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‘No’ to pleasure and ‘Yes’ to Happiness – Part 2

Self- control gives happy rewards

If you ask any successful sportsman or a student about their strict schedules, you’d likely hear them confess that discipline is severe but the rewards are fulfilling. In the late 1960’s, Stanford University team conducted a series of studies on children by offering them a choice of one marshmallow if they ate it immediately, or if they delayed their gratification by ten minutes, they’d get an extra sweet. Children, who could wait longer for the rewards and practiced self-control, grew to attain more success in their academics and relationships.

A disciplined lifestyle has the same psychological effect as a large bank balance. A silent reassurance of money makes you feel safe- you know you’ll have cash when you are in difficulty. Discipline acts the same way- you know you have an actual friend who gives strength and support when you need it; you feel safe and confident when you practice self-control. It’s the solid backing you need when you travel the distance from your dreams to your reality.

Many champions also don’t like to do what ordinary men and women dislike. Still, what makes them different and successful is their determination to subordinate their dislike to a sense of purpose. Counter-intuitively, denial of pleasure gives more happiness in the long run- a methodical lifestyle keeps us balanced and gives us a real sense of control on our mind and body. And with practice, self-control gets more comfortable with time, especially when we repeatedly remember what we want in life.

Living with distinct values may appear restrictive, but it’s fulfilling. Life’s more fun with rules. If you played football or cricket whimsically, with no rules, would you enjoy the game as much as you would if there were challenges to achieve within the defined boundaries?

Even in your business, you may worry about your competitor’s next strategy and loose sleepless hours, but Warren Buffet gave a simple formula: you don’t have to be smarter than the rest; you have to be more disciplined than them, that’s all!

To be continued…

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