I want to talk to you about something that might sound crazy – I tell my clients to eat marshmallows.
Before you think I’ve lost it, let me explain. Hey there! I’m Coach Maya. Tell me if this sounds familiar: “I’ll take that vacation after this project,” or “I’ll start working out once things slow down.” If you’re nodding, you’re not alone. Whether you’re running teams, building your own business, or proving yourself as a young professional, we’ve all been there.
You’ve probably heard of the famous marshmallow study – kids who waited for two marshmallows were supposedly more successful later. This taught us that success equals delaying gratification. But here’s what’s fascinating – when researchers tried to replicate this study recently, they couldn’t get the same results. Life is way more complicated than “just wait and good things will happen.”
The real problem is this: if you keep waiting for the “perfect time” to enjoy life, that time never comes. There’s always another deadline, another crisis. You get stuck in the “someday trap.” Here’s what’s really wild – some psychologists found that when we keep delaying gratification, we actually start getting a kick out of the delaying itself. Crazy, right? We can end up living our whole lives without ever doing the things that bring us joy.
Let me tell you about Emily. She’s a Senior VP working 14-hour days, waking up at 4 AM just to keep up. She was so burned out, she couldn’t remember what she enjoyed doing for fun.
I asked her to find her “mini marshmallows” – small moments of joy she could fit into her schedule. For Emily, it was putting on her walking shoes and taking a 30-minute walk at lunch. That’s it. One month later, she called it life-changing – not because the walk was magical, but because she remembered she was allowed to have nice things during her day.
Here’s what I want you to try
- Find your mini marshmallows. What’s one small thing that makes you happy that you can do today? Maybe it’s actually tasting your coffee instead of rushing through it, or putting on music you love during your commute.
- Take an honest look at your schedule. I know everything feels urgent, but if a stranger looked at your day, what would they see? You might discover meetings you don’t need to attend or realize that saying “no” occasionally won’t end your career.
When you constantly put off happiness for future success, you might just be putting off happiness forever. Your marshmallows aren’t rewards you earn later – they’re fuel for the journey you’re on right now.
So here’s your challenge: Find one marshmallow you can enjoy today. Then notice how it feels to put your well-being first, even in a tiny way.
What’s your marshmallow going to be? Share this with someone who needs to hear it, and hit subscribe for more real-world strategies for busy leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals.
Remember, taking care of yourself isn’t selfish – it’s smart. Go eat that marshmallow.
You got this, my friend!
This is Coach Maya. See you next time!
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Maya Hu-Chan is a globally recognized speaker, author, leadership consultant, and ICF Master Certified Coach. She specializes in global leadership, cross-cultural management, and diversity and inclusion. Maya also offers keynotes and leadership workshops. Contact her here: https://mayahuchan.com/contact/