Developing Self-Control

DEVELOPING SELF-CONTROL

 

PART 1

 

Obstacles to Self-Control:

 

- Lack of knowledge and understanding what self-control really is.

- Strong and uncontrolled emotional responses.

- Reacting to outside stimuli without thinking first.

- Lack of discipline and willpower.

- Lack of the desire to change and improve.

- The belief that self control eliminates fun.

- Lack of confidence in ones self.

 

 

The Benefits:

• It helps build self-conficence. 
• You accomplish more, and are therefore more productive.
• You are able to maintain a higher tolerance for frustration, obstacles and negative emotions.
• Allows you to obtain better health, better finances and a good work ethic.
• You are able to reach your most difficult goals more efficiently. 
• The more disciplined you become, the easier life gets.

 

 

Practical tips in Developing Self Control:

 

 

Start with baby steps. No process takes place overnight. Just as it takes time to build muscle, so does it take time to develop self-discipline. The more you train and build it, the stronger you become. In exercise, if you try to do too much at once, you could injure yourself and have a setback. Likewise, take it one step at a time in building self-discipline. So, begin by making the decision to go forward and learning what it takes to get there.

 

 

Learn what motivates you and what your bad triggers are. You can begin by learning about yourself! Sometimes it is very difficult to fight off urges and cravings, so know the areas where your resistance is low and how to avoid those situations. 

 

If you know you can't resist cake, fries or other temptations - stay away from them. Do not have them around to lure you in moments of weakness.

 

If you also know that putting pressure on yourself does not work for you, then set yourself up in an environment that encourages the building of self-discipline, rather than one that sabotages it.

 

Remove the temptations and surround yourself with soothing and encouraging items such as motivating slogans and pictures of what you want to achieve. 

 

Learn also what energizes and motivates you. Your willpower can go up and down with your energy levels so play energetic music to perk you up, move around, laugh.

 

Train yourself to enjoy what you are doing by being energized. This will help you more easily implement desirable and appropriate behaviors into your routine - which is really what self-discipline is all about.

 

 

Make certain behaviors a routine. Once you have decided what's important to you and which goals to strive for, establish a daily routine that will help you achieve them.

 

For example if you want to eat healthily or lose weight; resolve to eat several servings of fruits and vegetables each day and exercise for at least half an hour.

 

Make it part of your daily routine and part of your self-discipline building.

 

Likewise, get rid of some of your bad, self-defeating habits, whatever they may be. They can put you in a negative frame of mind and hinder your self-discipline. A poor attitude can also be a bad habit.

 

 

Practice self-denial. Learn to say no to some of your feelings, impulses and urges. Train yourself to do what you know to be right, even if you don't feel like doing it.

 

• Skip dessert some evenings.
• Limit your TV watching.
• Resist the urge to yell at someone who has irritated you.
• Stop and think before you act.
• Think about consequences.
• When you practice self-restraint it helps you develop the habit of keeping other things under control.

 

Engage in sports or activities. Sports are an excellent way to enhance self- discipline. They train you to set goals, focus your mental and emotional energies, become physically fit, and to get along well with others. 

 

Participating in sports provides a situation where you learn to work hard and strive to do your best, which, in turn, teaches you to integrate the same the thought processes and disciplines into your everyday life.

 

Learning to play a musical instrument can be another great way to practice self-discipline. The focus, repetition and application required to learn to play one is invaluable. Achieving self-discipline in any one area of your life reprograms your mind to choose to do what is right, rather than what is easy.

 

Get inspiration from those you admire. Michael Jordan has always maintained that his greatness as a basketball player came as much from his willingness to work hard at his craft, as it did his talent.

 

It was his discipline; focus and determination to be the best that he could be that got him to where he was. If it worked for him, it could certainly work for the rest of us.