{"id":126145,"date":"2020-07-14T08:00:38","date_gmt":"2020-07-14T15:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/?p=126145"},"modified":"2025-10-30T01:27:40","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T08:27:40","slug":"tq-socrates-willpower-self-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/tq-socrates-willpower-self-control\/","title":{"rendered":"Socrates on Self-Control"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tuesday Quotes are short explorations of music, life, and the daily endeavor of practicing classical guitar. Find more here<\/a>. Enjoy!<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThere is no difference\u00a0between knowledge and temperance; for he who knows what is good and embraces it, who knows what is bad and avoids it, is learned and temperate.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Socrates<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cTemperance\u201d is an old-fashioned word. We\u2019re more likely to use words like \u201cself-control\u201d, or \u201cwillpower\u201d. The game is the same: not too much, not too little. Good choices. Moderation.<\/p>\n

Some days, guitar practice comes easy. We\u2019re drawn to it. The timing is right, and everything falls into place.<\/p>\n

Other days are harder. We\u2019re busy or distracted. We may feel the weight of other things on our list. It\u2019s on these days we\u00a0face the test<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sure, we want to live a life that includes music. We want the experiences and rewards. But on any given day, we\u2019re faced with the immediate option.<\/p>\n

These days require willpower.<\/p>\n

And even within our practice, we must exercise control over\u00a0what we practice<\/a>. Some areas attract, others repel. And if we want the benefits of each (scales, pieces, exercises, etc.), we need self-control.<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s the catch: when we need self-control is often when it\u2019s most difficult to muster.<\/p>\n

So how can we access more willpower when we need it?<\/p>\n

Long-term solutions are wonderful if we\u2019ve already started – meditation, more sleep, exercise.<\/p>\n

But what about the times when our stomachs knot and our tongues taste bitter?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s in these times that we need to pause and relax. We need to take a moment to let our higher faculties come online.<\/p>\n

(In the brain, this means we activate our parasympathetic nervous systems and our pre-frontal cortexes.)<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how: All it takes is slowing down our\u00a0breathing<\/a>\u00a0to 4\u20136 breaths a minute. This is 10\u201315 seconds per breath. It\u2019s easiest to start with slowing down the exhale. Blow out all the way through pursed lips, as if through a straw.<\/p>\n

Any time we need an extra dose of willpower, a few slow breaths will help. We make better decisions, think more clearly, and notice more of the\u00a0fine details<\/a>\u00a0of the situation.<\/p>\n

Difficult decisions may still be difficult, but at least we\u2019ll be more able to pick a path we\u2019ll be proud of later.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tuesday Quotes are short explorations of music, life, and the daily endeavor of practicing classical guitar. Find more here. Enjoy! \u201cThere is no difference\u00a0between knowledge and temperance; for he who knows what is good and embraces it, who knows what is bad and avoids it, is learned and temperate.\u201d Socrates \u201cTemperance\u201d is an old-fashioned word. We\u2019re more likely to use … <\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2973,"featured_media":126149,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[328],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-126145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tuesday-quotes"],"yoast_head":"\nSocrates on Self-Control<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Socrates on Self-Control\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tuesday Quotes are short explorations of music, life, and the daily endeavor of practicing classical guitar. Find more here. Enjoy! \u201cThere is no difference\u00a0between knowledge and temperance; for he who knows what is good and embraces it, who knows what is bad and avoids it, is learned and temperate.\u201d Socrates \u201cTemperance\u201d is an old-fashioned word. We\u2019re more likely to use ... 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