Going against your passions

SimchaMinute by Rabbi Avigdor Miller

​A person’s purpose in life is to mold his character. How does he mold his character? By going against the passions, the instincts, that motivate all men, and making his reason, his seichel, in control.

Of course when we talk about seichel ... it means the seichel of the Torah. Seichel without Torah is only the result of your own middos, it’s yielding to your passion. Seichel with Torah means you’re going against your passions. — Ideal Marriage, Tikun Olam (#684)