In Part 1 of this series, the focus was on having a good attitude so you could set yourself up for success, not failure. In this article, SELF-CONTROL is going to be our focus.
What does it mean to have self-control? Well, it simply means that you are willing to postpone instant gratification. You’re probably wondering why anyone would want to do that! We live in a society where we can use credit cards or take out a loan to get what we want right away, no need to wait until we have the cash in hand. We get upset if we have to wait in line too long at a fast-food joint. We want things done and we want them done now.
When trying to get organized, this can present a real problem. You may find yourself looking at the “project” and wishing you had a magic wand to wave so it could just be done. Well, this is because you are focusing on the means rather than the end. That means you are, for example, focusing on having to go through your piles of clutter one item at a time rather than how awesome the space is going to look when you’re done. Have you ever stood around impatiently waiting for that pot of water to boil? It seems like it takes forever! But, if you busy yourself with preparing other parts of the meal, then before you know it, the water is boiling and you’re ready to cook. This idea can be used in probably every area of your life.
The main key to improving your self-control is seeing the big picture. Make a commitment to the big picture and then break it down into smaller parts that you can easily achieve. Put it in writing, too, so you can see where you’re going and how you’re going to get there, just like a roadmap. You wouldn’t set out for a trip across the country without knowing how to get there! Also, imagine what it’s going to be like when your goal is reached! That will help you stay motivated to keep pressing on.
Many of us already have great self-control in many areas of our lives. We show up to work on time, pay bills on time, we keep our houses relatively clean, we take care of our families, we exercise regularly—the list could go on and on. We all have the capacity to do what we know we have to do, so we just have to tap into that and apply it to every area of our lives.
Practice! Practice! Practice!
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