The importance of SELF-RESTRAINT.

Humans are creatures of emotions. Emotions control us from the moment we open our eyes for the first time in the morning to the moment our eyes shut at night. Emotions arise within us unbidden and emotions are indulged by us at will. And all of this is true for every single human alive without exception.

Emotions are a reality of our existence and we can never run away from this reality. There are times in our lives when we hate our emotions. In those times we wish that we were unemotional - a completely blank state of mind and soul. However, such a thing can never happen. There will always be either good/positive emotions in our head or bad/negative ones but there will always be emotions present.

So, what is the solution for this reality? What can an individual do if he/she wishes to be unemotional or at least very close to being unemotional? Well, self-restraint is the solution. Self-restraint means not being a slave to your emotions, not allowing the emotions inside your mind to affect you in any way and not acting on every impulse. Remember: it is not the emotions that matter, no, it is what they do to you (after you allow them) that matters. Self-restraint teaches you to not allow emotions to do anything to you. Emotions are always going to be there, the key is to control their affects.

That said, self-restraint should not be taken for self-censorship. Because it is never about fear of some imaginary reprisal or backfiring, no. When you self-restraint yourself, you guard yourself against momentary/short-term impulses caused by emotions and, at the same time, align your actions with only your deepest long-term convictions.