Self-control means harnessing desires, emotions and actions. I strengthen it by exercising willpower when I am tempted to play or eat too much or stay up too late. The opposite is self-indulgence.§
Comparing the actions of one who is self-controlled to one who is self-indulgent§ |
||
|---|---|---|
Situation§ |
Self-Controlled§ |
Self-Indulgent§ |
When your emotions get overly strong one day, you…§ |
use spiritual tools to harness them.§ |
go to the freezer to see if that gallon of Mint Chocolate Surprise is still there.§ |
When friends invite you to a senior party where there will be drinking, you…§ |
decline the invitation, explaining that you’ve seen too much of what alcohol can do.§ |
send caution to the wind, and join them for a night of questionable fun.§ |
When you realize that your health would benefit from losing ten pounds, you…§ |
tell your sister you have promised to eat less, then keep your self-imposed pledge.§ |
promise you will do better, but after two days someone next to you orders grilled cheese and the rest is history.§ |
Gurudeva explained: “If you can see ahead that you will not react, proceed. Dictate to yourself, face yourself, face your mistakes and don’t make them again. Breaking spiritual laws creates reactions in the subconscious, and man loses spiritual power.”§
“You can’t work at correcting something. You either do it or you don’t do it. You don’t work at not falling off a cliff, a big precipice that drops off a hundred feet. You just don’t step forward; that’s what you don’t do!”§
ASSIGNMENT: During these two weeks, focus on the moments your instinctive mind tends to take over then consciously use your willpower to not be indulgent.§
Date you began this assignment ____________________§
MY THOUGHTS ON THE BENEFITS OF SELF-CONTROL: 
§
