PROMISE YOURSELF A REWARD BUT DON'T GIVE IT

This is one of the best technique to keep you going and master the idea of delayed gratification... promise yourself a reward but don't give it. It's been working for me for years and it never failed me, this keeps me hungry and motivated. Because most people will lose the desire to push for more once they get what they want, they already feel successful and that's the start of their falter. 

If you get comfortable with your small success then you're in danger. It's either you become stagnant or you fall down, because you will never push yourself anymore, you will no longer dare to become great, and that is bad, really really bad. 

Promise to buy yourself a car once you made a million. Promise yourself to buy a new cellphone once you saved thousand dollars. Promise yourself to buy new clothes if you pass the exam then don't buy it. The reason for this is to make you hungrier, to elevate your ability to practice delayed gratification even more. 

The key here is to trick your mind that you're going to get something, that you're going to get some pleasures but don't give it that fast yet, delay it as much as you can for as long as you can... that's how to become more disciplined and mentally tougher. 

Because the truth is you don't need pleasure at all, you don't need tasty celebrations or prizes because what you have for now is already enough. It just serves as a motivation to level up your life and become the best version of yourself. 

ALWAYS DEPRIVE YOURSELF OF A REWARD

You don't need to reward yourself because it's your duty to make your life better. Depriving yourself of external things that doesn't matter is the reward itself because you become a better person, you put yourself on a better position by doing that. Always asking for a reward will make you soft. It's your obligation to work hard as much as you can to see what you are capable of achieving. And the truth is... the more you deprive yourself the more you will be in control.

You will have more money if you deprive yourself of spending. You will have a better health if you deprive yourself of eating junk foods, you will have more time if you deprive yourself of useless and fun entertainment. Self deprivation is power, it means you're rewarding yourself for a better life. 

It takes practice and a lot of time to master this, it takes patience but this is what successful people do... they deprive themselves of a reward because they're always looking at the bigger picture. 

DON'T CHASE SUCCESS CHASE THE PROCESS

It's not about eating the most delicious food or driving the most expensive car or living in a super big house. It's about the process of getting there. If you're doing whatever it takes to get what you want then there is no need to worry if you will get it. You will get it on the right time so just be happy of what you have today and always practice delayed gratification. You will get it because you're already doing the process of getting it, you will get it no matter what. Even if it is delayed, even if it's a lot of struggle.. you will still get it so be patient and never cry or whine if you can't see some hope, never feel bad if you're struggling bad. 

Focus on the process, trust the process because that's the most important thing. Because at the end of the day... you will still do some other process once you get what you really want. Focus on the process and you will never get bored anymore. 

THINKING ABOUT THE REWARD MAKES YOU LAZY AND UNFOCUSED

You're always thinking about it, you're always feeling bad because it's not yet there in your life. Stop thinking about the reward now and just enjoy what you're doing, test it for months or years and watch how your life will change. Because if you really believe in what you do then you don't need to think about it a lot. Because you are only depleting your own energy by doing so. Believe that it's already yours and just do the process... as simple as that. If you really believe in yourself then you don't need to think about it a lot because it's wasting your time and you're feeling bad because it's not in your hands yet, it's making you feel so stuck and helpless. So just focus on the process of getting it and never stop. Use your energy wisely, be smart because you have to use your time properly, stop wasting your time for activities that's not even helping you at all. 

EXTERNAL THINGS MAKES YOU WEAK

Material things, what you want you really don't need. You think you need it because you're craving for it. But you need to use that hanger and channel it to work harder. Use it as your inspiration and not for depression. Most people were depressed because they can't get what they want. But once they get what they want they're always looking for more. It's ok to have what you want but you must keep in mind that it's not the only thing that makes you happy. 

NO SACRIFICE NO PROGRESS

It is what it is, it's really going to get hard. No sacrifice no progress. You really have to choose the more difficult path if you want to make a progress. It is what it is, it's going to get hard but it's worth it. Don't be afraid to make sacrifices because by doing so you will be able to experience a much better life, much better than what it was before. The difference is really big and you will be amazed at how big of an improvement you were able to manufacture. 

TIME IS FAST

Don't worry about what you're feeling right now, time is fast. If you're feeling bad now... don't worry because it will pass. It's just a feeling, it's just an emotion. Today is January, you will never recognized that it's already December. Time is fast, get use to making sacrifices because it's not forever. Time will come and all of your pain and hard work will pay off.