Over the years I’ve realized that self-discipline is one of the most important and at times most difficult traits to perfect…
Developing our inner strengths, can, at times be an uphill battle of which I believe that self-discipline is at the heart.
Take a look at any elite person in their field and you’ll soon realize the amount of effort, perseverance and drive it takes to make it to the top.
In my mind it’s a combination of focus and self-discipline that enables them to succeed.
Even in everyday life for you and me it can be tough to take away the extraneous noise to stay focused on our goals.
Self-discipline is doing what you know you need to do, even when you really don’t feel like it.
Whether it’s your exercise routine or in your working life it comes down to the same stick-to-itiveness or bloody mindedness to keep going.
For me personally, the more I see the impact of my hard work the more it fuels me to continue and continually reinforces the effort and gains.
That’s all well and good, but as we know we can easily miss a day or two when you’re exercising. Or perhaps that work deadline is flexible and so you push it…
“I’m sore so I need to rest, or things got in the way and I couldn’t finish my work…”
It’s easy to explain it away in your head with these types of excuses.
But it takes self-discipline to get up every morning at 4:50 am and workout irrespective of the day of the week. Even on weekends because deep down you’re seeing the results of your hard work.
It’s the same with your work when you can see the results of your hard work making a difference in someone’s life or within an organization.
Unfortunately, we live in a world that is all about instant gratification.
Combined this with the little voice in your head who work in tandem to feed you excuses and place emotional and mental barriers to block you.
Sometimes it’s about conquering your impulses in the constant battle for instant gratification and to turn off the noise.
Easier said than done…
The real test of self-discipline is when you’re faced with challenging your values.
It can one thing to say that you’re honest and another to actually follow through on it.
Take the example of finding a wallet outside a store. Do you pick it up and take it into the store and leave it with the store owner in case the person comes back or drop it at the nearest police station or – do you keep it…
How about when you’re in a parking lot and accidently bump into someone else’s car. Do you leave a note or do you drive off?
These examples also require self-discipline.
It sometimes boils down to doing something even though you may not want to do it because deep down it aligns with your values and you know you have to do the right thing.
If you compromise your values, then, at least for me anyway it leaves a bitter and lasting taste.
It really doesn’t sit well with me and so rather than put myself through this torment, I choose to keep aligned with my values and do the right thing.
So how do you start improving your self-disciple?
The important aspect is to start with something small and potentially easy to accomplish.
Perhaps it’s taking a walk every day, or practising yoga or meditation every day. Maybe even just making your bed every day.
I think we all fool ourselves into believing that we have to start with something monumental.
Far from it!
Starting small and building consistency is a starting point to improve your self-discipline.
Remember, there can be no excuses.
One of my mantras when I was coaching football was “no excuses”. It starts and ends with you…
Don’t try and do everything right off the bat.
Too many things to begin with will doom you to failure.
A perfect example is New Year’s resolutions and the success rate of these…
Start with a couple of items to get in the groove and keep at it. Over time add items as your self-discipline develops and grows.
Depending on who you ask it takes between 21 and 66 days to form a habit.
However, it’s going to be your willpower or self-disciple to keep going even though there will be days when you don’t want to stick to your routine.
This is all about you, your willpower, and the necessary self-discipline to attain your dreams and goals.
It’s easy to give up or succumb to the pull of instant gratification but only the great among us persevere and push ourselves to become the best version of ourselves.
No two people are alike and so you must find your own balance between your goals and the level of self-discipline required.
No-one can force you to be self-disciplined.
As with most things in life it starts with you!
Until next week
Ciao
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