In these days we are fortunate to have access to many time saving devices. We have microwaves to instantly heat our food and fast-food restaurants when instant heat is too inconvenient. We have minute-rice and instant potatoes. There is instant access to information and bank machines for instant access to cash, so you can instantly purchase whatever you need. All this instantness (if that's a word) is a great convenience.
With many people, whatever they want or need will instantly appear. These are a few of the great benefits of progress.
It's important to remember that all conveniences came about because of the hard work, perseverance and failures of others. Somewhere along the line, somebody has had to put in the effort. It was nice of these people to build the convenience so we could have it in exchange for our money.
However, quick solutions can spawn an expectation of immediacy. People may be drawn into the perception that whatever they want should be available right away. This in itself is not entirely bad, but as with most things, if it goes too far it can have a downside as well.
There are two main problems that tend to surface. One is that people want, no - expect, things instantly. It becomes difficult to wait for something worth having, and therefore these people have troubles self-regulating. The other problem with having instant access is some people gain the expectation that things should be available without effort. Not having to apply effort to meet goals reduces one's resilience to adversity.
Lack of Self-Regulation
The "immediate" part of "immediate gratification" has to be regulated. Without the ability to self-regulate, problems can grow quickly.
It is tough though. Advertising campaigns direct you to go out immediately and buy their solution to your problems. If you do not, they infer that you are a bad parent or an irresponsible person. They play on your fears to get you to purchase. They help to install immediacy in every need.
In clinical studies it has been proven that many people who have a choice between a small prize immediately and a larger prize later will often choose the immediate prize. This is especially true when the waiting period is not enjoyable or there is no distraction, like when training a specific skill.
Without being able to self-regulate, getting through life will be a difficult and often painful process. People will stop assisting because your expectations cause others hard work, and you (of course) expect the results immediately. People will tell you to ... well, they will not be kind. The people who are to service your request for immediate gratification will not appreciate your unrealistic expectations. Eventually their support network will dry up. I have a friend who puts his credit cards in a glass of water and puts that glass in the freezer. Then when he wants to use his credit cards he must wait until his cards unfreeze. He is doing what is difficult in order to master self-regulation. He is using a glass full of ice as his path to enlightenment and self growth. Good job!
Some people apply tricks to make other people (and often themselves) believe that they have obtained the valuable skill. These tricks are applied to try and circumvent the hard work. However, their impersonation is only a shell of the true skill. The true skills require time and boring practice before they will appear. A person who has gained the skill through hard work can spot an impersonation easily and will naturally not have respect for the impersonator. Many students will take advantage of the rules in their search for ways to circumvent hard work; they look for a trick that is easy and satisfies their need for instant gratification. This is often called cheating and although it may give immediate appearance of success, will lead to problems later on.
There are many life skills that are taught from waiting for a result, earning or creating the result, or even finding alternatives when the result cannot be had. Results that come too easily are not highly prized and will be too quickly pushed aside in search for the next instant gratification.
When personal hard work is not involved in gaining results, a person also develops a poor work ethic. A strong work ethic promotes a strong moral compass and enhances a person's character. Both of these are keys to success, happiness, and eventually enlightenment.
In ving tsun kung fu, self-regulation and a strong work ethic are taught by ensuring all students work hard in order to earn their skill. The students feel pride and confidence in having set a goal and achieved it. Achieving these goals through hardships and hard work over a longer period of time builds resilience. The student will learn how to handle problems and adversity, and will be able to handle life's challenges.
Reduced Resilience to Adversity
Resilience is a key to being able to bounce back when things do not go as planned. It is the ability to change and go with the flow.
If there is a strong expectation of instant gratification, people expect instant solutions with no personal sacrifice. Meeting their goals becomes too easy. They do not fail or encounter problems. When a person does not fail or encounter problems, they do not learn how to solve problems or deal with adversity.
Without resilience, the smallest setback will be overwhelming. Advancement will stop and depression will set in. A person will begin to feel like a failure, they will feel they cannot succeed. Soon they will stop trying. This is a dangerous but very real possibility.
Interview with Kung Fu Master Wayne Belonoha
Martial Edge is in conversation with 7th Dan kung fu master, Wayne Belonoha. The author of “Wing Chun Compendium” Lesley Jackson finds out what makes martial arts master tick.
I've written an entire article on resilience. Check it out in the reading room on our website. Suffice it to say, not teaching people to be resilient can result in a host of life problems.
The secret to becoming resilient is to encounter and defeat problems. It's impossible to learn how to succeed without failing.
This resilience is the key to happiness. It's knowing that you can adapt when confronted with a difficult goal or adversity - and that you can still succeed.
Through this your self-confidence will grow as well.
Next, I want to draw attention to this relationship between what's enjoyable or valuable and the effort associated with getting it. This link is sometimes easy to forget. Marketing people know it's easy to forget and use this to their advantage. They will try to sell you on the benefits while trying to get you to forget about the work involved.
Gyms will sell you the health benefits and conveniently forget to remind you of the effort required to lose those last 10 pounds. They hope you've become used to paying for something and having it magically appear. They want to link into your experiences with instant gratification and imply that if you pay their fees the results you want will also magically appear.
However, there is a catch. There are some things that just plain take time and hard work. All these things have to do with improving your mind or body. Since it's your mind and body the only person who can make improvements is you. And the only way to get those improvements is through hard work, perseverance, and failure.
It's true (sorry).
Gyms want you to believe if you pay money, you will get immediate and long lasting results without effort. Other wing chun schools want you to believe the same. Women's self-defence classes want you to believe that if you pay for a weekend seminar you will be able to defeat the natural advantage of somebody much larger and stronger than you.
We want you to believe the hard truth even though it may not let us trick you out of your money. We want you to believe that any skill worth having is going to be hard work. We will set difficult but realistic goals and you will work hard and meet those goals. This will result in a growth in true skill that will be there when it's needed. It will also help you to build resilience, confidence, and a strong work ethic.
Many advertising agencies want to sell the benefits and shield you from the cost. We prefer to tell you the cost plus the benefits - and then let you make an informed decision. By setting the expectation up front we get a more highly committed, motivated, and honest group of people. This results in a higher quality student, higher level of overall skill and lower dropout rate.
With this strong support group of peers, the learning and hard work actually becomes fun and motivating. You will feel good when you are successful at meeting your challenging goals through work hard. Your group of friends and training partners are there to support you in your successes because they will appreciate the effort involved. Soon you will become more confident and resilient to difficulties as a result of your success.
In ving tsun kung fu we want to foster a strong work ethic and an understanding that anything worth achieving is worth working for. Sure you can steal it or trick others into believing you have it, but that is false achievement.
The pursuit of true skill will drive people to achieve the skills necessary to lead a happy and successful life. The trick is to just work hard. People will recognize the hard work. They will like and respect you. Next thing you know, good things will start to come your way.
If you want to be successful in life, take the time to work hard at your ving tsun. Do not do what is easy, do what is right, and you will be successful.
Philosophy and Opinion 
In these days we are fortunate to have access to many time saving devices. We have microwaves to instantly heat our food and fast-food restaurants when instant heat is too inconvenient. We have minute-rice and instant potatoes. There is instant access to information and bank machines for instant access to cash, so you can instantly purchase whatever you need. All this instantness (if that's a word) is a great convenience. 
purchase. They help to install immediacy in every need. 
(0 vote)
