Denying short-term pleasures to attain self-control

I am writing this article with the intention of all-inclusiveness in the first person so that you also read this in the first person.

What is a Pleasure?

Pleasure is a feeling of satisfying desires. It is a feeling that also triggers the reward system of the brain which releases the dopamine chemical. Pleasure comes from good smell, delicious food, appealing looks and anything else that feels good.

Types of Pleasure

Focusing on two main types in this blog which are short-term and long-term types of pleasures. 

Short-term pleasures are those which can be experienced for a short span. As short as seconds to a few hours or maybe days but not longer than this. Most short-term pleasure would last less than a few hours depending on individual tolerance. Examples of short-term pleasures include alcohol, smoking, sex/porn, junk food and anything that is highly rewarding in a limited time span.

Long-term pleasures are those which can be experienced for years and possibly even continue through life. Examples of long-term pleasures include personal development, professional success, academic achievements, fitness and anything that gives benefits even after years.

Self-Control

To have self-control means to have a grip on personal emotions and desires in a complex situation. A person who has self-control will go through a tough day with comparatively more ease than someone who lacks self-control. Self-control is something that cannot be measured in numbers but it can only be judged through self-awareness and mindfulness. An immediate past experience is one way to judge how much self-control I attain. This is not something that should be revealed to anyone but it should be kept in the mind itself.

How do Short-term pleasures affect self-control?

Short-term pleasures have a big role in rewiring the brain to an extent that enslaves a person to them after some time. I call these mini-pleasures which are amplified over the course of a few hours but in the long term, they are tiny compared to what could be achieved. 

For example, a Saturday drink on the dance floor, how long does the pleasure last? Now, compare it to the pleasure of a property which is free of loans in the present. What more can I do with the rent that I receive compared to the drinks I had on Saturday night. To be specific, that Saturday night drink would max give me pleasure till 6-7 am the next morning but, what about the property which is free from loans? That gives me pleasure continuously and it pays for way more than those Saturday night drinks. In fact, it can pay for my entire monthly groceries and energy requirements with still some more savings. See this is a major difference and it is at this stage where I have personally seen most people go wrong. The result is not immediate but over the course of 20-30 years the gap between those who chased short-term pleasures and long-term pleasures is massive, yet increasing.

Conclusion

In terms of long-term pleasures, there are no issues, it's tough in its own way but trust me it is worth it any time. The returns are greater than any stocks or investments. It is more rewarding to sacrifice short-term pleasures to attain long-term pleasures. Look at long-term pleasures like dividends/rent which the investor receives continuously with minimum disruption. Short-term pleasures are more like casino gambles, easy to win but even easier to lose.