Do you recall a time when you looked forward to something – whether it was a birthday party, an upcoming trip, an expected guest, or even planning and saving to make a large purchase? Those were likely meaningful times.
We are caught up in a world of instant gratification. We see it – we want it – and we buy it, even if it means going into debt. And unfortunately, we are often teaching our children to expect gratification to be instantaneous as well. They see a new toy, they want it, and we buy it. And often, the new toy winds up cast aside in the overflowing toy box with all of the other impulse purchases.
Anticipation can actually make us feel better in the moment, boosting our mood and lowering stress. According to Simon A. Rego, chief psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, anticipation “can increase motivation, optimism, and patience and decrease irritability.”
Looking forward to your child’s high school graduation or the birth of a new baby can be exciting times, if we will embrace the anticipation. Think of what you would miss out on if you went from news of a pregnancy one day to the birth the next day. You wouldn’t have baby showers, no time to discuss possible names, no gender-reveal party, there wouldn’t be time to get the nursery ready, and on and on the list goes. The anticipation can oftentimes be as much fun as the actual event.
Next time, we will rachet anticipation up a notch. But for today, I encourage you to look forward to, get excited about, and embrace the opportunity to anticipate.