Taking The Marshmallow Test

A Stanford University professor by the name of Walter Mischel came up with an experiment in 1972 called The Marshmallow Test. That definitely was not a regret on his part.

The test was all about the concept of teaching children delayed gratification. Each child participant was given a marshmallow on a plate in a room, and had to avoid temptation by not eating the marshmallow. About 20 minutes later (a long time to leave a marshmallow to a little one) that child would receive another marshmallow if the original one was not consumed. It would be ok if it was touched, but had to be nil by mouth. Various studies later proven that the ones who received the second marshmallow fared better as adults in life, because they were no longer suckers for immediate gratification from this experiment, and therefore they were happier and more successful with their lot in life.

The ones who succeeded were dubbed "the marshmallow kid." One massive accomplishment, because even many adults today have failed this test. YouTube will show you.

Yours truly had no regrets conducting this experiment on herself recently, although there was more stimulus in the home environment at hand. Sitting still, and staring at a fluffy marshmallow was easy as pie, maybe because I personally find marshmallows a bit too sweet, yet that humble marshmallow brings back those nice childhood memories of cooking it on a stick at a campfire (nicer than damper), as well as enjoying with a cosy hot chocolate...experiences that moi did not regret. You are definitely reminded of the fact that 'patience is a virtue' - and there are no regrets to that philosophy in life, because all of us (business owners and freelancers especially) need a boat load of patience and delayed gratification.

I did not regret sitting this test, and I actually threw both marshmallows in the bin, and was unable to find a homeless person in sight to give the rest of the packet of the marshmallows to. Therefore they went to family as an added Easter present.

A few of my neighbors wanted to know more, and they said "I can't do it" without even trying.

It really makes you think. Isn't life a series of exams and tests? For example, a job interview is an exam. A driving test is. Exams never finish at school. Having a job is certainly a test these days; especially with pressure, targets, and demanding bosses.

If this test was called "the chocolate test" I would not have fared so well, as chocolate is a vice for me, and for many others. Same with wine. Therefore all experiences in life, when it also comes with treats, from marshmallows, wine, chocolate, and travel to name - are tests in delayed gratification and patience if we can delay our impulsive urges without any willpower. Regrets, or no regrets?

We can philosophise about this until the cows come home. Good things come to those who wait, yet in some cases good things come to those who get. If super cheap travel deals are on offer (travel being the marshmallow here), and you know that your trip will not be altered, then go right ahead and take advantage of happy hour (eat the marshmallow now) rather than wait. In the spirit of delayed gratification though, ensure you pay cash, and do not rely on credit you cannot afford.

To a neighbor who loves a glass of vino, to her that glass of vino is the marshmallow test. She wants her vino, and she wants it now. No regrets right? Maybe to your waistline, but still no regrets. None of us are perfect after all.

Circumstances depending, I find it is best to wait on something, until I am really ready. For example, I want some new bubble bath (marshmallow) now; yet if I wait another week, I will score an extra treat (marshmallow) for free with a promotion that my nearby mall will be offering at the time in exchange for buying the bubble bath at a future date; no different to the post-Christmas sales. Yep, another marshmallow for the latter.

If you eat a 'marshmallow' too early, and therefore fail the test and not be the 'marshmallow kid?' No regrets. You just receive one marshmallow.

If you hold off from eating the marshmallow, and therefore score top marks in patience and delayed gratification by being dubbed 'the marshmallow kid?' Again, no regrets. You receive two marshmallows, and even more interesting, if you repeat this process, those marshmallows will compound.

The only regret in life is an unfulfilled dream or desire.

Work hard and smart, so you can enjoy some instant gratification every now and then and 'eat' that marshmallow, because one marshmallow will serve you well. Otherwise sit tight, and you will know when the time is right to take inspired action, and wait for the second marshmallow, where extra abundance will come...two 'marshmallows' for the price of one.

Working hard, and saving my hard earned dough are things I never, ever regret in life. If I spend a bit too much, I don't regret that either. And that also goes with the packet of marshmallows for this experiment.

No regrets. Please click on the love heart icon in this article, and love my article. You won't regret it, I promise.

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