Dealing with the trials of daily life demands patience from a man.  With self-control, his reserve is built up for the crisis’s that inevitably occur.   When we practice self-control, the mental, physical, or moral energy we use everyday, is all stored for us and changed into strength.  It can never accept a full cash payment for anything because it would be unfair to the poor and the weak.

It is only by small, progressively more powerful steps can we break the mold of our past self.  We’re told it takes twenty-one days to break out from a habit.  Rarely does it happen all at once.  It takes development and growth.  But at any moment we can begin to make or break any habit.

If we really want to grow our character, it is comforting to know that many men through the ages have pulled themselves up by the bootstraps and have achieved their dreams.

Self-control is developed the same way we develop a strong muscle from a weak one.  Using small exercises day after day.  Let’s do exercises every day to strengthen our discipline or morals.  Let’s do something we don’t really want to do so that when we need our strength, we can spring into instant action. 

Try some of these simple exercises to develop our self-control:

* Put down a book you’re reading at the most exciting part of the story.
*Jump out of bed without hitting the snooze button two or three times.
*If you’re able to walk home instead of taking the car.
*Talk to someone you don’t particularly like and attempt a pleasant conversation.

You will achieve self-control in big things only by self-control in little things.  It’s important to get to know yourself to discover where your strengths and weaknesses are.  Figure out what it is within you that keeps you from reaching your best results.  Know that and you know where to start your journey toward self-control.  Are you selfish, vain, cowardly, morbid, lazy, worried, unfocused, have a hot temper, or the most dangerous of all – Do you suffer from a lack of purpose?

You must discover your weaknesses, then live in the now each and every day.  Focus on one day at a time.  It’s useless to regret the past.  useless to worry about the future.  Live your day as if it were your only day – the only day to do your very best – the only day to master your worst traits.

When you work on your weaknesses moment to moment, then every moment will be a victory for the master or the slave in you.  What’s it going to be Bucky?  The answer lies within you.