Self-Control

Self-Control 

Research is pushing for a paradigm shift in the current understanding of self-control. Previous research has supported the belief that self-control is a limited resource. New evidence offers a more optimistic conceptualization of self-control as an attentional and motivational process. Self-control as a finite resource implies that, at a certain point, we are no longer in control of our behavior. I would suggest that by implementing skills of mindfulness (to observe and accept our urges) and distress tolerance (to tolerate those urges without taking action) we can take control of our behavior regardless of how many urges we have already resisted. Going further, the belief in this process – the ability to continue to ride out each new urge by turning the mind back towards acceptance – increases the likelihood of the outcome.

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