40 Years of Stanford Research Found That People With This One Quality Are More Likely to Succeed

40 Years of Stanford Research Found That People With This One Quality Are More Likely to Succeed

Success is something that many people strive for, but only a few truly achieve. What sets these successful individuals apart? Is it their intelligence, their talent, or perhaps their luck? According to a groundbreaking study conducted by Stanford University, the key to success lies in a person's ability to delay gratification.

In the study, children were given a choice between having one marshmallow immediately or waiting for a short period of time to receive two marshmallows. The children who were willing to delay gratification and waited to receive the second marshmallow ended up having higher SAT scores, lower levels of substance abuse, lower likelihood of obesity, better responses to stress, better social skills as reported by their parents, and generally better scores in a range of other life measures.

This study suggests that success usually comes down to choosing the pain of discipline over the ease of distraction. And that’s exactly what delayed gratification is all about. It is the ability to resist immediate pleasures in order to achieve long-term goals. It requires self-control, willpower, and the belief that waiting for something better is worth it.

What's interesting is that the researchers found that the child's ability to delay gratification and display self-control was not a predetermined trait, but rather was impacted by the experiences and environment that surrounded them. This implies that delayed gratification can be learned and developed over time.

Every time the researcher made a promise and then delivered on it, the child's brain registered two things: 1) waiting for gratification is worth it and 2) I have the capability to wait. As a result, the second group of children waited an average of four times longer than the first group. This shows that delayed gratification is not only about willpower, but also about having the belief in oneself and the confidence that waiting will pay off.

So, how can we apply this concept of delayed gratification to our own lives and increase our chances of success? Here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Start incredibly small. When trying to develop a habit or achieve a goal, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the enormity of the task. Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, start with a small, manageable step. Make your new habit "so easy you can't say no." By breaking down your goals into small, achievable actions, you'll be more likely to stick with them and see progress.