....goal directed self-imposed delay of gratification is perhaps the essence of emotional selfregulation:
the ability to deny impulse in the service of a goal, whether it be building a business,
solving an algebraic equation, or pursuing the Stanley cup.
- Daniel Goleman Emotional Intelligence (1995) p. 83

Effective problem solvers have a sense of deliberativeness: They think before they act. They intentionally form a vision of a product, plan of action, goal or a destination before they begin. They strive to clarify and understand directions, develop a strategy for approaching a problem and withhold immediate value judgments about an idea before fully understanding it. Reflective individuals consider alternatives and consequences of several possible directions prior to taking action. They decrease their need for trial and error by gathering information, taking time to reflect on an answer before giving it, making sure they understand directions, and listening to alternative points of view.

Often students blurt the first answer that comes to mind. Sometimes they shout out an answer, start to work without fully understanding the directions, lack an organized plan or strategy for approaching a problem or make immediate value judgments about an ideacriticizing or praising it before fully understanding it.

They may take the first suggestion given or operate on the first idea that comes to mind rather than considering alternatives and consequences of several possible directions. -Arthur L. Costa, Ed. D.

Learning Activities:
* Make a note of the number of times you are
bl impulsive in your own thinking on a daily
bl basis and see if the number decreases over
bl the week.
blNo of times
blDay 1 ________________________________
blDay 2 ________________________________
blDay 3 ________________________________
blDay 4 ________________________________
blDay 5 ________________________________
blDay 6 ________________________________
blDay 7 ________________________________