Self-control is the cure

“One of my colleagues in Duke, Ralph Keeney, noted that America's top killer isn't cancer or heart disease, nor is it smoking or obesity. It's our inability to make smart choices and overcome our own self-destructive behaviours. Ralph estimates that about half of us will make a lifestyle decision that will ultimately lead us to an early grave.”

I came across this passage in Dan Ariely’s book Predictably Irrational. It really got me thinking, what are some self-destructive behaviors that can lead to fatal consequences?

Phone addiction - Texting and driving accidents

Overeating - Obesity and health problems

Addiction to smoking - Lung cancer

Addiction to drinking - Alcohol poisoning, drinking and driving accidents.

Procrastination - Avoiding pre-medical check-ups for health problems.

Lack of exercise - Obesity and health problems

Lack of good saving habits - Extreme poverty resulting in lack of shelter and food

Depression - Self-harm or even suicide

When we think about death from cancer, heart disease, diabetes, car accidents, addiction, we often think the solution is medical advances or new technology. And we should absolutely continue to research and battle these diseases. But I wonder, how much death and suffering could be prevented if we are proactive in battling our own self-destructive behavior?

Some of us struggle with one of these self-destructive behaviors. Some of us struggle with multiple. And there are many other forms of self-destruction not listed that could be affecting you. Self-control isn’t easy. If it were, these self-destructive behaviors wouldn’t exist, and they would not plague so many people and continue to cause so much suffering. 

But there is one thing we can all start today to extend our life and well-being. And that is smart decision making, healthy habits, and proactively battling our own self-destructive behaviors. If you want to live a long, healthy life, proactively battle your self-destructive behaviors. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. We all battle with self-destructive behavior; the key is not to let it lead us to an early grave.

Jocko Willink talks about self-control in his book Discipline Equals Freedom. “The only person you can control is you. So focus on making yourself who you want to be.”

In Predictably Irrational, Dan Airley follows Ralph Keeny’s note with some advice:

“I suspect that over the next few decades, real improvements in life expectancy and quality are less likely to be driven by medical technology than by improved decision making. Since focusing on long-term benefits is not our natural tendency, we need to more carefully examine the cases in which we repeatedly fail, and try to come up with some remedies for these situations. For an overweight movie lover, the key might be to enjoy watching a film while walking on the treadmill. The trick is to find the right behavioural antidote for each problem. By pairing something that we love with something that we dislike but that is good for us, we might be able to harness desire with outcome - and thus overcome some of the problems with self-control we face every day.”

Today I’m going to battle my self-destructive behavior with the best tool I have. Self-control. It’s a tool we all have. We just have to put it to use.

“Whether you are sixteen or sixty, the rest of your life is ahead of you. You cannot change one moment of your past, but you can change your whole future. Now is your time.” - Matthew Kelly

Remember, make it a great day or not; the choice is yours.

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