Self-control 節制

Self-control is a characteristic much needed by many people today. A person can be very talented, but eventually becomes unsuccessful due to a lacking of self-control.

Indeed, self-control is self-discipline. A discipline is a habit. Hence, self-control can be referred to as having a good habit. For example, most people like eating delicious food, and to resist over eating is a challenge. It requires self-control to abstain eating unnecessary. To learn to eat healthily requires disciplining oneself. Once, such discipline has become a life-style, it is a habit being carried out naturally.

During an interview, Dr. Mahathir, the present prime minister of Malaysia was asked about his secret of being healthy and young. He admitted that he had learnt from his mother about eating. According to him, it is time to stop eating when you feel the food is too good. It is difficult initially, but after some time it becomes easy to stop eating.

Therefore, self-control normally does not happen naturally. It is a discipline being practised until it becomes a habit in life.

節制是许多人需要学习的纪律。一个人可能很有才华，但最终由于不能自我控制而失败。

实际上，節制是一种自律，也可以成为习惯。因此，会節制的人，也会成为拥有良好习惯的人。例如，大多数人喜欢吃美味的食物，如果要拒绝或减少美食乃是一个挑战。人的确需要節制才能避免不必要的进食。加以操练，節制是可以成为一种生活方式，也即是自然而然的习惯。

马来西亚现任首相马哈迪医生曾被问及他保持身体健康及年青的秘诀。他自承是从他母亲那里学到了如何在吃方面自我控制。对他来说，当他觉得太好吃时，那即表示要停止吃了。他说，起初是困难的，随着时间，自我控制会变得容易。

所以，節制通常不会自然发生。这是一种纪律，经过操练以至能够成为了生活中的良好习惯。

Dr. Mahathir talks about disciplining oneself on eating.
马哈迪医生谈到了在吃方面的自我節制。
(Picture from the internet, 照片取自网络）