Self-Control In the Community
vs. self-indulgence
Choosing behaviors to help me reach my goals
To practice Self-Control, I will: 
- set my own limits
- not act impulsively
- walk away from things that aren’t right
- not equate desires with rights
- choose to build good habits
Less is More
by Mary Andres Russell
Is there an area of your life in which you need to exercise self-control? Is it spending? Too much food or drink? Or in controlling your emotions?
Self-control is not about rigid self-punishment. It’s about creating a life that aligns with our values and aspirations. By staying in control, we build trust in ourselves and our ability to navigate life’s complexities.
A school guidance counselor once told a story about how he demonstrates the need for Self-Control. When we indulge in anger or criticism, it is like taking a clean sheet of paper and crumpling it into a wad of trash. Later in regret we may try to repair the relationship, just as we may try to straighten out that sheet of paper. But try as we might, the folds and creases remain. And just as that piece of paper is never quite the same, that relationship may also suffer. It can take months or even years to repair the damage of one out-of-control argument.
This month, use Self-Control to strengthen your resolve and your relationships. That means simplifying — less is more: less over-indulging, more setting small, achievable goals and following through on commitments; less busyness, more aligning our actions with our values and aspirations; less allowing our emotions to rule the day, more taking a step back, a deep breath, and exercising our self-control.
The Links below will take you to Resources you can use with the family or within community organizations
to teach the Character Quality of Self-Control.
The following activities are related to dates this month and can relate to any character quality or good character in general.
October Character All Month
See NationalToday, AndTodayIs, NationalDayCalendar or DaysOfTheYear for more information on these and other holidays to celebrate this month. 1 International Music Day Happy #InternationalMusicDay! The aim of this day is to harness the power of #Music to unite...
World Kindness Day Nov. 13
Create a calendar for the rest of this month all the way to the end of December. Have the family come up with ideas for kindness for every day until the end of the year. You can use the calendar to identify what you should be doing that day, or you can treat...
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a national holiday with a focus on Gratefulness. This Thanksgiving, post a whiteboard, chalkboard, or poster board where those gathered for Thanksgiving can write public statements of what they are grateful for this year. Leave it where anyone can...
Our other Pillars have resources that can be used in a community or family setting.
Visit Self-Control in School>>
Activities
No Matter How You Say It
Curriculum Connections
Croskey’s Corner
Visit Self-Control in Business>>
Teambuilding
Power Up with Character
Interview Questions
Adult Business Books
Visit Self-Control in Faith>>
Christian Family Activity
Bible Verses
Christian Poster
Prayer and Reflections
Archived Resources