What comes to mind when you hear this phrase?  Do you feel guilty for that last purchase?  Are you thinking about your wallet?  Does your mind go to a pretty dark place in light of this idea?  Do you think that you are not one of these people who has the inability to delay gratification?

I think this a powerful force in shaping identity.  If you have the inability to delay gratification, you will behave in a certain way.  Your values are shaped by this powerful concept.  Even as I write this, I am not sure I can articulate the things that impact me in this way.  I can think of a few things, but I am not sure I’ve done that deep thinking in this area.

At the core of this concept is a deep, deep need in your soul.  That thing in your life that needs gratification is that thing in your life that shapes you.  You want to figure out your identity – here’s one way that might help you do that.