Why Instant Gratification Is A Scourge For Today’s Society
They say, patience is a lost virtue. There was a time when that statement might not have made that much sense. But it looks as though it was said specifically for today’s generation of people.
If every cloud has a silver lining, every rose has thorns too. Sometimes our own success can turn out to be detrimental to us in one way or the other. I am talking about the advancements in technology that we have made in the last couple decades.
Sure with every new innovative idea our collective life gets easier. One less thing to do ourselves. More automation. Easier life. These are the promises of the 21st century. A world where you can get everything done with little effort. Almost like having a magic wand with us.
And do we not have a magic wand with us all the time? No, not literally, but figuratively. That magic wand is the internet. It is the one single thing that has allowed us to accomplish countless things all at the flick of a finger (literally).
The Age of Instant Gratification
Technology has created a world where everything we desire can be bought and had immediately if one has the enough money. It has reduced the time between wanting and having by leaps and bounds.
Want to buy a book? Order it on Amazon and it arrives the next day. Wanna eat food? Order it. 30 minutes. Bam! Your food’s there. Need a cab? Uber! Done! Looking for a date? Tinder. Swipe right. Bingo!
Corporations use the most sophisticated technologies to create solutions to really simplify things for the customers since competition is cut-throat and they need to go the extra mile to keep customers happy. For them, money is all that matters.
Well, guess what? We have become addicted to this. Now, anything we want, it needs to be there right away, or it’s just not worth it. We need instant results. We are so impatient, that even if our internet gets a little slow for a little time, we get really, really frustrated. It’s like a drug addict being denied of drugs!
This is scary. We are all being converted into addicts and we are not even aware of it. I am not saying that there is one group of people doing it to everybody else. No, we are doing it to ourselves.
We're Harming Ourselves
I am not saying that there are no good sides of this convenient life. It definitely makes things easier for us and can save a lot of time which we can spend productively on other areas leading to more contributions to society.
But things take a wrong turn when we let that become the norm, when we attach that ‘speed’ to everything else in life. That’s when the problems start which we are seeing in the world today.
People are so hasty to reach the destination that the journey no longer matters to them and it is exactly the journey that makes you capable of reaching the destination. You learn things as you go. That’s the whole point of a journey. But we have forgotten that. We just don’t care. We just need to reach that destination asap!
Other things in life like love, trust and companionship take a long time to come to fruition. This is another area that today’s generation is facing a lot of problems in. There are more superficial relationships nowadays than ever and that sense of bonding is becoming rarer by the day.
We are busier trying to show how awesome our lives are on social media than to form deep meaningful relationships with people that will actually matter in the long run. You know why? Because it takes time and patience. And we, as a generation, have none!
The Road Ahead
Technology will keep advancing. There is no doubt to that. It will keep making our lives easier. But it depends on us whether we rule technology or let it rule us.
We need to teach the next generation of people the true value of life and what are the things that actually matter. We need to teach them that it is OK to wait for something. Not everything has to be instantaneous.
We need to re-kindle that human bond between people, not driven by technology but by a sense of brotherhood and trust. Let’s not turn into robots, let’s stay humans. Let’s become, better humans. I know we can.
I agree it is frightening (and ironic) that we are doing this to ourselves. As far as the Net, I have gone to the Library (and had to wait a bit before gaining access to the internet). I think this has helped keep me a little more grounded - and "in touch" with reality.
Libraries are places my dad & I frequented over the years. And the two of us became really patient, as we browsed for books. So I sort of relate libraries to patience.
A nice way to spend your time, sometimes !
I feel schools should make it mandatory to do a craft that is time consuming - where the end result takes some REAL time to achieve. Whether it be whittling wood (woodcraft), crocheting, painting a picture.
I just feel that can help young people stay more aware that it does take time to achieve things, sometimes. And that it can be worth the wait!
Yeah, I agree that it is right from the childhood that the values and lessons need to be taught and schools and parents need to do a better job at it.
As we say in French, in Quebec, where I'm originally from, "Patience is the mother of all virtues." It is definitely lacking and look forward to see more of it happening as people are going to find themselves forced by life itself into slowing down. Till then, I guess, we all have to educate and, most importantly, to be patient till the majority comes to that point of awareness as well. All for one and one for all! Namaste :)
I have found that so many times, the journey often is more fun than the destination itself. I have a heck of a time reminding myself that though time and time again! :)
Yes, it is. The destination feels important because it is the ultimate goal. But in hindsight, the journey that led to that destination is more important!
it's the pace of life that has come so fast we expect things to happen faster and and not wait too long
yeah, that's right. And from the look of things, life is only going to get faster!
Technology and the innovations in this era made us lazy & impatient and if you notice the peoples back in the days and now we develop some lack of creativity day by day
Yeah @sauravrungta, looks like "The Technology Of Patience" is the only one obsolete here. And in fact, an ancient and lost Art nowadays and onwards. Seems like, in some way, we actually should be today some kind of graybeard old fart or at least an elderly soul to be able to recognize, recover and resurrect the true advantages of serenity, calmness & equanimity that patience and forbearance brings in order to be able to know how to wait and not become ourselves bald and no nails specimens too soon. Upvoted and reesteemed. ;)