D.A.D.A with Professor Reynolds [class concluded]

[Sparrow Puppy]

Gryffindor Prefect
Sparrow----Gryffindor ----3rdyear
Gryffinclaw Quidditch Captain
And Seeker

Sparrow saw Caiden talking to the new kid. He looked kind of intimidating. She stayed where she was taking out a new piece of parchment not for notes. She started to work on a rough sketch of Caiden since she was bored. She hoped it didn't look odd that she kept looking over at him. She would of course pay attention when the professor talked about something.

 

[Sparrow Puppy]

Gryffindor Prefect
Sparrow----Gryffindor ----3rdyear
Gryffinclaw Quidditch Captain
And Seeker

Sparrow quickly pushed aside her sketch as the Professor started talking. She put her notes in front of her and started to write down some important facts that she thought would be good to know. She wondered if she could attempt this and start practicing disciplining her mind. She didn't want anybody stealing her personal thoughts. That was a scary thought.
 

[Nerevar Telvanni]

Professor Kenneth Reynolds
D.A.D.A - Head of Gryffindor - Auror

[[ Sorry guys and gals, I was away from my computer for most of the day. ]]

Yet another new student, finally his class was going to actually fill up. This time instead of a new Gryffindor his newest arrival was a Slytherin, ”Hello Blake, welcome to Defense, please take which ever empty seat you wish.” Now with his greeting to the newest attention to his class finished he turned his attention to those in his own house who were bickering back and forth. ”That is enough Alex, and the same goes for you Caiden.” He gave them both stern glares before continuing. ”Caiden one does not resist Occlumency, one use’s the skill to close one’s mind off to outside forces. Such as someone who is attempting to perform Legilimens on you. However you where correct in saying that in essence learning the skills to perform Occlumency with success, will also be needed to resist the effects of the Imperius Curse. And yes not everyone can achieve it very quickly; some will have a much harder time disciplining their minds in order to do so.

Now Alex one doesn’t acquire these skills in the same sense as practicing spells will make you better at them. You have to understand that your character is who you are. If you a type you doesn’t allow the words or others in influence you, or you have the ability to push your body past what your mind perceives is the breaking point the one would say that you have a strong will. To better understand this we will first need to address what will power and self-discipline is: Will power is the ability to overcome laziness and procrastination. It is the ability to control or reject unnecessary or harmful impulses. It is the ability to arrive at a decision and follow it with perseverance until its successful accomplishment. It is the inner power that overcomes the desire to indulge in unnecessary and useless habits, and the inner strength that overcomes inner emotional and mental resistance for taking action. It is one of the corner stone’s of success, both spiritual and material.

Self-discipline is the companion of will power. It endows with the stamina to persevere in whatever one does. It bestows the ability to withstand hardships and difficulties, whether physical, emotional or mental. It grants the ability to reject immediate satisfaction, in order to gain something better, but, which requires effort and time.

Everyone has inner, unconscious, or partly conscious impulses, making them say or do things they later regret saying or doing. On many occasions people do not think before they talk or act. By developing these two powers, one becomes conscious of the inner, subconscious impulses, and gains the ability to reject them when they are not for his/her own good.

These two powers help us to choose our behavior and reactions, instead of being ruled by them. Their possession won't make life dull or boring. On the contrary, you will feel more powerful, in charge of yourself and your surroundings, happy and satisfied.

Will power gets stronger by holding back and not allowing the expression of unimportant, unnecessary and unhealthy thoughts, feelings, actions and reactions. If this saved energy is not allowed expression, it is stored inside you like a battery, and it becomes available at the time of need. By practicing appropriate exercises, you develop your powers the same way, as a person who trains his/her muscles in order to strengthen them.

An effective method for developing and improving these abilities is to perform certain actions or activities, which you would rather avoid doing due to laziness, procrastination, weakness, shyness, etc. Doing things that you usually do not like to do. or feel too lazy to do, you overcome your subconscious resistance, train your mind to obey you, strengthen your inner powers and gain inner strength. Muscles get stronger by resisting the power of the barbells. Inner strength is attained by overcoming inner resistance.

Remember, strengthening one of these abilities, automatically strengthens the other one.
I hope this little philosophical talk has brought you to a better understanding what will power is and how ones can learn to control their own.”

 

[Nerevar Telvanni]

Professor Kenneth Reynolds
D.A.D.A - Head of Gryffindor - Auror

With his attention on Caiden, Kenneth replied, "That is correct those people who's character always allows them to be swayed and ruled by others, will never be able to resist the Imperius Curse." Kenneth started to pace back and forth in front of his desk and continued and tired his best to answer Alex's question. "Now I don't pretend to be an expert on philosophical matters, but I do believe that if someone is willing enough and have the drive they can change themselves for the better, or in some case's for the worst. Personally I think we all have our own strengthen and weakness, and some people can learn to over come those weakness, others not so much. In the end I can't give you a definitive answer one way or another on the subject."

[[ Edited to answer both Alex and Cadien ]]