Self-Control
Self-control is the ability to master your fears, desires, and other emotions.
Emotions are an inescapable part of human life. Mammals like us evolved to respond quickly to immediate environmental threats and opportunities. We can't eliminate these physiological reactions or the conditions that trigger them. We can only manage how we respond to them.
Some people are like corks bobbing around in the waves of an emotional sea. Other people, however, decide to take command of their life. They still experience ups and downs like everybody else; they just don't allow those waves of emotion to determine the direction of their life. Instead, they turn the wheel as needed using good judgment to keep themselves on course.
Self-control is about creating space for reason instead of just blindly following instincts. It's about putting distance between yourself and your emotions, and realizing that you have the power to determine how you respond to them. You can react when they prompt you, or instead think clearly and consider whether they're worth following.
The emotion default tries to remove any distance between you and your emotions, triggering a reaction in the absence of any deliberation. It wants to win the present moment, even if it means sabotaging the future.
A large part of achieving success is having the self-control to do whatever needs to be done, regardless of whether you feel like doing it at the moment. Emotional intensity is far less important in the long run than disciplined consistency. Inspiration and excitement might get you going, but persistence and routine are what keep you going until you reach your goals. Anyone can maintain excitement for a few minutes, but the longer a project takes, the fewer the people who can maintain their excitement for it. The most successful people have the self-control to keep going anyway. It's not always exciting, but they still show up.
In summary, self-control is about mastering your fears, desires and emotions to create space for reason and good judgment, even when your instincts and feelings are pushing you in a different direction. It's a key pillar of building the mental strength needed to consistently make sound decisions and achieve your long-term goals.
For more on developing the other key strengths, check out Self-Accountability, Self-Knowledge, and Self-Confidence.