thing we spoke.

Uneat the food we just ate.

Get back the money we just spent.

Reverse time and do something over again.

Because we're not wizards it's crucial to our long term objectives to make space between thought and action.

To give ourselves time between wanting to eat a box of Cheez-Its and actually doing it, clicking purchase on those shoes you don't need, or thinking about the words we speak before actually saying them.

Delayed gratification is not in our nature and is something we must consciously work for. It's the hardest part of changing our body-composition, saving to buy a home, or improving your performance and relationships.

If you find that you're a sucker for instant gratification, a quick buyer, snacker, or like to talk more than listen, do yourself a favor and try growing the space between what your mind says to do and actually doing it.

There is an enormous difference between thought and action and often, recognizing a thought, watching it float by like a cloud in the sky, and then continuing on with the actions you had planned for is the best way to remove impulse from your life.

Heck, setting a time for 10 minutes is a great tactical approach to help you learn how to make time between thought and action. 10 minutes is enough time for your brain to become occupied with something else and allow you to rationalize your actions...if you want something bad enough after 10 minutes then it's most likely supportive of your long term goals.

If you need help with this, we're here and happy to support you in becoming a pro at fostering delayed gratification.