Trouble with Self-Control? There's Hope!

OK, folks, we're a couple weeks into the new year, and it's check-in time. How are you all doing with those resolutions?

In the effort to pick up good habits or to shed bad ones, if you happen to find yourself stumbling and discouraged, buck up. Maybe all you need to do is give it a fresh start and use the buddy system. As LiveScience reports, self-control is contagious.

A University of Georgia psychology study led by Michelle van Dellen finds that the burdensome task of saying no to that sweet, sweet donut is made easier when you have company sharing your effort to not indulge. Professor van Dellen summarizes the upshot of the study and its findings in a quote provided to LiveScience:

"The take-home message of this study is that picking social influences that are positive can improve your self-control. And by exhibiting self-control, you're helping others around you do the same."

The findings arise from five psychological studies that were conducted over a two year period designed to shed light on behavior as it relates to temptation and self-control. While at the end of the day we are ultimately responsible for the choices we make, van Dellen's findings indicate that the influence of the self-control of others exerts a positive impact on our ability to keep a leash on those tempting impulses that may not be in our best long-term interest.

Have another look with resolve renewed at that list of resolutions for 2010, and keep this in mind: Success loves company!

Photo courtesy of Angeldm, via Wikimedia Commons