Self Control
What is self-control?
Self-control is defined as the ability to manage your actions, feelings and emotions. It is important for us to understand and practice self-control in our lives. This can help us cope with certain emotions and feelings, as well as help control our actions. Preventing us from saying or doing something we know we will regret, or the regret of not doing something at all. By practicing self-control, we can improve our health and quality of life. Both physically and mentally.
I didn’t understand the significance of self-control until my senior year in high school. I was always a very active individual who played sports, basketball in particular. But a quarter of the way through my season, I sprained my knee and tore my meniscus. I couldn’t walk and was on crutches for about 3 months while I went through surgery and physical therapy. For me, it was the most difficult time in my life.
Not being able to do the things I once could was hard for me to cope with. It was even harder mentally for me, as I didn’t want to be viewed as a handicap or someone who was vulnerable. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I was vulnerable. I realized that it was ok to receive someone’s help from time to time. That’s when I started to change my mentality about my situation.
Rather than be upset about my condition and what I couldn’t control, I started to focus on what I could control. That was my attitude, I wasn’t gonna let my injury bring me down and I needed to be more positive as I recovered. For my physical therapy, I was limited. But I focused on what I could do, no matter how small or simple the exercise. Some nights I would just lie in bed trying to fire up my leg muscles. It wasn’t much, but I knew I was working towards my long-term goal. Over time, I got stronger and was back to my active self. I gained a new perspective from my injury, and I believe I am stronger because of it. As I learned to focus more on what I can control rather than what I can’t control.
The same can be said for you when it comes to your own health and fitness. Learn to practice self-control, so you can better understand your feelings and actions and how to handle them to benefit yourself. Whether that’s practicing healthier eating habits. Or making sure you make it to training, even though you are tired. Once you stop saying “I can’t” and start saying “I can” you will start to notice the positive impact it can have. It’s your life, take control of it.
-Coach Dylan