Self-Control; A Priceless Virtue.
Many people have gotten themselves into serious trouble just because they couldn't manage situations by controlling themselves at that defining moment. To be honest with you, it's not easy to control one's self especially when faced with situations where you believe you're right or have a upper hand.
You would most likely want to throw your full weight just to prove a point and that exactly where most of us miss it. Self control is what holds you back from doing that which you really have in mind to do and it cuts across various aspect of our lives even as we go about our daily activities.
Just yesterday I had an unpleasant experience on my way to work. I was obviously rushing to work so I don't get late to work, so as I was trying to navigate and maneuver my way through the busy narrow road where commercial motorcycle riders had already parked halfway into the main road, I didn't know I had obviously obstructed a motorcycle rider coming from behind me with a passenger.
It wasn't my fault, the road had become so narrow because of the motorcycle riders that had taken a better part of the main road. Immediately the ride passed, the passenger he carried who was now very angry looked back at me and signaled with his hand to his head insinuating that my head is not correct and kept saying some words I obviously can't hear because of the distance between us...
All of these was happening while he was on the bike and while I was trekking to a safe place to get a bike too. I looked at him without saying a word but guess what guys, I was fuming inside of me, my stomach was as though something wanted to explode... I was like why would a young guy like me do or say such to me when he obviously knows It wasn't my fault... I doubt his head is correct too, he should know better.
How I manage to keep my cool still surprised me, I kept replaying the scenario just to see if I'm actually at fault, the more I realized I wasn't at fault, the more I got angry until I began to calm myself, asking some sailent question like "would I have engaged the guy in a fight, if he were not on bike?" What would that make me?
Would I really appear as the gentle man that I am if I go wild and violent that morning? Would I be able to determine the outcome of that situation if I was to take it up my own way? All of these thoughts ran through my mind and then I gave answers to them all. I realized letting go is just the best. Reacting emotionally would most likely not prove the point I want to establish.
After brooding over all of these things, I just let it off my mind, in fact, I didn't even realize when something else completely occupied my mind. I wouldn't have even remembered it happened if not for the fact that I saw a need to share this experience so we can be guided as we deal with people.
People will never act or behave the way we want them to, they will never put up their best behavior when you expect it and these sometime get on ones nerve but if you react rashly in the spur of that moment, you might end up blamimg yourself. You would question why you couldn't take a minute to process the situation before acting and realize you could have avoided certain outcomes.
Unfortunately, it would be too late by then. We have to begin to learn self-control by way of discipline. Such that you refuse to allow your emotions determine your reaction at the slightest provocation.
Self control also cut across area like eating,spending, sleeping , interpersonal communication and other vital areas of our lives. Let's learn to get it right in this area and see so many other areas of our life fall in place. Thank you guys for your time, see you in my next post.
Regards
@lhorgic❤️