8.4 Jay Shetty: Planting Flowers

"There is no plant in the world that grows the day you plant the seed. It takes months, sometimes even years, for a tree to have a beautiful fruit or a beautiful flower." - Jay Shetty

How patient are you?

The Marshmallow Experiment was a famous psychological study on delayed gratification where researchers put kids in a room with a marshmallow and a choice: Eat the marshmallow now, or wait 15 minutes and get a second one.

Years later, the research showed that kids who delayed gratification tended to have better academic performance, healthier lifestyles, and stronger relationships.

The study suggests that the ability to resist immediate temptations and delay gratification is linked to long-term success in many areas of life.

This is true on so many levels. We want what we want right now, but greatness takes time.

Improvement, growth, and mastery never happen overnight. The best athletes, students, and leaders all share one thing: They stay committed long enough to see their work pay off.

Podcaster and author Jay Shetty said, "There is no plant in the world that grows the day you plant the seed. It takes months, sometimes even years, for a tree to have a beautiful fruit or a beautiful flower."

Just like a seed needs time, sunlight, water, and care to grow into a plant or tree, your goals, skills, and dreams also need time and effort to develop. You won’t see results right away, but that doesn’t mean growth isn’t happening.

In a world of quick rewards, it’s easy to get frustrated when progress feels slow. But real growth—whether in sport, school, or life—requires time, discipline, and patience.

Something to Think About: In what areas do you need more patience and more focus?