The Law of Success - Lesson 7 - Self-Control

In Lesson 7, Napoleon Hill talks about self-control.  He states that lack of self control can lead to the loss of the power needed to achieve your definite purpose.  In other words, loss of self control can defeat you.  The enthusiasm that you have for a project must balance with the self-control needed to rush too fast into things or the desire to proceed in the face of danger or without regard to others.

If a part of your definite purpose is to be in charge of others then you need to understand that you cannot control others if you cannot control yourself.  Sometime we need to wear mental ear muffs.  The old adage of just letting things roll off of you rather than to respond.

Hill says that Imagination + a definite plan + self-confidence + action directed through self-control is the way to get to your success.

The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.    Marcus Aurelius

You have a tremendous advantage over the man who does you an injury; you have it within your power to forgive him while he has no such advantage over you.  N. Hill

In other words, don't strike back.  

Get angry, write it down, throw it out!  Get it out of your system and don't hold on to it!

One of my client's once gave me a gift.  He called it a God box.  It looks like a bank with a slot at the top to put in coins, however it has no way of opening it so whatever you put in it stays in it, never to be seen again.  It is the old forgive and forget or as I like to say, "let go, Let God".  Now I don't care what your perception of God is, all I am saying is to let go of those things that anger, frustration or worry you.  And as you forget about them they will be released.  You have control over your thoughts and you can select which thoughts you let in AND the ones  you let go!

Self-control = thought control.

Using auto-suggestion and positive, constructive thoughts in harmony with your definite purpose to transform those thoughts into physical reality. Deliberately choosing your thoughts is self-control at its highest level.  Thought is the most highly organized function of the mind and we consciously control it.

Have you ever had to change your tone of voice in order to hide your true feelings.  For example, have you ever been in an argument with someone and the phone rings?  Have you answered the phone and the person on the other end had no idea you were in the middle of a heated argument?  Then you know how easy it is - WHEN YOU WANT TO DO IT.

This is Desire!  You have the power to think and the power to control your thoughts and direct them.