有时候，一个人恢复健康可能需要不止一次的治疗。尽管有些人能在一次的疗程后就能缓解症状，但是他们肯定不会一次就痊愈。这个问题的简单答案就是时间！人的身体需要花时间康复，需要时间来恢复受伤前的活动水平。这引导我们进入今天的主题：延迟性的满足与瞬间的满足。
Delayed gratification describes the process that the subject undergoes when the subject resists the temptation of an immediate reward in preference for a later reward. Generally, delayed gratification is associated with resisting a smaller but more immediate reward in order to receive a larger or more enduring reward later. A growing body of literature has linked the ability to delay gratification to a host of other positive outcomes, including academic success, physical health, psychological health, and social competence. A person’s ability to delay gratification also relates to other similar skills such as patience, impulse control, self-control and willpower, all of which are involved in self-regulation.
延迟性的满足描述了当一个人抵制立即奖励的诱惑，以优先后来的奖励时，那个人所经历的过程。通常，延迟性的满足与抵制较小但更直接的奖励有关，以便以后可以获得更大或更持久的奖励。现今，越来越多的文献将延迟性满足能力与许多其他积极成果联系在一起，包括学业上的成功、身体的健康、心理的健康及社会的能力。一个人的延迟性满足也与其他类似技能有关，如耐心、对冲动的控制、自我控制和意志力，这些都与自我调节有关。
Examples of delayed gratification / 延迟性满足的例子:
1. Exercise and eat healthily for long term weight management.
运动与健康饮食习惯以便长期控制体重。
2. Invest in healthcare insurance for future medical purpose.
为未来的医疗目的投资医疗保险。
3. Saving for yearly medical check-up.
存款以准备每年的健康检查费用。
Meanwhile instant gratification is a term that refers to the temptation, and resulting tendency, to forego a future benefit in order to obtain a less rewarding but more immediate benefit. It also refers to a desire to get pleasure or fulfilment without delay. As it is described above, people with such need prefer small but immediate pleasure regardless of its outcome in the future. Researches indicates that such need is an important barrier to humans’ ability to maximize their resources and achieve their goals.
及时满足则是指为了获得较少的报酬但更直接的利益，而放弃未来利益的诱惑以及由此产生的趋势。它也指的是无延迟性地获得快乐或满足的愿望。正如上述，有这种需求的人更喜欢小而直接的乐趣，而不管将来的结果如何。研究表明，这种需求是限制人们实现其目标能力的最大障碍。
Examples of instant gratification / 及时满足的例子:
1. Urge to indulge in a high calorie treat instead of a snack that will contribute to good health.
沉迷于高热量食物，而不是零食有助于身体健康。
2. Spending money to buy weight reducing supplement instead of eating healthily.
花钱购买减肥辅助品，而不是健康饮食。
3. Eagerness to lose weight rapidly by following fad diets instead of exercise regularly.
渴望通过流行饮食，而不是通过定期运动来快速减肥。
4. Spend money on unnecessary things instead of investing in medical insurance for future benefit.
把钱花在不必要的事情上，而不是购买医疗保险以获得未来利益。
So, which one are you? The one that seek for quick pleasure that only last for a short while or the one that willing to wait and invest for future and long-term benefit?
那您是哪一个呢？您是那个只能持续一小会儿，寻求短暂乐趣的人呢？还是那个愿意等待投资以获取未来和长期利益的人呢？
