To read or listen to this article, click here
Image by stockobust626118 from Vecteezy
Are you disciplined? Some people are so disciplined they can choke the enjoyment and fun out of life. Conversely, others lack discipline, leading to chaos and missed opportunities. Striking a balance between these extremes is crucial. Is it possible? Absolutely, and easier than you might think. Read on to learn more.
Living a disciplined life
A disciplined life offers many advantages and is the bedrock of success and personal growth. Yet, like any strength, excessive discipline can stifle creativity and joy. Is it possible to lead a disciplined yet enjoyable life? Absolutely! By understanding the nuances of discipline, you can harness its benefits while preserving spontaneity and happiness.
It is well known those who lead a disciplined life experience more success than those who do not. Exceptions may exist, but they are rare.
How do you strike a balance between being disciplined and undisciplined? Develop it where it helps you most. It’s your choice where to practice it, so choose wisely, and you will receive considerable benefits! As psychiatrist and author M. Scott Peck wrote, “Discipline is wisdom and vice versa.” Discipline is key to reaching your potential and crucial to success and significance. But be honest with yourself, as few people want to be super disciplined in everything.
Most of us do not function well in a rigidly disciplined environment. After all, we are humans, not machines! It’s best to develop self-discipline in the right areas of life rather than face external discipline due to a lack of self-control.
What is self-discipline?
How well do you understand the term self-discipline? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it is: “correction or regulation of oneself for the sake of improvement.”
Jim Rohn, America’s foremost business philosopher, describes discipline as “the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” Self-discipline is more than overcoming weakness or adhering to a rigid structure; it’s about self-control, regulating strengths and weaknesses, and avoiding temptations rather than fighting them.
How can self-discipline help you?
Self-discipline helps you create a fuller, happier life. When used appropriately, it sets you apart, putting you on the road to achieving what you want. Without self-discipline, your career and personal life will suffer.
Some of the many benefits of self-discipline include:
Better fitness and health
Making better life choices while avoiding poor ones
Greater life satisfaction and enjoyment
Improved academic and career success
Perseverance and resilience
The ability to break bad habits
Better time management and punctuality
Being more organized and structured
Having more time to do what you want
Superior success in setting and achieving goals
Following up and following through
Finishing what you start
Keeping promises
Overcoming procrastination and laziness
Enhanced effectiveness and productivity
Self-respect and self-control
Saying no to yourself, avoiding temptations, excesses, and excuses
“Self-respect is the fruit of discipline; the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself.” — Abraham Joshua Heschel
How to build self-discipline
Building self-discipline in the right areas is essential for the most significant impact. As Plato said, “For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories.”
Focus on major areas such as:
Health and well-being
Personal development and growth
Faith and spirituality
Nourishment and nutrition
Relationships
Career
Productivity
Rest, relaxation, and fun!
Each of the above areas offers numerous opportunities to build and practice self-discipline.
The easiest way to build self-discipline is to find an area of interest that enhances your life. Choose something you can commit to without undue stress, and go to work on it. If you enjoy it, so much the better!
Examples of building self-discipline
Example 1: Exercise
If you believe you should exercise, develop the discipline to conquer it. Block out time on your calendar each weekday morning, buy running shoes, or join a gym and get to work. Start without delay and tell others to create accountability. In no time, it will become a habit that significantly impacts your health.
Example 2: Learning a musical instrument
Want to do something fun, like learning to play an instrument? It may seem a tad daunting at first, but it’s a given if you have always wanted to play. Why not build a little self-discipline by committing to learning and practicing?
As with many things in life, practice makes perfect when done routinely. Take lessons to instill more self-discipline. Don’t overdo it initially to avoid frustration. Even 30 minutes daily adds up to over 180 hours a year, enough to become proficient!
Example 3: Increasing productivity
Want to be more productive at work? Block out an hour daily for your most important task and watch your productivity soar. Schedule a meeting with yourself, turn off your phone and email, and get to work. This practice made a huge difference in my career because it often helped me accomplish more in an uninterrupted hour than an entire day.
“Without self-discipline, success is impossible, period.” — Lou Holtz
Final thoughts
The trick to building self-discipline is to take the first step. Then the next, and the next until it becomes more natural. Building it in other areas becomes easier each time.
“The smallest of disciplines, practiced every day, start an incredible process that can change our lives forever.” Jim Rohn
I challenge you to choose one small area of your life to practice self-discipline. Share this article with someone close to you and do the work together. Your likelihood of discipline increases dramatically when another person is involved. You will do each other a favor, which could forever change your lives!
Give it a try — you won’t regret it!
Comments