It’s important to remember that mastering your impulsivity is not always about suppressing impulses, it’s also about learning when it’s appropriate to act on them and when it’s not, and to harness those impulses to achieve your goals in a healthy and productive way. How to value and use this trait depends on the purpose of its use. To gain control over the challenging aspects that potentially come with having high impulse control, individuals could consider the following strategies:
- Flexibility: Be aware of having an open attitude to new ideas, perspectives, and ways of thinking, this can help you become more flexible and adaptable to change.
- Creativity: Practice brainstorming, free-writing or other techniques that can help you to generate new ideas and to think outside the box.
- Emotional expression: Learn to express your emotions in a healthy way, this can help you to connect with others and to manage stress.
- Reflecting on the context: Think about the context and the situation you’re in, how it may influence your behavior, and how your behavior may influence the environment in return. This can help you to adapt and make better decisions.
- Balance: Try to achieve a balance between impulse control and flexibility, this can help you to achieve your goals while remaining open to new opportunities.
- Self-care: Make sure to take care of yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally. This can help you to stay focused, motivated and to manage stress.
