Self-control is defined as the ability to control one’s actions, feelings and emotions. This is the ability to control oneself in terms of mastering one's desires and appetites. Saint Thomas Aquinas, a medieval philosopher and theologian, said that people who did not lose self-control were able to "save their lives." In other words, they were able to do the right thing to keep themselves healthy and happy. What examples of self-control can be given in literature, history, sports and just in life?
Three habits of self-control
A self-controlled person craves what he must do (Aristotle). Such people should have three habits:
- They are healthy about goals and focused on what they need to live, not luxury. They are not trying in any way to use others.
- They know their value, they are solid, but tolerant with others.
- The path to self-realization is closely linked to sustainability. An example of self-control: teaching drawing and other forms of visual art, learning to play a musical instrument and learning a new subject - these are all examples of skills that are not easily understood, but the goals achieved always bring great pleasure.
Life examples
Self-control is something that is sometimes very much lacking. For example, a person knows that he needs to complete an important project, he goes and works instead of sitting in front of the TV or going for a walk with friends. Here is another example of self-control from life: one acquaintance screams at another, while the second has enough willpower to keep himself in his hands and not explode. This is the control of their behavior.
Examples of internal self-control are organization, refusal from idleness, playing sports (running in the morning, for example) and so on. Much depends on willpower, as well as on the motivation and attitudes that a person gives himself. In this case, of course, it is necessary to temporarily leave the comfort zone and develop self-control skills.
Examples of self-control: social studies and not only
Self-control - the ability to control your behavior in society. In society, there are a number of unspoken rules, according to which it is sometimes worthwhile to suppress your "ego" and remember that where the rights and duties of another person begin, your rights end.
Examples of self-control in social science are quite obvious. These are common situations in the lives of individuals and sometimes the whole society. People fight their weaknesses: laziness, envy, vanity, overweight, bad habits. Whoever has activated this self-control is the winner. For example, a person who gets up at the same time in the morning does not have the habit of being late, eating right and so on. Good composure is the ability to behave with restraint in a conflict situation, smoothing sharp corners, the ability to listen, and so on.
If you recall the examples of self-control in history, you just have to imagine what sacrifices in terms of personal life were made, for example, kings and queens. Not everyone will be ready to give up their own interests for the benefit of the common cause and the welfare of the state.
Self-control and study
Self-control is a fundamental part of classroom instruction. If students can focus and block potentially exciting, but limiting short-term distractions, they will improve their knowledge.
Freud suggested that successful socialization is the process by which children learn to suppress momentary impulses in order to do what is best for themselves and for society in the long run. Since then, modern empirical studies have confirmed that the ability to self-control is enhanced over the years.
Self-control and sports
The power model of self-control assumes that all acts of self-control (for example, regulation of emotions, perseverance) are endowed with a single global metaphorical force that has limited capabilities. This power may be temporarily depleted after the initial act of self-control. That is, the person is already not enough for the second “strong-willed jerk”. Recently, assumptions about the power model of self-control have also been accepted and tested in the field of sports and exercise psychology.
Despite the fact that people often have the intention to work, they do not always do it. The ability to adhere to exercises or exercise plans requires self-control and, therefore, may depend on willpower. This means that people need to block potential distractions or temptations to achieve their long-term goals.
Examples of self-control in history and literature
The problem of self-control is an eternal problem, from time immemorial a man has fought with himself, with his vices and personally determined the share of freedom in his actions. Examples of self-control were studied by the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, who noted that “power over oneself is the highest power, enslavement by one’s passions is the most terrible slavery”. Only strong people can control themselves, while the weak turns into a hostage of their desires.
As an American politician, diplomat, inventor and journalist of the 18th century, Benjamin Franklin described self-control as follows: "A person should be free from his own addictions and limit himself in food, alcohol. Otherwise, a person will enslave himself without a state." Self-control is necessary for diplomats. Participation in political discussions and negotiations is often associated with excessive psychological overload, and it is very important to maintain calm and self-control, as well as restrain emotions.
In fact, there are incredibly many examples of self-control in literary works. A lot of stories were invented or taken from life, where one of the characters had strong willful qualities, improved himself, or, conversely, was engaged in self-destruction. Most often, such examples can be found in fiction, in works on the struggle against oneself. Take the classic novel in four parts of Ivan Aleksandrovich Goncharov called Oblomov, where two main characters are contrasted. Stolz is the full embodiment of self-control, unlike Oblomov, who never managed to find the core and energy in himself.
Theory and examples lead us to the fact that the ability to control ourselves is vital. In conclusion, we cite the wise saying of Cicero: "A person must learn to obey himself and obey his decisions."