Impulse Control 2011

This year instead of coming up with resolutions, I trying something different. Instead of structuring formal 2011 New Year Resolutions, I have decided to focus instead on encouraging or suppressing certain impulses over the course of 2011. As mentioned in multiple blogs, impulse control is more accurate description of what occurs when we show self-restraint instead of giving in to an immediate self-gratification or neurological reward. Instead of a really fictional concept of character-based will-power, impulse control is about not worrying about the larger questions of flaws in our mosaic of character elements in our self-definition but making a better choice with immediate situation presented at the moment.

What has been missing from my (abet limited) readings on the subject of impulse control is the how and why we would want to encourage positive impulses. I know for myself, I will have impulses that should be encouraged (exercising, etc.). This makes it more complicated than the blogs suggest because it means we have to make judgments about our impulses; for example inhibiting an impulse for tobacco but cultivating your impulse to cook at home instead of fast food. In this reconceptualization of impulse control as a process for both encouraging and inhibiting impulses, for 2011 I want to work on these areas:

• Encourage movement impulses; i.e. instead of internet usage, go for a run, walk on the treadmill, practice Aikido.
• Inhibit fat, sugar, and salt consumption impulses; i.e. improve my diet through not eating processed or other foods that are high in either or all of these three categories
• Encourage social extrovert impulses; as an introvert, I don't often have social impulses, especially when I am around the opposite sex (this hasn't changed much since primary school). This year I want to act on social impulses when they do occur.
• Inhibit tobacco impulses; with the stress of moving and the new job, I picked up chewing again, for 2011 I am resisting this impulse.

It will be interesting to compare how well I met these four areas as an alternative to the traditional New Year resolutions.