Practicing Self-Control… Oh Look! It’s a Cookie!
As I’ve told some of you over the past couple weeks, I’ve placed myself on a diet. At first it was really easy to say "no" to tasty foods. But lately, I’ve been working out a lot more and staying below my calorie count and I’m really tempted to say, "I’ve been so good! One cookie won’t hurt." So I went to Paradise Bakery & Cafe for lunch and they gave me a scrumptous cookie with my meal. Oh you tempter you!! Why do you tempt me with your ooey-gooey goodness?!
And then I realized something, this is where self-control comes in. Even before I started my diet, I’ve had to practice self-control in other areas of my life. As of late I’ve had ask myself, "is there something more productive I could be doing right now? Instead of saying no to this person, could I make time for them? I know this takes effort, but is it really that difficult?"
It’s been a challenge for a person like me who would be content sitting on the couch watching TV or reading a book. I have realized that I’m a lists equals reward person. Which means that in order for me to feel like I’ve accomplished anything, I have to have a written list to look at. It’s like the me from the past saying, "Hey man, do you see all this stuff you said you were going to do? How much of those have you actually done?" At that point, I stick it to my past self and say, "you know what? Maybe I’ll do some of those things… CHECK!"
I’ve come to learn that in life, I need to have some goals to reach. It gives me a reason to wake up each morning, to have something to look forward to, a challenge to accomplish. This is one of the main reasons I created "My To-Do List for 2009." It’s given me a tangible list of goals to work on and I’ve been doing so good so far!
I’ve been feeling really content with myself lately, as I feel that I’ve had these attainable goals to reach for. And as for that chocolate chip cookie from Paradise? I gave it to one of the baristas at Starbucks and grabbed a drink with 1/3 the calories of that cookie.
What to do the rest of the day? Well, work of course. But what about after work? I’m really tempted to just veg out on the couch, but perhaps I’ll go ride on the Monon for the third straight day in a row. Ahh self-control, am I starting to master thee? 