And so we, his disciples, must achieve mastery over the body.  If it is to serve and not to rule our higher nature, then we must train and discipline it, protest though it may.  Nor should we despise this discipline because it must chiefly be in the little things, and the same applies to self-discipline in general.  It is obvious that we shall not have mastery over ourselves in great things if we are incapable of exercising it in small.

We should, therefore, have a few simple practical rules designed to make our body with all its likes and dislikes more and more our servant.  Naturally, a rule that applies to one would not necessarily apply to another.  Some might, for example, profitably get up in the morning a little earlier and always at a fixed time.  And all of us can think of some pleasure or luxury we can give up and so really practise saying no to our lower nature.