Is There a Single Biggest Predictor of a Person's Success? A: Yes (Page 2)

[AlexanderAnttila]

For Christians the answer is simple. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to your own understanding, and He shall make your paths straight.

[RP_Blackburn]

See but doing that stuff usually takes a hell of a lot of self-control.

The difference for the Christian is just the definition of "success," which could be different for anyone. Self-control is still one of the biggest factors in achieving that success.

[AlexanderAnttila]

@RP_Blackburn The difference is that we do not have to trust in our own strength alone. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

[RP_Blackburn]

No, not only our own strength, but of course God doesn't want us to be weak? If he has given us a spirit of power and love, after all. And we are to be like Jesus, and can you think of anyone more self-controlled than him? But his self-control wasn't his goal, it was (along with relationship with God, yes,) how he could accomplish the goal where humans failed to (resisting temptation, submission to God's will).

Self-control is a cardinal virtue in Christianity. God provides guidance and grace, but we are to be virtuous and grow in our relationship with him. There is more to following Christ than self-control, but there is also more to it than trust. And even if you trust, you may lack the self-control to act on and only on that trust.

[AlexanderAnttila]

@RP_Blackburn Our two accounts are not mutually exklusive. Through trusting God and living by faith, the fruits of the spirit that includes self control is given. But it cannot be conjured by human willpower. "For man it is impossible. But for God all things are possible."

[RP_Blackburn]

I agree mostly. (That verse is about salvation, not sins or virtues, although virtues are certainly more easily learned with a relationship to the source of those virtues).

We are all made in God's image, with the capacity for good, whether or not we recognize or turn to God. A sin nature can't blot out the desire for God and goodness in us, nor make us not like what we were created as, completely.

A non-believer can be patient. They can be self-controlled. They may even for the sake of the virtue itself (being a God-given virtue it should have positive affect on an individuals person and life) decide to commit themselves to perfecting this specific virtue in themselves. Though no human is without sin, of course, a human may be without a particular kind of sin, such as adultery by virtue of self-control.

Similarly a Christian can be a true Christian and be very in love with God and very intent on following him, yet not have developed any virtues yet, and so be quite incapable of effectually succeeding in their intentions until they have through God's help learned. Just like the self-controlled non-believer may succeed in their own goals, but not in God's path for their life, because they were not following him.

I hope by now things are clear on both ends, I think they are mostly, and I have to go to bed. Thanks for talking.

[AlexanderAnttila]

@RP_Blackburn My pleasure, God bless and sleep well!

[locutus9999]

good take. I am psichologist and your take is part of our common knowledge ground.

[exitseven]

So it turns out that television is to blame for a lot of this. I have to wonder what effect cell phone usage will have on the next generation.

[bingbongbangbung]

Take a look at the iPad kids aka Gen Alpha

[psychoticanimaIIover]

Hmm. I’m pretty sure I had a lot of self-control as a child, and yet I turned out super fucked up.

[SHREYASH007]

because you lost it later on

[SuccessfulHornDog]

This will be marginalized for many reasons including the fact that it doesn't point to sexism, and systemic racism or white privilege as the major factors

[Citizenkirk]

A determined smile with the quote, "I GOT THIS!"😉✌️

[anylolone]

Actually technically it's perseverance. A lot of people with zero self control are successful but they all perceveered.

[AmandaYVR]

I've heard that one, yes. It's the one commonality with the bigwig famous successes in the world. Picking oneself up after adversity.

But that is behavioural.
This is a genetic predisposition, which can also be learned/taught/improved.
Different.

[anylolone]

Self control ain't that genetic, actually just as genetic as perseverance is just as behavioral as self-control, last time I checked.

But yeah, I get it.

[AmandaYVR]

Ok, I don't know the roots of perseverance. It could, or could not be, genetic.
But the Dunedin study discovered that self-control is an inherent trait, visible at age 4, which indicates that is is genetic.
Do you really want to put your knowledge up against a acclaimed biologists who have pent his entire careers studying this? "A lot of people with zero self control are successful but they all perceveered." You just completely made this up.

[kingofthellamas]

I feel like you've used a lot of words to say something everyone knows already.

[Omar5881]

Basically agreeable , conscientious and high in openness

[Mariana1097]

For me what you see in your home I think cause it tends to be a vicious cycle.

[Not_Average]

Nice read. Love this

[AmandaYVR]

Thanks 🙏

[msc545]

Very interesting - thanks!

[R3DthatDude]

Hard work and direction

[MrCreep]

All of them and luck. Luck to me it's main thing

[AmandaYVR]

It's easier to believe that. Takes responsibility off the person.

[MrCreep]

What person

[MrCreep]

So why don't every good invention or business idea become successful

[bulletbob555]

Luck only works for people that are ready and prepared for luck

[AmandaYVR]

@bulletbob555 hahaha. Good one! 👍
Also, as Edna Mode of Pixar's The Incredibles says... "Luck favors the prepared, darling."
www.google.ca/search

[MrCreep]

Yes I agree that's the secret combo for the harder to stuff but it can work where it's just total luck people have too mostly with apps and some tech people 😅

[AmandaYVR]

I think the difference that we're talking about here is some people actually rely on luck, because they feel helpless and that life is unjust. (And sometimes it is.) But to throw one's hands up, or to 'invest in their future' by buying lotto tickets every week for your entire life, as some do (my grandmother did this, wasted thousands of dollars, because some fortune teller told her she would win big one day), is to waste life. Sometimes we can't wait for opportunity, we must make opportunity. Then fingers crossed for some luck.

[MrCreep]

No I'm talking about people who have millions and just have app idea that's shit and makes more money n stuff that's needed and nessisary for life to progress. Or stolen ideas and they get to be filthy rich n the person who done the work is left with zero. Most people don't deserve what they have they are just lucky to be terrible people and will do anything to get rich. Yes everyone relys on luck for everything no luck and your dead before you can walk.

[COMMODOREII]

IM well adjusted lol