--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: self-control is not genetic or fixed, but…" description: "\"“self-control is not genetic or fixed, but rather a skill one can develop and improve with practice.8 Baumeister suggests many strategies for increasin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5a/jocelyn-k-glei-4186_discipline_self-control-is-not-genetic-or-fixed-but_2294019.jpg" --- # self-control is not genetic or fixed, but rather a skill… ![“self-control is not genetic or fixed, but rather a skill one can develop and improve with practice.8 Baumeister suggests many strategies for increasing self-control. One of these strategies is to develop a seemingly unrelated habit, such as improving your posture or saying “yes” instead of “yeah”…” quote by Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5a/jocelyn-k-glei-4186_discipline_self-control-is-not-genetic-or-fixed-but_2294019.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5a/jocelyn-k-glei-4186_discipline_self-control-is-not-genetic-or-fixed-but_2294019.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5a/jocelyn-k-glei-4186_discipline_self-control-is-not-genetic-or-fixed-but_2294019.jpg) > ““self-control is not genetic or fixed, but rather a skill one can develop and improve with practice.8 Baumeister suggests many strategies for increasing self-control. One of these strategies is to develop a seemingly unrelated habit, such as improving your posture or saying “yes” instead of “yeah” or flossing your teeth every night before bed. This can strengthen your willpower in other areas of your life. Additionally, once the new habit is ingrained and can be completed without much effort or thought, that energy can then be turned to other activities requiring more self-control.”” [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The excerpt explains that self‑control is a develop skill, not a fixed trait, and that building small, unrelated habits can free mental energy to strengthen willpower in other areas. **In simple terms:** Self‑control can be trained through habit stacking. Key Takeaway Build tiny habits to boost overall discipline. Themes self‑improvement habit formation psychology willpower Mood practical encouraging Type self‑help motivational When to use this quote - daily routines - exercise - study habits - health regimens Key Concepts habit stacking energy allocation behavioral change Questions to Reflect On - Which small habit could you start today? - How does habit consistency affect other goals? A Different Perspective Habit formation may be inconsistent without motivation; progress can be slow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Every night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-night/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habit Improving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit-improving-5401682/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Self control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-control/) [Strengthen Willpower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strengthen-willpower-5401681/) [Willpower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willpower/) ## Related quotes > [You will never have a greater or lesser dominion than that over yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/you-will-never-have-a-greater-or-lesser-dominion-than-that-over-2/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [A disciplined person not only knows how to say 'no' to themselves but 'no' to other people when they need to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/a-disciplined-person-not-only-knows-how-to-say-no-to-themselves-but/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Science is showing us that there are neurological (brain) factors that contribute to self-control and willpower, along with learning and upbringing. And when these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-barkley/science-is-showing-us-that-there-are-neurological-brain-factors-that/) [Russell Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-barkley/) > [“Because self-control requires energy, which means we have less energy available for the next thing we need to do. And that’s why resisting temptation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/because-self-control-requires-energy-which-means-we-have-less-energy/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [“Willpower is more than just a metaphor; self-control is a finite resource.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/willpower-is-more-than-just-a-metaphor-self-control-is-a-finite/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [The development of willpower and self-discipline will certainly improve your life and give you more control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/the-development-of-willpower-and-self-discipline-will-certainly/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [“You have one energy resource that is used for all kinds of acts for self-control. That includes not just resisting food temptations, but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vanderkam/you-have-one-energy-resource-that-is-used-for-all-kinds-of-acts-for/) [Laura Vanderkam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vanderkam/) > [I think the whole point about self-control, the whole point about willpower, is to help people understand that there are endless self-nudge techniques that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mischel/i-think-the-whole-point-about-self-control-the-whole-point-about/) [Walter Mischel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mischel/) > [... self-control is not control by oneself through one's own willpower but rather control of oneself through the power of the Holy Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/self-control-is-not-control-by-oneself-through-one-s-own-willpower/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [“Fear and shame are the backbone of my self-control. They are my source of inspiration, my insurance against becoming entirely unacceptable. They help me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/fear-and-shame-are-the-backbone-of-my-self-control-they-are-my-source/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) > [We deify willpower and self-control - and mock its absence. People who achieve through remarkable willpower are 'strong' and 'heroic.' People who need help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/we-deify-willpower-and-self-control-and-mock-its-absence-people-who/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [“For his book Willpower, psychologist Roy Baumeister analyzed findings from hundreds of experiments to determine why some people can retain focus for hours, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/for-his-book-willpower-psychologist-roy-baumeister-analyzed-findings/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) [Chris Kirubi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kirubi/) > [“The trick would be to find which few of them had the potential for raw power, the nearly superhuman stamina, the indomitable willpower, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-james-brown/the-trick-would-be-to-find-which-few-of-them-had-the-potential-for/) [Daniel James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-james-brown/) > [“I could see her will leaving and death seeping through her skin to skewer her soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-stroube/i-could-see-her-will-leaving-and-death-seeping-through-her-skin-to/) [J.D. Stroube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-stroube/) ## More by Jocelyn K. Glei > [“We are all works in progress. Each day presents an opportunity to learn more, do more, be more, and grow more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/we-are-all-works-in-progress-each-day-presents-an-opportunity-to/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“Truly great creative achievements require hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of work, and we have to make time every single day to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/truly-great-creative-achievements-require-hundreds-if-not-thousands/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“continuous partial attention,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/continuous-partial-attention/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“99U’s Manage Your Day-to-Day assembles insights around four key skill sets you must master to succeed: building a rock-solid daily routine, taming your tools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/99u-s-manage-your-day-to-day-assembles-insights-around-four-key-skill/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“All of the most fulfilled people I know focus more on the quality of their connections than the quantity of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/all-of-the-most-fulfilled-people-i-know-focus-more-on-the-quality-of/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“people have a really bad habit of coming in and checking e-mail first thing in the morning. And for many people, the morning is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/people-have-a-really-bad-habit-of-coming-in-and-checking-e-mail-first/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“when folks want to talk creativity, what they’re really seeking is help with execution, ways to take action more effectively.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/when-folks-want-to-talk-creativity-what-they-re-really-seeking-is/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“THE MULTITASKING MYTH Studies show that the human mind can only truly multitask when it comes to highly automatic behaviors like walking. For activities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/the-multitasking-myth-studies-show-that-the-human-mind-can-only-truly/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“The next time you experience a creative block, resist the temptation to doubt yourself, or to put in more blind effort. Stop and ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/the-next-time-you-experience-a-creative-block-resist-the-temptation/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“What I do every day matters more than what I do once in a while.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/what-i-do-every-day-matters-more-than-what-i-do-once-in-a-while/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“The idea that the best way to communicate with people is 24/7 is not really an idea about maximizing productivity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/the-idea-that-the-best-way-to-communicate-with-people-is-24-7-is-not/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“Limit your daily to-do list. A 3” × 3” Post-it is perfect—if you can’t fit everything on a list that size, how will you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/limit-your-daily-to-do-list-a-3-3-post-it-is-perfect-if-you-can-t-fit/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“I never schedule meetings in the morning, if I can avoid it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/i-never-schedule-meetings-in-the-morning-if-i-can-avoid-it/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“Follow your passion” is bad advice. I reached this conclusion after spending a year researching a basic question: What makes people love what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/follow-your-passion-is-bad-advice-i-reached-this-conclusion-after/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“For his book Willpower, psychologist Roy Baumeister analyzed findings from hundreds of experiments to determine why some people can retain focus for hours, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/for-his-book-willpower-psychologist-roy-baumeister-analyzed-findings/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) [Explore all 114 Jocelyn K. Glei quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) ## More Discipline quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“Peace requires a discipline more iron than war. - Easter, 1939 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-turner/peace-requires-a-discipline-more-iron-than-war-easter-1939/) [W.J. Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-turner/) > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Exercise teaches you the pleasure of discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/exercise-teaches-you-the-pleasure-of-discipline/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [I'm always writing. I'm an obsessive. It's not because I'm a disciplined person. It's because I'm crazy about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-m-always-writing-i-m-an-obsessive-it-s-not-because-i-m-a/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [The undisciplined child enters into discipline by working in the company of others; not being told he is naughty.” “Discipline is, therefore, primarily a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-undisciplined-child-enters-into-discipline-by-working-in-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“Proverbs from the East: The wind howls, but the mountain remains still. Even though I make no special attempt to observe the discipline of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/proverbs-from-the-east-the-wind-howls-but-the-mountain-remains-still/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) [Burne Hogarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burne-hogarth/) > [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/) [Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/) > [The individual, by means of the discipline imposed on him by sport, not only plays and finds relaxation from the various compulsions to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-individual-by-means-of-the-discipline-imposed-on-him-by-sport-not/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Cheerfulness in most cheerful people is the rich and satisfying result of strenuous discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/cheerfulness-in-most-cheerful-people-is-the-rich-and-satisfying/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [Stay in your seat come times of trouble. Its only people who jump off the roller coaster who get hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-harvey/stay-in-your-seat-come-times-of-trouble-its-only-people-who-jump-off/) [Paul Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-harvey/) [Browse all 5,597 Discipline quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“self-control is not genetic or fixed, but rather a skill one can develop and improve with practice.8 Baumeister suggests many strategies for increasing self-control. One of these strategies is to develop a seemingly unrelated habit, such as improving your posture or saying “yes” instead of “yeah” or flossing your teeth every night before bed. This can strengthen your willpower in other areas of your life. 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