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第24章 Self-control 论自制

Anonymous

心灵寄语

自亚里士多德,到近代的哲学家们都注意到:“美好的人生建立在自我控制的基础上。”自制力是指一个人在意志行动中善于控制自己的情绪,约束自己的言行。

Self-control is essential to happiness and usefulness. It is the master of all the virtues, and has its root in self-respect. Let a man yield1 to his impulses and passions, and from that moment he gives up his moral freedom.

It is the self-discipline of a man that enables him to pursue success with superior diligence and sobriety2. Many of the great characters in history illustrate3 this trait. In ordinary life, the application is the same. He who would lead must first command himself. The time of test is when everybody is excited or angry, then the well-balanced mind comes to the front.

There is a very special demand for the cultivation4 of this trait at present. The young men who rush into business with no good education or drill will do poor and feverish5 work. Endurance is a much better test of character than act of heroism.

A fair amount of self-examination is good. Self-knowledge is a preface6 to self-control. Too much self-inspection leads to morbidness7;too little conducts to careless and hasty action. There are two things which will surely strengthen our self-control. One is attention to conscience;the other is a spirit of good will. The man who would succeed in any great undertaking must hold all his faculties under perfect control;they must be disciplined and drilled until they quickly and cheerfully obey the will.

佚名

自制是一个人获取幸福和成为有用之才的关键。自制主宰着一切美德,自制源于自重。假如一个人屈从于自己的冲动和激情,从那一刻起他就放弃了遵循各种道德规范。

能够使一个人以非凡的勤奋和节制来追求成功的,恰恰是人的自律。这一品质已经被历史上许多伟大的人物阐释过。在日常生活中也能发现同样的道理。能领导别人的人首先必须能控制住自己。当每个人都处于兴奋或狂怒的状态时,真正的考验来临了,只有那个头脑始终保持冷静的人显得出类拔萃。

目前,年轻人很有必要培养自己的自制。没有受过良好教育和培训的年轻人,不会把工作做好,甚至冒冒失失、冲动狂热。和其他任何英雄主义行为相比,忍耐是一项更好的测试,它可以检验每个人的性格。

适当的自我反省是大有裨益的。自知是自制的开端。过多的自我审查会导致病态的心理;过少又会导致做事情粗心、草率。以下两点能帮助我们加强自制。其中一点是凭良心办事,另一点是为人友善。凡是成就大事者,必须完美地控制好自己的一切。他们必须服从纪律、接受训练,直到他们能够迅速愉快地服从自己的意志。

词汇空间 ocabulary

1.yield v. 屈服,放弃

2.sobriety v. 节制,自律

3.illustrate v. 阐明,说明

4.cultivation n. 培育,培养

5.feverish adj. 狂热的,兴奋的

6.preface n. 开端,前奏

7.morbidness n.(精神的)病态

文化链接 Culture Background

如何增强自制力?

自制力对于增进生理和心理健康,也有重大作用,不能进行情绪控制和行为控制的人,是不会有健康的身体和健康的心理的。为了提高自制力,可采用以下六种方法。

1.转移注意法

就是在受到不好的刺激时,可以先想点或干点别的。如俄国著名作家屠格涅夫劝人在吵架将要发生时,必须把舌头在嘴里转上10个圈。

2.心理暗示法

如林则徐用“制怒”条幅自控,苏轼以“忍小忿而就大谋”的词句自勉,以使自己在遇到不良刺激时,保持良好的心境。

3.回避刺激法

当遇到可能使自己失去自制力的刺激时,应竭力回避。如隔壁有人骂我,我不侧耳去听,而是外出散步。这样就避免发怒造成冲突。

4.合理发泄法

有人在情绪波动时,利用听音乐和绘画来宣泄其情绪。

5.积极补偿法

即利用愤怒激情产生的强大动力,找一件你喜欢的工作埋头猛干,或拼命读书,或伏案疾书,使消极情绪得到积极地运用。

6.反其道而行法

就是要首先干那些不愿干的事,也就是故意与自己过不去。

自制力是一种意志力,是自尊、自爱、自重的表现,它能使我们选择行为的最佳方案,顺利通过一个个岔路口,并始终沿着正确的方向前进。

妙语拾珠

1.Self-control is essential to happiness and usefulness. It is the master of all the virtues, and has its root in self-respect.

自制是一个人获取幸福和成为有用之才的关键。自制主宰着一切美德,自制源于自重。

2.There are two things which will surely strengthen our self-control. One is attention to conscience;the other is a spirit of good will.

以下两点能帮助我们加强自制。其中一点是凭良心办事,另一点是为人友善。