Seven Powers of Self-Control and Seven Basic Skills

Conscious Discipline® teaches individuals the Seven Powers for Self Control. With these powers, adults are able to respond rather than react to the situations that present themselves.  Self-control is the ability to stay calm in even the most difficult situations.  From a calm state, adults are able to stay in control of their actions and in charge of children.  When individuals are aware of their responses to conflict and choose to be calm, conflict can be embraced as an opportunity to teach rather than a barrier to learning.  When in conflict situations, self-control must be the first priority of all teachers.  The seven powers for self-control include:

• Power of Perception
• Power of Unity
• Power of Attention
• Power of Free Will
• Power of Love
• Power of Acceptance
• Power of Intention.

From the Seven Powers for Self Control come the Seven Basic Skills of Discipline.  With these skills adults are able to teach and children are free to learn.   These skills provide adults and children with the ability to constructively respond to conflict and challenges within any environment.  A cooperative rather than competitive environment flourishes where individuals work to assist each other in achieving success.  The Seven Basic Skills of Discipline and their accompanying slogans are as follows:

• Composure: Being the person you want children to become.
• Encouragement:  Building a school family.
• Assertiveness: Saying “no” and being heard.
• Choices: Building self esteem and willpower.
• Positive Intent:  Creating teaching moments.
• Empathy: Handling the fussing and the fits.
• Consequences: Helping children learn from their mistakes.