Hi everyone, it's Sam, and welcome to Radio Headspace and to Monday.
I was recently reflecting on how mindfulness has helped me with the need for immediate gratification.
And I grew up with a lot of immediate gratification.
My mom always genuinely enjoyed seeing me get the most out of life.
One time, when a friend from college stayed with me,
my mom called on her way home from work to ask if we wanted something to eat.
I had my mom on speakerphone as she said, I'll get you anything,
frozen yogurt, your favorite salad, anything you'd like.
My friend was totally blown away.
She was like, is your mom like this all the time?
where you can just dream a dream and she'll happily make it come true?
I replied, actually, yes.
And I'll always remember my friend's reaction and that phrase, dream a dream.
It was so helpful
because it made me realize how unusual it was for moms to be enthusiastic about making our every whim a reality.
I do love this about my mom, and I've inherited some of these tendencies myself.
I'm always eager to take my stepdaughter for ice cream after school or dream up a perfect birthday party for her.
And I enjoy celebrating people whenever I can.
Sometimes, though, my habit of immediate gratification gets in the way.
And it's in moments like these that I'm grateful to have a steady mindfulness practice.