To delay gratification is in my belief; to forego consumption today for greater prosperity tomorrow or better put, delay today's enjoyment for tomorrows benefit. The benefactors who stick to their strategy, have more consistent performance over time. By finding ways to embolden ones own discipline by either looking away, or by holding your long throat, one can use similar tactics to do the same thing as an investor. Think out a plan. Write it down. Set up automatic deposit or dividend reinvestment plans.
Does it therefore mean that the outcome of an investment can be determined in advance when we delay enjoyment/gratification?
If you delay something like purchasing a new car then you have the money right now so you can use it as capital which gives returns to you so later you can buy the same thing you wanted along with the money which you have earned from the capital alone so it means delaying will give the opportunity to buy something with no spending of money.