Things to Understand

Self-control is an important factor in health and well-being, and it is one aspect of executive function, which is a set of abilities that assists people in planning, monitoring, and achieving their goals. It is the ability to control and modify one's responses in order to avoid undesirable behaviours, increase desirable ones, and achieve long-term goals. There are three types of self-control: impulse control, emotional control, and movement control.

According to the American Psychological Association's (APA) Stress in America survey, 27% of respondents identified a lack of willpower as the primary factor preventing them from reaching their goals. People who have better self-control tend to be healthier and happier in the short and long term, according to research. Exercising self-control strengthens it over time, but it is also a limited resource. When you focus all of your self-control on one goal, it becomes more difficult to exercise self-control on subsequent tasks throughout the day. Adults who had greater self-control as children were less likely to have airflow obstruction, elevated inflammation, metabolic abnormalities, periodontal disease, sexually transmitted infections, and substance dependence or addiction, according to research.

However, self-control has a negative side effect. According to research, self-control can limit emotional experiences, resulting in long-term regret, increased workload, and even ethical transgressions and discrimination. Self-control is an important strategy for achieving one's objectives, but it should not be viewed as the sole determinant of happiness and success. Instead, it should be considered in the context of the self as a whole.

The ability to postpone gratification, or to wait for what you want, is an important aspect of self-control. During the 1960s and 1970s, psychologist Walter Mischel conducted a series of experiments to investigate the importance of delayed gratification. Researchers discovered that children who were able to delay gratification in order to receive a greater reward performed better academically than children who succumbed to temptation immediately. Accepting our flaws and limitations is just as important as exercising self-control. Psychologists refer to this as "self-compassion." Self-compassion is not synonymous with laziness and abandonment. In contrast, it assists people in bettering themselves by gaining a better understanding of themselves and setting more realistic goals. As a result, rather than always being harsh on ourselves and pushing our limits, being kind to ourselves may be a better way to achieve our goals in a self-congruent manner.

It is critical to remember that self-control is important for health and well-being, as well as for achieving long-term goals. However, in order to achieve our goals in a healthy and sustainable manner, we must also recognise the negative aspects of self-control and practise self-compassion.

Self-control is commonly defined by psychologists as:

• The ability to control one's behaviour in order to avoid temptations and achieve one's goals.

• The ability to postpone gratification and resist undesirable behaviours or urges

• A finite resource that can run out

• Self-control is referred to by a variety of terms, including discipline, determination, grit, willpower, and fortitude. Some researchers believe that while genetics play a role in self-control, it is also a skill that can be honed with practise.

• Self-control is a component of executive function, which is a set of abilities that assists people in planning, monitoring, and achieving their goals. People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently exhibit characteristics associated with executive function issues.

There are three kinds of self-control:

• The ability to manage urges and impulses is referred to as impulse control. Individuals who struggle with impulse control may act without considering the consequences of their actions.

• The ability to regulate emotional responses is referred to as emotional control. Strong emotions may be difficult to manage for someone who struggles with emotional control. They may overreact, have long-lasting bad moods, or become overwhelmed by the intensity of their emotions.

• The ability to control how and when the body moves is referred to as movement control. A person who struggles with movement control may feel restless and find it difficult to sit still.

“You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”