The Quiet Power of Restraint
— Nicholas Peters
You will not be defined by what you can do. You will be defined by what you choose not to do, even when you could get away with it.
My children,
Most of the mistakes that will threaten your life are not the ones you will make out of ignorance. They are the ones you will make out of impulse — the reply sent in anger, the deal signed without reading, the word spoken about someone who was not in the room.
Restraint is one of the most underrated qualities a person can develop.
The pause before you speak. The night of sleep before you send. The willingness to walk away from a good opportunity because it is not the right opportunity.
You will not be defined by what you can do. You will be defined by what you choose not to do, even when you could get away with it.
Be the person who can hold their tongue, hold their temper, and hold their integrity — especially when no one would blame you for letting go.
With love,
Dad