THE NEED FOR SELF-DISCIPLINE

THE NEED FOR SELF-DISCIPLINE

It is a fact that many people dislike self-discipline, indeed to them it is something undesirable, even unnecessary. They mistakenly believe it to be a form of self-denial, some form of martyrdom almost, yet it is altogether a completely different thing. The difference is this - self-discipline is consciously considered and applied. It is the means by which we focus all our energy and our skills to achieve a pre-determined goal, to give us the best possible chance of success. Self-discipline is something we decide to do and willingly impose on ourselves, in the full knowledge of what it entails, what we have to do, and what we want it to do for us. Self-denial, on the other hand, is when we tell ourselves not to do something, or deny ourselves something, not because we really want to, but because we live with the fear of what others may think or say about us.
But if we are to achieve anything substantial and lasting in our lives, then there has to be discipline. Sometimes it is imposed from above such as at school or college, or in a football team, and even more so in a military organisation. It is clear that if there were no discipline here, then we would emerge from school uneducated, the football team would lose every match, and the army would be soundly thrashed in any battle.
In life it is different because there is no one to discipline us if we don’t want it. Yet if we are to succeed at anything then we have to discipline ourselves. Without self-discipline we will be continually bugged by thoughts of what we should be doing or what we should have done. With self-discipline however, we will be able to enjoy the pleasure and the thrill of achievement, and of looking back on a job well done. Here are six tips to help you along the way.
1) Be clear in your aims. Define your goals. Write down what it is you want to do, as clearly and in as much detail as you can, and then work it out in a sequence of small, manageable steps. Writing down your goals is essential as this makes them specific and measurable. You must not only know your destination, you must know how you are going to get there by devising a clear programme, making sure you take things in their order of importance. Then set out on your quest with the unshakeable belief in your mind that you will finish the job successfully whatever happens.
2) Have a good reason for doing anything. Having decided what you want to do, and worked out how you are going to get there, you then must satisfy yourself that your motives are sound and that you have a good enough reason for wanting to practice and achieve self-discipline. There is no point in just trying to give up something that is of little or no consequence to you for this can be done without any effort on the part of the will. Nor will it help you or serve any purpose to do some task, or give something up, just to prove your mental or moral superiority. Have a good solid reason for exercising your self-discipline, and you will start out with a big advantage, helping you to perform at your best.
3) Start with small things first. The secret of developing sturdy self-discipline is by starting with small things. After all, no serious athlete would attempt to run a marathon without careful preparation and serious training. He would start with short runs and then over time would increase the distance bit by bit. You can start with something less important like writing a letter that has been outstanding for ages, or phoning an awkward customer, or calling on somebody you have been meaning to visit for a long time. You must force yourself to make that initial move, to do these things, and before long you will find that they will become second nature to you.
4) Keep within your limits. It is very easy in the heat of the moment to rush headlong into some task without first knowing the full implications and what is involved. By being undisciplined and over ambitious you risk failure and discouragement. You must know exactly what you are capable of both mentally and physically, not to attempt too much at once, or try to keep going beyond your level of endurance. Overtiredness and tension may compel you give in, making you unwilling or afraid to commit yourself ever to another task. Some of us are prone to over enthusiasm and for a time it fills our life to the exclusion of everything else, but then we tire of it and the enthusiasm just fizzles away.
5) Resolve to be tidy. There is virtually nothing more important than this for practising and developing self-discipline, for keeping everything tidy and in its proper place has a very real positive impact on your mind. Whenever you have finished a job, never walk away from the scene without first tidying up. Things such as tools, scissors or knives left lying around are not only the sign of an undisciplined worker, but can be a danger to anyone, especially children. This may seem like a small and unimportant thing to consider, but it is an extremely useful exercise that will contribute to the discipline of your personality.
6) Last, but certainly not least, is the importance of maintaining a positive outlook in any situation, or with whom you come in contact. Should any negative thought or action creep in it could throw into confusion, and cast doubt on whatever you are doing. Every moment of self-distrust, every expectation of failure will add another destructive negative thought into your personality. The point is to use the positive idea and action doggedly and confidently. Say it aloud whenever possible, putting into your voice all the self-assurance you can muster. See yourself positively in imagination, as you want to look and as you want to act. One of the most powerful forms of positive thinking is that which totally embraces the worth and dignity of human nature. And you must see yourself as a valuable part of that.
Anyone can learn the art of self-discipline if they will take the trouble to organise themselves, and discipline themselves in the smaller things. For discipline, like many other acquired skills, begins as has been mentioned before with the smaller things; at the time they may seem even trivial and hardly worth dealing with, but working through this you will find the power of your will growing stronger day by day, and your frustration and any sense of defeat disappearing. Of course there will be times when we have to cope with the unexpected. It is then you will have to exert your self-discipline to change your plans, re-adjust your day, and perhaps even hide any disappointment. When things do go wrong, or unexpected crises crop up, as they do from time to time, use what you have learned to look for ways to solve the problem. Have the self-discipline to apply your mind to the practical aspects of the moment, searching for more practical and efficient ways to cope with and overcome the problem. If you wish to become a complete and self-sufficient person then you will need to cultivate self-discipline in all that you do – but be assured that when you achieve the success you seek you will be able to look back on how far you have come and proudly say that it was well worth the effort involved.

May you have success in all your endeavours.