Control Impulsive Behavior with These Three Steps

The Humanist

“He who conquers others is strong, but he who conquers himself is mighty.” –Lao Szu

So often impulsive behaviors keep us stuck or keep us feeling helpless. From little things to small, it can be hard to stop, especially when we start thinking about the thing. In fact, it’s almost like we spend our day waiting for the moment when we will just give in to the behavior.

From overeating to drinking to email checking to phone checks to gambling to eating ice cream at night to flipping someone off on the highway to getting triggered on Facebook when someone has an experience that makes us jealous, we often feel like must get our fix before we can be “free.”

The truth about freedom is not doing whatever you want in the exterior world, that leads to paradoxically the opposite. Actually, you’ll find that restraint from your developed inner world, leads you to the very freedom you desire.

Remember:

• Start small.
• It’s not going to work every time.
• Consider it practice. How does practice work? It’s usually not great the first time. It takes consistency and it takes will, and over time it does get easier to do and it does become more effective as you practice it.

Time Stamps:

Impulsive behaviors and how to take back control. 0:03

Chad and Shelley discuss impulsive behaviors as patterns of habitual control, leading to enslavement.

Chad suggests paying attention to automatic habits and patterns without judgment before attempting the 1-2-3 practice.

Self-mastery and addiction recovery. 8:44

The importance of self-mastery in the second half of life, with a focus on identifying and overcoming limiting beliefs and behaviors.

Chad and Shelley discuss the quote from Lao Tzu, "He who conquers others is strong. But he who conquers himself is mighty." (0:11:01)

Practicing self-awareness and filling inner emptiness. 13:32

Practice paying attention to inner experience to avoid compulsive behaviors and feel more whole.

Chad guides listeners to imagine their resistances and reorient themselves to fill emotional voids.

Chad guides listeners to visualize a blue flame for life energy and connection.

Self-control and personal growth through practical exercises. 20:34

Practice inquiring into resistances to heal yourself, rather than blaming external factors.

Freedom, confidence, and leadership gained through self-restraint practice.

Show Notes:

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