Difference between revisions of "Self-control"

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'''Self-control.'''
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[[File:Hand and cookies.jpg|thumbnail|right|300px|[[Obesity]] is positively associated with impulsiveness, lower self-control and [[neuroticism]].<ref>
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*[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18549987 Personality traits and eating behavior in the obese: poor self-control in emotional and external eating but personality assets in restrained eating]
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*[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19433123 Eating styles, self-control and obesity indicators. The moderating role of obesity status and dieting history on restrained eating]
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*[http://www.wellspringcamps.com/obesity_research.html Wellspring Camps - Obesity research]</ref> ]]
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'''Self-Control''' is defined by the Meriam Dictionary as ''restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires".<ref>[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-control Self-Control - Webster-Merriam dictionary]</ref> See also: [[Free will]]
  
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== Self-control and the Holy Spirit/Bible ==
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[[Image:Prayer.jpg|thumbnail|right|300px|Praying Hands.
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<br />
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<br />
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The [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[Gary Habermas]] wrote: "Double-blind prayer experiments: where people pray for others with terminal illness. Habermas admitted that most such experiments have not worked, but the three that he knows of that have indeed worked were cases of [[orthodox-Christian]]s praying for the sick."<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-apologist-10-reasons-for-the-fall-of-atheism-106531/ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism] by [[Gary Habermas]]</ref>]]
 
One of the fruits of the [[Holy Spirit]].
 
One of the fruits of the [[Holy Spirit]].
  
 
The [[Fruits of the Holy Spirit]] are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them.
 
The [[Fruits of the Holy Spirit]] are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them.
  
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[[Category:Virtues]]
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=== Self-control and the Bible/Christianity ===
  
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'''Self-Control''' is defined by the Meriam Dictionary as ''restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires'' <ref>http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-control</ref>
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*[http://bible.org/seriespage/mark-10-self-control Self-control - Bible.org]
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*[http://bible.org/seriespage/self-control-galatians-523 Self-control - 2nd lesson at Bible.org]
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*[http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-tips/the-fruit-of-self-control-self-discipline.htm 3 Bible tips for Self- control]
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*[http://www.netbiblestudy.com/00_cartimages/Self-Control.pdf Self-control online Christian book - Control Yourself: Practicing the art of Self-Discipline by D.H. Kehl]
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBXK4mtgEyE&list=PLbTFhPispU_vPsO7j3peiBcn2x989RqA1 Self-control Bible - video playlist]
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==== Bible verses on self-control ====
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*[https://www.openbible.info/topics/self-control Bible verses on self-control]
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*[https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-self-control/ 27 Bible Verses About Self Control] - All Bible versions, BibleStudytool.org
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*[https://www.notconsumed.com/36-bible-verses-about-self-control/ 36 Bible Verses About Self-Control]
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*[https://www.biblelyfe.com/blog/bible-verses-about-self-control 20 Bible Verses about Self-Control]
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*[https://dailyverses.net/self-control/nrsv 21 Bible verses on self-control] (NRSV version)
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Video/audio:
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpJXOC-7uHE Bible Verses About Self-Control]
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f_E-ttDysg The Fruit of the Spirit is SELF-CONTROL! // 30 Bible Verses about Self-Control & Being slow to Anger]
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_WHO8Ck1WE Bible verses about Self - Control - Audio Bible]
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=A5pgDna9h0I Bible Verses About Self Control]
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==== Bible verses on resisting temptation ====
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*[https://www.openbible.info/topics/overcoming_temptation Overcoming Temptation], Openbible.info
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*[https://activechristianity.org/29-bible-verses-to-empower-you-to-resist-temptation 29 Bible verses to empower you to resist temptation], Active Christianity website
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*[https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/temptation-bible-verses/ Resisting Temptation Bible Verses], Bible Study Tools website
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*[https://jasonalowe.com/2020/08/24/7-bible-verses-to-read-whenever-you-face-temptation/ 7 Bible Verses to Read Whenever You Face Temptation]
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== Religion and self-control ==
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Engaging in virtuous behavior and quenching temptations to engage in immoral behavior requires self-control.
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In the journal article ''Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: Associations, explanations, and implications'', psychologists McCullough and Willoughby theorize that many of the positive links of religiousness with health and social behavior may be caused by religion's beneficial influences on self-control/self-regulation.<ref>[http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf Religion, Self-Regulation, and Self-Control: Associations, Explanations, and Implications]</ref><ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210054 Religion, Self-Regulation, and Self-Control: Associations, Explanations, and Implications]</ref> Furthermore, a 2012 Queen's University study published in ''Psychological Science'' found that religion replenishes self-control.<ref>[http://pss.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/05/02/0956797611431987.abstract ''Religion Replenishes Self-Control'', ''Psychological Science'', June 2012 vol. 23 no. 6 635-642, Kevin Rounding, Albert Lee, Jill A. Jacobson and Li-Jun Ji at Queen’s University]</ref><ref>[http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/qu-qsf012412.php Study finds religion helps us gain self-control]</ref>
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=== Research of Andrew Newberg M.D. related to intense prayer ===
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Research indicates that 12 minutes of daily intense prayer over an eight-week period can change the brain to such a degree that it can be measured on a brain scan. This method of prayer appears to increase activity in brain areas associated with social interaction and compassion/thoughtfulness. In addition, it increases frontal lobe activity as focus and intentionality increase.<ref>[http://drleaf.com/blog/how-prayer-affects-the-brain/ How Prayer Affects the Brain]</ref><ref>[https://www.amazon.com/How-Changes-Your-Brain-Neuroscientist/dp/0345503422 How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist]</ref><ref>How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist– March 23, 2010 by Andrew Newberg M.D,    Mark Robert Waldman. Pages 26,27</ref>
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== Increasing self-control techniques ==
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[[Image:Homer.gif|right|200px|thumb|[[Homer]] ]]
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Below are various techniques to increase self-control:<ref>[[Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength]] by Roy F. Baumeister and John Tierney. Penguin Press; 1st edition (September 1, 2011)</ref>
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'''1.''' Eat three meals a day and eat low glycemic index foods (People with low glucose levels have lower levels of willpower).
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'''2.''' Get enough sleep. Tired people have lower levels of willpower.
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'''3.''' Bright lines method (Making steadfast rules that you absolutely commit to. For example, a person committing to eating healthier making a steadfast rule not to go into convenience stores).
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'''4.''' Set clear goals. See: [[Goal setting]]
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'''5.''' Behavior monitoring (Get on scale every day for weight loss, use a spreadsheet to track daily performance, etc.)
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'''6.''' Precommitment strategy which involves restricting choices to better alternatives (Only buying healthy food at grocery store or using portion control for weight loss; browser addons that block various time wasting websites for better [[time management]], etc.). In [[Homer]]'s book ''The Odyssey'',  Ulysses tells his sailors to bind him to the mast of his ship and block their ears before sailing past the island of the Sirens, whose enchanting song draws sailors to shipwreck.
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'''7.''' Turn a positive behavior into a [[habit]] (For example, exercising at the same time every day.).
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'''8.''' Regular exercise increases willpower.<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6971834/#:~:text=Overall%2C%20the%20weight%20of%20evidence,and%20older%20adults%20%5B61%5D. Self-Control and Exercise: A Review of the Bi-Directional Relationship], ''Brain Plasticity'' 2019; 5(1): 97–104. Published online 2019 Dec 26. Prepublished online 2019 Dec 19. doi: 10.3233/BPL-190082</ref>
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'''9.''' Practice [[Self-regulation|self-regulation]] strategies/techniques. Self-control involves inhibiting impulses and emotions whereas self-regulation focuses on reducing the intensity and frequency of those impulses.<ref>[https://saotg.com/self-regulation-vs-self-control/#:~:text=While%20these%20may%20sound%20like,and%20frequency%20of%20those%20impulses. Self-Regulation vs. Self-Control]</ref>
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'''Articles on self-control techniques:'''
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*[https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/articles/8-easy-ways-to-increase-your-self-control/ 8 EASY WAYS TO INCREASE YOUR SELF-CONTROL]
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*[http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennifercohen/2014/06/18/5-proven-methods-for-gaining-self-discipline/ 5 Proven Methods For Improving Self Discipline]
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*[http://www.cssreflex.com/2012/06/10-tips-superior-power-freelancer.html/ 10 tips for strengthening self-discipline]
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*[http://www.thefeelgoodlifestyle.com/willpower-discipline.html Just Do It: 11 Proven Ways to Increase Your Willpower and Self-Discipline]
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*[http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/inspiration-motivation/increase-your-willpower 5 ways to boost your willpower]
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*[https://blog.bufferapp.com/willpower-and-the-brain-why-its-so-hard-to-avoid-temptation 6 ways to boost your willpower]
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*[http://expertenough.com/2319/self-discipline 4 Simple Steps to Building Stronger Self-Discipline]
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*[http://www.uncommonhelp.me/articles/self-discipline-techniques/ 7 self-discipline techniques]
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*[http://sidsavara.com/personal-development/will-power-how-to-improve-your-personal-self-discipline 7 ways to increase discipline]
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== Kelly McGonigal self-control methods and other research ==
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=== Kelly McGonigal ===
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Kelly McGonigal defines willpower as "the ability to do what you really want to do when part of you really doesn’t want to do it."
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It consists of three elements:
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#I will – the ability to do what you need to do
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#I won't – resisting temptation
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#I want – Your goals and noble desires
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McGonigal recommends increasing willpower though getting proper sleep, exercise and nutrition. Engaging in mindfulness and meditation.  Meditation can increase the prefrontal cortex part of the brain which is a center of the brain key to willpower.<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3190564/ Neurobiology of Spirituality], E. Mohandas, M.D.</ref><ref>[http://digest.bps.org.uk/2015/06/the-psychology-of-mindfulness-digested.html The Psychology of Mindfulness, Digested]</ref>
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5BXuZL1HAg&list=PL1d66cNsrwQsJfXPuQR1aqfWU545Q7vzt Kelly McGonigal - Willpower - playlist]
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*[http://blog.ted.com/the-science-of-willpower-kelly-mcgonigal-on-why-its-so-dang-hard-to-stick-to-a-resolution/ Kelly McGonigal on keeping resolutions/goals]
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==== Future self ====
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*[http://kellymcgonigal.com/sow/letter-from-your-future-self/ Writing letter to future self technique]
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== Self-control via habits ==
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*[http://www.fasttracktofreedombook.blogspot.com/ Fast track to freedom - Breaking bad habits]
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=== James Clear on habits ===
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James Clear is a best-selling author who wrote the book ''Atomic Habits''.
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*[https://jamesclear.com/habit-guide How to Build a New Habit: This is Your Strategy Guide]
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*[https://jamesclear.com/habits The Habits Guide: How to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones]
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=== Self- control via habits: Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions (MCII) ===
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*[https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-science-success/201003/the-motivational-one-two-punch-overcoming-bad-habits The Motivational One-Two Punch for Overcoming Bad Habits The Motivational One-Two Punch for Overcoming Bad Habits]
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*[http://happierhuman.com/mental-contrasting/#Why_Does_Mental_Contrasting_Work Mental Contrasting – Effectiveness, Uses, and Precautions]
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*[https://hbr.org/2014/10/stop-being-so-positive Stop Being So Positive] - HBR
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*[http://www.businessinsider.com/gabriele-oettingen-woop-2016-6 Gabriele Oettingen - Business Insider]
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====  Videos: Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions (MCII) ====
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pooG3-Whqys&list=PLc2eSR_oncVhRZfnU4Lavw_T2xEI1fMt7 Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions - Playlist]
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=== Self-control via daily routines ===
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The creative lives of massively productive people like John Milton, Charles Dickens, Ludwig Beethoven and Edison follow strict daily routines. (i.e., when they would get up, when they would start work, when they would exercise and when they would relax). Peak productivity’s not about luck. It’s about devotion.
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*[http://www.fastcodesign.com/3032874/infographic-of-the-day/the-daily-routines-of-26-of-historys-most-creative-minds The daily routines of 26 of history's most creative minds]
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*[http://www.robinsharma.com/blog/09/become-the-most-productive-person-you-know Become the most productive person you know]
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== Disciplined thinking ==
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCJqLVtgCqY&list=PLi6SPoxGbCqU1NbYR24hPsru_G_7TsNjI Disciplined thinking]
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*[http://www.standard.net/Success-Strategies/2014/10/15/Da-Vinci-s-seven-secrets-to-great-accomplishments Lack of self-discipline and integrity are great enemies]
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== Science of self-control/willpower ==
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[[File:Cerebellum.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The human brain is the most complex physical entity in the universe.<ref>[http://creation.com/the-human-body-gods-masterpiece The Human Body: God's Masterpiece]</ref><ref>[http://creation.com/the-human-body-gods-masterpiece The Enigmatic Human Brain] by Wallace G. Smith</ref><ref>[http://www.creationmoments.com/radio/transcripts/most-complex-structure The Most Complex Structure], Creation Moments</ref>]]
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*[http://io9.com/how-to-make-your-willpower-stronger-according-to-sci-1677999508 How to Make Your Willpower Stronger -- According to Science]
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*[http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-science-of-self-control-can-you-increase-your-willpower/ The Science of Self-Control: Can You Increase Your Willpower?]
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*[http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-library/science-willpower-0 The Science of Willpower]
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*[http://www.openculture.com/2014/01/the-science-of-willpower.html Science of willpower - Open culture]
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*[http://www.success.com/article/the-science-of-willpower The science of willpower]
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eXKmQrPR0s&list=PLbTFhPispU_uvAt50hjNkj6hYDRnf7ON0 Woop and self-control]
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== Self-motivation ==
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''See also:'' [[Self-motivation]]
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'''Self-motivation''' is the internal drive that leads one to take action towards a goal.<ref>[https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/self-motivation.html Self-Motivation]</ref><ref>[https://www.betterup.com/blog/what-is-self-motivation#:~:text=To%20be%20specific%2C%20self%2Dmotivation,You%20want%20to%20stop. Learn how to be your own best ally for reaching your goals]</ref> It keeps us moving forward, even when we don't want to.
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=== Types of motivation ===
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[[File:CIF San Diego Championship 2007.jpg|thumbnail|right|300px|"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." - The [[Saint Paul|Apostle Paul]], 1 Corinthians 9:24]]
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The website Skillsyouneed.com indicates:
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:"In thinking about self-motivation, it is helpful to understand what motivates you to do things.
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:There are two main types of motivators: ‘intrinsic’ and ‘extrinsic’.
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:In their simplest form you can think about these two types of motivation as:
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:'''Intrinsic''' = related to what we want to do.
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:'''Extrinsic''' = related to what we have to do.
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:A more detailed definition is:
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:Intrinsic: To perform an action or task based on the expected or perceived satisfaction of performing the action or task. Intrinsic motivators include having fun, being interested and personal challenge.
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:Extrinsic: To perform an action or task in order to attain some sort of external reward, including money, power and good marks or grades.
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:Different people are motivated by different things and at different times in their lives. The same task may have more intrinsic motivators at certain times and more extrinsic motivators at others, and most tasks have a combination of the two types of motivation.<ref>[https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/self-motivation.html Self-Motivation]</ref>
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=== Self-motivation articles  ===
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*[https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/self-motivation.html Self-Motivation], Skillsyouneed.com
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*[https://www.mindtools.com/adosk97/how-self-motivated-are-you How Self-Motivated Are You?], Mindtools.com
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*[https://www.betterup.com/blog/what-is-self-motivation#:~:text=To%20be%20specific%2C%20self%2Dmotivation,You%20want%20to%20stop. Learn how to be your own best ally for reaching your goals]
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*[https://www.coursera.org/articles/how-to-motivate-yourself How to Motivate Yourself: 11 Tips for Self Improvement], Coursera.org
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*[https://www.vu.edu.au/about-vu/news-events/study-space/how-to-find-the-motivation-to-study Finding the motivation to study], Victoria University (Melbourne, Australia)
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*[https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/articles/what-advice-would-you-give-someone-lacking-motivation What advice would you give to someone lacking in motivation?], Mental Health Foundation
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== Books ==
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*[[Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength]] by Roy F. Baumeister and John Tierney. Penguin Press; 1st edition (September 1, 2011)
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*[[The Power of Discipline: How to Use Self Control and Mental Toughness to Achieve Your Goals by Daniel Walter]], Publisher: Independently published (April 8, 2020), ASIN: B086PRLDCB
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*''No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline'' by Brian Tracy. Vanguard Press (March 22, 2011)
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*''[[A Man or a Mouse by Sunday Adelaja|A Man or a Mouse]]'' by Sunday Adelaja. Golden Truth Publishing (August 15, 2018)
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== Quotes on self-control ==
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[[Image:Calvin Coolidge cph.3g10777.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Calvin Coolidge]] in 1919]]
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''See also:'' [[Self-control, willpower and resisting temptation quotes]]
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*"By constant self-discipline and self-control you can develop greatness of character." - Grenville Kleiser
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*"I value self-discipline, but creating systems that make it next to impossible to misbehave is more reliable than self-control." - Tim Ferriss
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*"Self-control, openness, the ability to engage with others, to plan and to persist - these are the attributes that get people in the door and on the job, and lead to productive lives." - James Heckman
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*"Every successful person has a fair amount of self-control - it's just the nature of success." - Laird Hamilton
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*"Self-management and self-control are the keys to advanced knowledge, and both are difficult to learn without a sense of your own cultural identity." - KRS-One
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*"Self-control is one mark of a mature person; it applies to control of language, physical treatment of others, and the appetites of the body." - Joseph B. Wirthlin
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*"Emotional self-control is the result of hard work, not an inherent skill." - Travis Bradberry
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*“For whatever goal you want to achieve, there is discomfort along that path. Self-discipline drives you through this discomfort and allows you to achieve and attain. It’s an essential component of mastery, and nothing great was ever accomplished without it.” - Peter Hollins
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*"Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not." -Elbert Hubbard.
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*“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn
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*“The fact is, self-discipline is only punishment when imposed by someone else. When you discipline yourself, it’s not punishment but empowerment.” - Les Brown
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*"Industry, thrift and self-control are not sought because they create wealth, but because they create character.' - [[Calvin Coolidge]]
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*"Since self-control is vital to reaching long-term goals, befriending people with willpower could be the secret to success. Whether you're tempted to skip that workout at the gym, or you're considering blowing this month's budget, spending time with a disciplined friend could boost your motivation to maintain healthy habits." - Amy Morin
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*"You will never have a greater or lesser dominion than that over yourself…the height of a man’s success is gauged by his self-mastery; the depth of his failure by his self-abandonment…and this is the law of eternal justice. He who cannot establish dominion over himself will have no dominion over others." – [[Leonardo da Vinci]]
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*“Discipline is choosing between what you want now, and what you want most.” - [[Abraham Lincoln]]
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*“Why is discipline important? Discipline teaches us to operate by principle rather than desire. Saying no to our impulses (even the ones that are not inherently sinful) puts us in control of our appetites rather than vice versa. It deposes our lust and permits truth, virtue, and integrity to rule our minds instead.” - John MacArthur Jr.
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== Quotes on willpower ==
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[[Image:Holbein Portrait of Erasmus.JPG|thumb|200px|[[Erasmus]] by Hans Holbein the Younger]]
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''See also:'' [[Self-control, willpower and resisting temptation quotes]]
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*"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." - [[Mahatma Gandhi]]
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*"Research shows that willpower is more important than IQ. That’s why the point isn’t to become smarter, but to become more self-disciplined." - Adam Kirk Smith
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*“There is no such thing as a great talent without great willpower.” Honore de Balzac
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*“Ahead of us are not reasons and arguments, But will and desire.” - Paulo Coelho
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*“Nothing is difficult for a man who has the will.” - [[Erasmus|Erasmus of Rotterdam]]
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*"Willpower is essential to the accomplishment of anything worthwhile." - Brian Tracy
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*"The will to win is not nearly as important as the will to prepare to win." - Coach Bobby Knight
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*“The biggest enemies of willpower: [[temptation]], [[self-criticism]], and [[stress]]. (...) these three skills  — [[self-awareness]], [[self-care]], and remembering what matter most — are the foundation for self-control.” - Kelly McGonigal, ''The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It''
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*“There is a secret for greater self-control, the science points to one thing: the power of paying [[attention]].” - Kelly McGonigal, ''The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It''
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*Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy. - [[Winston Churchill]]
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*"With but few exceptions, it is always the underdog who wins through sheer willpower." - Johnny Weissmuller
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*I am, indeed, a king, because I know how to rule myself." – Pietro Aretino
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*"Will is character in action." - William McDougall
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*"I don’t wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work." - Pearl S. Buck
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*"Willpower is trying very hard not to do something you want to do very much." – John Ortberg on temptation
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*"The will is the keystone in the arch of human achievement. It is the culmination of our complex mental faculties. It is the power that rules minds, men and nations." - Thomas Parker Boyd
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[[File:Dr. Sunday Adelaja - 2 (2017).jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|Dr. Sunday Adelaja]]
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*"What you have to do and the way you have to do it is incredibly simple. Whether you are willing to do it, that’s another matter." - Business consultant Peter F. Drucker
 +
 
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*"Willpower gets you started. Habits get you results." - Priit Kalas
 +
 
 +
Sunday Adelaja in his book ''[[A Man or a Mouse by Sunday Adelaja|A Man or a Mouse]]'' writes:
 +
{{Cquote|'''The meaning of the word "will" according to Ephraim:'''
 +
 
 +
*"One of the basic abilities of a person, consisting in the conscious regulation of one's behavior, the management of one's actions.
 +
 
 +
*Conscious desire to fulfill or achieve the goal; tenacity, perseverance
 +
 
 +
'''"Will" in the Encyclopedic Dictionary:'''
 +
 
 +
*Will - ability to choose activities and internal efforts necessary for its implementation.
 +
 
 +
*A specific act that allows a person to resist the power of spontaneous wants and impulsive desires: for him, it is not the case of "I want" that is of priority, but rather "this is necessary," "It’s a must," creates the awareness of the characteristic value of the goal of his action.
 +
 
 +
*Will includes decision making, often accompanied by a struggle of motives and its implementation.<ref>''A Man or a Mouse'' by Sunday Adelaja, Chapter 2, Golden Truth Publishing. 2018. Kindle Edition.</ref>}}
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== See also ==
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*[[Self-efficacy]]
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*[[Agency (psychology)]]
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*[[Grit (personality trait)]]
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*[[Mental toughness]]
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*[[Self-awareness]]
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*[[Achievement orientation]]
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*[[Virtue]]
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*[[Excusitis]]
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 +
== External links ==
 +
 
 +
Increasing self-control, general articles/videos:
 +
 
 +
*[http://www.studygs.net/discipline.htm Developing greater self-discipline]
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*[http://www.eruptingmind.com/how-to-develop-self-discipline/ Developing stronger self-discipline]
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*[http://www.successconsciousness.com/willpower-self-discipline.html Self-discipline]
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*[https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/good-thinking/201306/how-boost-your-willpower How to boost your willpower]
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*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/increase-willpower/ Increase willpower]
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120221180336/http://www.thedailymind.com/how-to/the-guide-to-developing-self-discipline-that-lasts/ The Guide to Developing Self-Discipline that Lasts]
 +
*[https://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/self-discipline/ Self-Discipline: How to Build Self-Discipline]
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* [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080530132101.htm Look Before You Leap: New Study Examines Self-Control; ScienceDaily.com; June 2, 2008]
 +
 
 +
Videos:
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 +
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6p8aq4zU8Y&list=PLbTFhPispU_tQVPy2avQjkMKimdAu3BzJ Self-control - Angela Duckworth - Playlist]
 +
*[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbTFhPispU_uoSkXns6kNCTSoIDs06IPc Self-control strategies - video playlist]
 +
*[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOn-fuwMRtCYR7rVywooUsj1istZPRt5Y Willpower - video playlist]
 +
*[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4848AA59D4BE1E20 The miracle of self-discipline by Brian Tracy - video]
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== Notes ==
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{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
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[[Category:Virtues]]
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[[Category:Fruits of the Holy Spirit]]
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[[Category: Psychology]]
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[[Category: Personal development]]

Latest revision as of 15:32, April 24, 2024

Obesity is positively associated with impulsiveness, lower self-control and neuroticism.[1]

Self-Control is defined by the Meriam Dictionary as restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires".[2] See also: Free will

Self-control and the Holy Spirit/Bible

Praying Hands.

The Christian apologist Gary Habermas wrote: "Double-blind prayer experiments: where people pray for others with terminal illness. Habermas admitted that most such experiments have not worked, but the three that he knows of that have indeed worked were cases of orthodox-Christians praying for the sick."[3]

One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

The Fruits of the Holy Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them.

Self-control and the Bible/Christianity

Bible verses on self-control

Video/audio:

Bible verses on resisting temptation

Religion and self-control

Engaging in virtuous behavior and quenching temptations to engage in immoral behavior requires self-control.

In the journal article Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: Associations, explanations, and implications, psychologists McCullough and Willoughby theorize that many of the positive links of religiousness with health and social behavior may be caused by religion's beneficial influences on self-control/self-regulation.[4][5] Furthermore, a 2012 Queen's University study published in Psychological Science found that religion replenishes self-control.[6][7]

Research of Andrew Newberg M.D. related to intense prayer

Research indicates that 12 minutes of daily intense prayer over an eight-week period can change the brain to such a degree that it can be measured on a brain scan. This method of prayer appears to increase activity in brain areas associated with social interaction and compassion/thoughtfulness. In addition, it increases frontal lobe activity as focus and intentionality increase.[8][9][10]

Increasing self-control techniques

Homer

Below are various techniques to increase self-control:[11]

1. Eat three meals a day and eat low glycemic index foods (People with low glucose levels have lower levels of willpower).

2. Get enough sleep. Tired people have lower levels of willpower.

3. Bright lines method (Making steadfast rules that you absolutely commit to. For example, a person committing to eating healthier making a steadfast rule not to go into convenience stores).

4. Set clear goals. See: Goal setting

5. Behavior monitoring (Get on scale every day for weight loss, use a spreadsheet to track daily performance, etc.)

6. Precommitment strategy which involves restricting choices to better alternatives (Only buying healthy food at grocery store or using portion control for weight loss; browser addons that block various time wasting websites for better time management, etc.). In Homer's book The Odyssey, Ulysses tells his sailors to bind him to the mast of his ship and block their ears before sailing past the island of the Sirens, whose enchanting song draws sailors to shipwreck.

7. Turn a positive behavior into a habit (For example, exercising at the same time every day.).

8. Regular exercise increases willpower.[12]

9. Practice self-regulation strategies/techniques. Self-control involves inhibiting impulses and emotions whereas self-regulation focuses on reducing the intensity and frequency of those impulses.[13]

Articles on self-control techniques:

Kelly McGonigal self-control methods and other research

Kelly McGonigal

Kelly McGonigal defines willpower as "the ability to do what you really want to do when part of you really doesn’t want to do it."

It consists of three elements:

  1. I will – the ability to do what you need to do
  2. I won't – resisting temptation
  3. I want – Your goals and noble desires

McGonigal recommends increasing willpower though getting proper sleep, exercise and nutrition. Engaging in mindfulness and meditation. Meditation can increase the prefrontal cortex part of the brain which is a center of the brain key to willpower.[14][15]

Future self

Self-control via habits

James Clear on habits

James Clear is a best-selling author who wrote the book Atomic Habits.

Self- control via habits: Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions (MCII)

Videos: Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions (MCII)

Self-control via daily routines

The creative lives of massively productive people like John Milton, Charles Dickens, Ludwig Beethoven and Edison follow strict daily routines. (i.e., when they would get up, when they would start work, when they would exercise and when they would relax). Peak productivity’s not about luck. It’s about devotion.

Disciplined thinking

Science of self-control/willpower

The human brain is the most complex physical entity in the universe.[16][17][18]

Self-motivation

See also: Self-motivation

Self-motivation is the internal drive that leads one to take action towards a goal.[19][20] It keeps us moving forward, even when we don't want to.

Types of motivation

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." - The Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 9:24

The website Skillsyouneed.com indicates:

"In thinking about self-motivation, it is helpful to understand what motivates you to do things.
There are two main types of motivators: ‘intrinsic’ and ‘extrinsic’.
In their simplest form you can think about these two types of motivation as:
Intrinsic = related to what we want to do.
Extrinsic = related to what we have to do.
A more detailed definition is:
Intrinsic: To perform an action or task based on the expected or perceived satisfaction of performing the action or task. Intrinsic motivators include having fun, being interested and personal challenge.
Extrinsic: To perform an action or task in order to attain some sort of external reward, including money, power and good marks or grades.
Different people are motivated by different things and at different times in their lives. The same task may have more intrinsic motivators at certain times and more extrinsic motivators at others, and most tasks have a combination of the two types of motivation.[21]

Self-motivation articles

Books

  • No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline by Brian Tracy. Vanguard Press (March 22, 2011)

Quotes on self-control

Calvin Coolidge in 1919

See also: Self-control, willpower and resisting temptation quotes

  • "By constant self-discipline and self-control you can develop greatness of character." - Grenville Kleiser
  • "I value self-discipline, but creating systems that make it next to impossible to misbehave is more reliable than self-control." - Tim Ferriss
  • "Self-control, openness, the ability to engage with others, to plan and to persist - these are the attributes that get people in the door and on the job, and lead to productive lives." - James Heckman
  • "Every successful person has a fair amount of self-control - it's just the nature of success." - Laird Hamilton
  • "Self-management and self-control are the keys to advanced knowledge, and both are difficult to learn without a sense of your own cultural identity." - KRS-One
  • "Self-control is one mark of a mature person; it applies to control of language, physical treatment of others, and the appetites of the body." - Joseph B. Wirthlin
  • "Emotional self-control is the result of hard work, not an inherent skill." - Travis Bradberry
  • “For whatever goal you want to achieve, there is discomfort along that path. Self-discipline drives you through this discomfort and allows you to achieve and attain. It’s an essential component of mastery, and nothing great was ever accomplished without it.” - Peter Hollins
  • "Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not." -Elbert Hubbard.
  • “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn
  • “The fact is, self-discipline is only punishment when imposed by someone else. When you discipline yourself, it’s not punishment but empowerment.” - Les Brown
  • "Industry, thrift and self-control are not sought because they create wealth, but because they create character.' - Calvin Coolidge
  • "Since self-control is vital to reaching long-term goals, befriending people with willpower could be the secret to success. Whether you're tempted to skip that workout at the gym, or you're considering blowing this month's budget, spending time with a disciplined friend could boost your motivation to maintain healthy habits." - Amy Morin
  • "You will never have a greater or lesser dominion than that over yourself…the height of a man’s success is gauged by his self-mastery; the depth of his failure by his self-abandonment…and this is the law of eternal justice. He who cannot establish dominion over himself will have no dominion over others." – Leonardo da Vinci
  • “Discipline is choosing between what you want now, and what you want most.” - Abraham Lincoln
  • “Why is discipline important? Discipline teaches us to operate by principle rather than desire. Saying no to our impulses (even the ones that are not inherently sinful) puts us in control of our appetites rather than vice versa. It deposes our lust and permits truth, virtue, and integrity to rule our minds instead.” - John MacArthur Jr.

Quotes on willpower

Erasmus by Hans Holbein the Younger

See also: Self-control, willpower and resisting temptation quotes

  • "Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." - Mahatma Gandhi
  • "Research shows that willpower is more important than IQ. That’s why the point isn’t to become smarter, but to become more self-disciplined." - Adam Kirk Smith
  • “There is no such thing as a great talent without great willpower.” Honore de Balzac
  • “Ahead of us are not reasons and arguments, But will and desire.” - Paulo Coelho
  • "Willpower is essential to the accomplishment of anything worthwhile." - Brian Tracy
  • "The will to win is not nearly as important as the will to prepare to win." - Coach Bobby Knight
  • “The biggest enemies of willpower: temptation, self-criticism, and stress. (...) these three skills — self-awareness, self-care, and remembering what matter most — are the foundation for self-control.” - Kelly McGonigal, The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It
  • “There is a secret for greater self-control, the science points to one thing: the power of paying attention.” - Kelly McGonigal, The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It
  • Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy. - Winston Churchill
  • "With but few exceptions, it is always the underdog who wins through sheer willpower." - Johnny Weissmuller
  • I am, indeed, a king, because I know how to rule myself." – Pietro Aretino
  • "Will is character in action." - William McDougall
  • "I don’t wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work." - Pearl S. Buck
  • "Willpower is trying very hard not to do something you want to do very much." – John Ortberg on temptation
  • "The will is the keystone in the arch of human achievement. It is the culmination of our complex mental faculties. It is the power that rules minds, men and nations." - Thomas Parker Boyd
Dr. Sunday Adelaja
  • "What you have to do and the way you have to do it is incredibly simple. Whether you are willing to do it, that’s another matter." - Business consultant Peter F. Drucker
  • "Willpower gets you started. Habits get you results." - Priit Kalas

Sunday Adelaja in his book A Man or a Mouse writes:

“ The meaning of the word "will" according to Ephraim:
  • "One of the basic abilities of a person, consisting in the conscious regulation of one's behavior, the management of one's actions.
  • Conscious desire to fulfill or achieve the goal; tenacity, perseverance

"Will" in the Encyclopedic Dictionary:

  • Will - ability to choose activities and internal efforts necessary for its implementation.
  • A specific act that allows a person to resist the power of spontaneous wants and impulsive desires: for him, it is not the case of "I want" that is of priority, but rather "this is necessary," "It’s a must," creates the awareness of the characteristic value of the goal of his action.
  • Will includes decision making, often accompanied by a struggle of motives and its implementation.[22]
 ”

See also

External links

Increasing self-control, general articles/videos:

Videos:

Notes

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Self-Control - Webster-Merriam dictionary
  3. ↑ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism by Gary Habermas
  4. ↑ Religion, Self-Regulation, and Self-Control: Associations, Explanations, and Implications
  5. ↑ Religion, Self-Regulation, and Self-Control: Associations, Explanations, and Implications
  6. ↑ Religion Replenishes Self-Control, Psychological Science, June 2012 vol. 23 no. 6 635-642, Kevin Rounding, Albert Lee, Jill A. Jacobson and Li-Jun Ji at Queen’s University
  7. ↑ Study finds religion helps us gain self-control
  8. ↑ How Prayer Affects the Brain
  9. ↑ How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist
  10. ↑ How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist– March 23, 2010 by Andrew Newberg M.D, Mark Robert Waldman. Pages 26,27
  11. ↑ Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Roy F. Baumeister and John Tierney. Penguin Press; 1st edition (September 1, 2011)
  12. ↑ Self-Control and Exercise: A Review of the Bi-Directional Relationship, Brain Plasticity 2019; 5(1): 97–104. Published online 2019 Dec 26. Prepublished online 2019 Dec 19. doi: 10.3233/BPL-190082
  13. ↑ Self-Regulation vs. Self-Control
  14. ↑ Neurobiology of Spirituality, E. Mohandas, M.D.
  15. ↑ The Psychology of Mindfulness, Digested
  16. ↑ The Human Body: God's Masterpiece
  17. ↑ The Enigmatic Human Brain by Wallace G. Smith
  18. ↑ The Most Complex Structure, Creation Moments
  19. ↑ Self-Motivation
  20. ↑ Learn how to be your own best ally for reaching your goals
  21. ↑ Self-Motivation
  22. ↑ A Man or a Mouse by Sunday Adelaja, Chapter 2, Golden Truth Publishing. 2018. Kindle Edition.
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