The Internal War

Instant gratification versus delayed gratification. It’s a battle we all fight, whether we know it or not. It such a common and prevalent problem that there's even a word for it: Akrasia. It’s when we act against our better judgment, choosing what feels good now, instead of what would be good in the long term.

Procrastination is one of the most prevalent examples. Most the time I will know I have an assignment due, but instead of doing it, I convince myself that I “need a break.” Next thing I know, I’ve wasted hours scrolling on Tiktok or watching random YouTube videos. The thing is I know it’s going to catch up to me later and cause issues, but for now, it feels easier. That right there is Akrasia in action.

Same thing with junk food. I’ll try to stay healthy, telling myself I'm eating cleaning form now and then someone brings ice cream or cookies. I give in, telling myself it’s “just once.” But that once turns in to more occasions. I know I’ll regret it, but I still choose the short-term comfort. It’s frustrating, because the long-term goal is really clear: be healthier and more disciplined to feel better, but the short term gratification wins most the time.

And sometimes, it’s not even just about you. Peer pressure plays a huge role too. A good example of this is with drinking. people might not want to, but when they're with their friends and they all are drinking, they feel like the odd one out, and no one likes that, so they join in. Have a drink this "one" time to fit in even though in the long run it's most likely not the smartest move.  Your the voice that wants comfort, fun, and acceptance starts talking louder than the part of you that wants to do the right thing in the long run, and it's really hard to beat that.

Now, that internal war? That’s Akrasia. And it’s not about being lazy or weak. It’s simply just human nature. The struggle to choose long-term happiness over short-term relief is one of the hardest parts of growing up, but it's not impossible to do. Learning to resist these temptations and become more disciplined it where real growth starts to take place.



Comments

  1. Pratyush NeelakantanApril 6, 2025 at 2:03 PM

    I agree with your notion that the "internal war" of akrasia is an inherent part of human nature. Connecting back to Vyom's blog, akrasia is the battle between the different parts of the human psyche which value conflicting ideals. While it's not impossible for one to choose long-term over short-term, it certainly is challenging.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Vyom KashiApril 6, 2025 at 4:29 PM

    I agree that akrasia is part of an internal war that it wins, I also agree that akrasia makes us choose options that provide us with gain in the short run but blinds us to the effects in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  3. RishiApril 6, 2025 at 6:09 PM

    I like how you talked about akrasia. Also liked the use of examples so the reader can relate.

    ReplyDelete

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