With this title, you’d probably be thinking of that 80’s hit by Laura Branigan; well, if you’re over 40, that is; but it’s most likely that you’d be in your twenties now, wondering if I’m talking about discipline, state management, anger management or what. So, let’s get right down to the point.

Self-Control is about discipline, which ultimately means that whatever you promise to yourself, you make it happen no matter what. It is also about your mental and emotional state, and it definitely sounds like a fine tool to have available.

It’s interesting to note that self-control acts just like a muscle: it gets tired after repeated use and needs recovery periods afterward; but it can also be trained and built up over time by exercising it, just like you’d do at the gym.

The more you practice it, the better you get at it.

As in anything worth attaining, this takes time and energy to master –two of the scarcest resources in our fast-speed daily life, so by now, you’d probably be asking yourself “what am I going to get in return”, right?

Well, research shows these as some of the benefits you can enjoy when you achieve a high level of self-control:

• Enhances decision making capability

Once we manage a certain level of self-control in any given situation, we can evaluate it better and come up with a enhanced decision because our minds are working on a higher level where the solutions are.

• Increases your chances for success

You have more chances of moving past the volley of challenges you always find in the way and overcome them with persistence and dedication unavailable without self-control 

• Improves your focus

More often than not, we’re subjected to big amounts of pressure while solving our daily challenges; high levels of self-control allow us not to be distracted by negative thoughts and emotions and focus our energies on our tasks at hand instead. 

• Endorses congruence

The best way to keep our eyes on the ball whenever two conflicting desires show up in our minds. As we said at the beginning of this article, it helps us keep our promises to ourselves, no matter what.

Wrapping it up, self-control is one of the most important skills we can ever learn. Their benefits reach all areas of our lives, helping us make better decisions and create a great life as a result.

Go on, give it a try.

Cheers!