Welcome to this issue of the WISER Newsletter!

This is the newsletter where you’ll receive Wise Insights Shared by Email Regularly. 

You’ll note that this issue looks a little different to the last 6 issues. I’ve moved newsletter platforms, but don’t worry! It might look different, but it’s the same quality content coming straight to your inbox!

I’m glad that we can get WISER together!

Let’s kick-off this issue with a question:

 🍪 Would you rather have 1 cookie today or 2 cookies tomorrow? 🍪🍪

This visual is based off of the Stanford marshmallow experiment of 1972.

I first came across this idea in Walter Mischel’s book The Marshmallow Test: Mastering Self-control. 

It reflects on the value of delayed gratification.

If you are able to delay your enjoyment of something, you’ll often find that you have more to enjoy.

Investing is typically a great example of this.

If you choose to money into investments instead of spending it, it typically compounds and compounds over years.

You’ll find in a few years time, you’ll have far more than you actually invested, and now you can enjoy the rewards because you delayed your gratification.

🤔 But what about living in the moment?

This conflicts with Gillian Dunn’s TED Talk titled Change Your Closet, Change Your Life.

In this video, Gillie summarises her talk with the saying “Don’t let your candle melt in the closet.”

She’s essentially saying that saving things for special events may not be wise, and that you should consider:

• Wearing those clothes that you were saving for special occasions

• Using the fancy crockery for an everyday dinner

• Lighting that candle that you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment

Many of us do this, right? This is especially common in video games.

If you’ve ever played something like Zelda or Skyrim, you’ll collect lots of useful items over the course of your adventure, only to complete the game with an inventory full of useful stuff.

I find that I’m always saving that special potion for a really tough battle, but that perfect moment to use it never comes, despite having numerous opportunities to use it earlier in my adventure.

🤷‍♂️ Can both of these principles work together?

Yes! I am trying to embrace both of these concepts in different areas of my life.

I practice the act of delayed gratification in my finances as my wife and I are saving to buy a house.

But we’re getting in the habit of using the “special” things for the average day. We’ll eat those cherished chocolates or spritz that fancy fragrance to enjoy them whilst we can.

For me, it’s all about applying both of these principles in the right areas.

❓ What about you though?

• What’s your interpretation of these 2 principles?

• How do they apply to your life?

• What are the areas that you think you should apply the idea of delayed gratification to?

• What are the things that you could be enjoying whilst you have the chance?

Consider journalling through the above questions yourself.

✍️ What I’m Working On

I’m kicking off a better routine for the WISER Newsletter! When I say that you’ll receive it regularly, you will receive it regularly.

I have a few close friends looking at the latest draft of my journalling e-book. I hope that it will be ready in the next 2 weeks! Watch this space!

And because of all of the investment and support of individuals like you, I am now in a position to begin acquiring equipment to kick off a YouTube channel in the new year. To be the first to know when I upload, subscribe here. 

😊 Thank You!

Thanks for checking out the second issue of the WISER Newsletter. If you have any feedback, I’d love to hear it!

Simply reply to this email, and I’ll get back to you.

Alternatively, just DM me on social media. You can find me here:

• 📷 Instagram

• 🐦 Twitter

• 🔗 LinkedIn

• 🟦 Facebook

• 🔴 Youtube

Catch you in the next issue!

Thanks,

Michael