We have all kinds of limits placed on our lives; "you're 8 years old, it is time for bed", you only get 24 hours in a day or the bank will only give you a mortgage of so much. These constraints are from without, but what about those from within? What are the things you choose to say "I could go this far, but I choose to stop short of what others allow?" Lay's potato chips tempts us to resist any hope of adhering to these constraints with the tag line of "no one can eat just one". The self-imposed constraints are a positive step we can take to ensure we stay on track with the life we are pursing. Examples include; adherence to a budget, to bed at a certain time to ensure you get enough sleep, turning off the phone during meals or setting aside time for a spiritual or meditative practice each morning. These constraints go deeper than the New Years resolutions that are busted buy the third week in January. I am daily working on creativity and must generate content before bed. Sometimes the nights are long, but this positive constraint is getting me closer to my goal. When the crinkly bag of potato chips calls, remembering how we refuse to say "yes" in one area can build confidence to say "NO" in other areas when tested. Tested resolve can build greater confidence to pursue what is ahead. Choose your constraints, choose your future. 

How do you choose these constraints? What benefits have self imposed constraints provided you? How have you noticed the influence in other areas of your life? What was your most effective constraint? How do you implement constraints? How have they changed over the years?