The Power of Self-Discipline
Do you consistently achieve your goals in your career, health, relationships, business, and spirituality?
Are you making progress in the areas that are truly important for you, and living the life you had planned?
Or do you think about doing these things but didn”t have the courage to take the first step?
Most people will answer no to these questions, and the likely cause is a lack of self-discipline.
“Self-discipline begins with the mastery of your thoughts. If you don’t control what you think, you can’t control what you do.” —Napoleon Hill
To know what you want and not being able to make it happen is painful.
You might be feeling that time is slipping through your fingers, and while some other people seem to achieve everything they set their mind to, you just can’t get some ideas off the ground.
They remain as wishlist items.
Why?
It’s not knowledge that is lacking. It’s not contacts, nor money. It’s not even time, nor motivation.
What lacks is commitment.
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn
I used to procrastinate and be stressed out for not meeting my goals. And then I decided that to live a fulfilled life I must learn to develop the self-discipline habit.
I am far from perfect and I get stronger every day.
I live my life with intention and I make conscious decisions that align with my values and goals.
I believe it is possible for everyone.
If I can do it anyone can.
Self-discipline is not something you either have it or you don’t. It’s a skill that can be learned, a quality that can be developed.
Self-discipline is the number one trait needed to accomplish goals, lead a healthy lifestyle, and ultimately, be happy.
Think about athletes. I love to study their lives and learn from them.
Great athletes have great discipline. Excellent athletes have excellent discipline.
Likewise for great scientists, entrepreneurs, spiritual masters, writers, artists and leaders.
They all have great discipline in their craft—and that is what makes them great.
What is Self-Discipline
Self-discipline is your ability to choose what is in your own best interest. This also means that you know what you want.
It is keeping your goals and values in mind, and manifesting them in your thoughts, words, and actions—day after day.
Self-discipline is an expression of self-love and self-respect. It means you respect your decisions, your priorities, and act accordingly. You don’t go against yourself.
Having self-discipline enables you to:
Plan and avoid procrastination and get things done
Use your time, money and energy effectively
Resist temptations, bad habits, and things that will not really serve you
Finish what you start, every time!
Have the freedom to not be swayed by your own thoughts or moods
Focus on what really matters, day after day
Do the right thing even when it doesn’t “feel good”
Learn quickly and grow quickly.
“Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” — Abraham Lincoln
The word discipline comes from the word disciple. Indeed, it is discipline that enables you to truly learn and apply what you learned. And we are always learning something—be it a new skill, lessons of life, best practices in your career, how to keep yourself healthy, or how to improve your relationships.
Self-discipline is also the foundation of developing any other skill/virtue in life.
Do you want to speak better? Be focused? Be less reactive? All of that takes the discipline of being mindful of your behavior, and redirecting your focus.
With self-discipline comes willpower, self-control, self-confidence, and the ability to fulfill your goals and aspirations. As such, it is the key ingredient to success and fulfillment in most areas of life.
Self-discipline manifests as character, integrity, determination, grit, perseverance, motivation and optimism.
Likewise, in daily life people with strong self-discipline are respected, admired and often followed.
Are you one of them?
Let’s break down what it means to have discipline in the different areas of our lives.
Disciplined People
Health
Eat what they feel like at the moment, skip the gym, experience low energy and health problems.
Eat healthy. Exercise. Get enough sleep. Beam with health and vitality.
Money
Have no control over finances. Barely save, let alone invest. Go into debt. Have no retirement.
Keep a budget. Save. Invest. Spend smart. Retire well. Have peace of mind.
Career
Are disorganized. Don’t keep up with new skills and knowledge. Don’t deliver what is expected. Arrive late. Work in a way that is messy and ineffective. Don’t follow through. Grow slowly.
Get the work done. Stay on top of their game. Educate themselves. Go the extra mile. Meet deadlines. Have a clean desk. Get promoted. Lead others.
Personal Growth
Believe that “This is just how I am”. Love self-help quotes but don’t implement them. Want to change, but can’t. Or may even think that personal development work is silly or stupid.
Reflect on themselves and their goals. Devote time to personal development. Develop virtues. Meditate regularly. Put things into practice. Transform themselves.
Relationships
Say and do things they regret later. Make no consistent effort to improve themselves or their relationship dynamics. Don’t meet expectations.
Show up and meet expectations. Are reliable and dependable. Put in the time and energy to make things work. Control one’s words and actions so as not to create problems.
Business
Usually don’t have their own business. Or, if they do, they struggle to grow it.
Are methodical, strategic and determined. Focus on what matters the most, and follow through like a machine. Don’t give up.
Habits
Do what feels good at the moment, regardless of long-term consequences. Cannot follow through with their commitments to start a positive habit or stop a negative one.
Are able to create positive habits that empower them in life. Can break bad habits. Don’t waste hours on games, social media or TV.
Time
Don’t think much about how they spend their time, nor control it. Spend a lot of time on things that feel good in that moment, but produce nothing. Have no routine.
Have a routine. Spend most of their time on things that matter most. Have the clock as their best friend. Are always active and busy with good things. Choose carefully how they spend their hours, knowing that time = life.
A disciplined person moves toward his/her goal overcoming whatever obstacles come on its way, and not stopping until the goal is reached.
They do not complain. They know they have the ability to overcome whatever obstacles and they think of them as life lessons.
Discipline also gives you a positive outlook on life. It gives you enthusiasm, high energy levels, and true self-confidence, because you know you that you have the power to change things, change yourself, and make things happen.
You know you can make a difference.
To be clear, self-discipline is fun.
Self-discipline is not imprisonment. It is freedom. It is you being the boss of yourself, the boss of your life. It is you deciding what you will do, when, and how—and what you will not do. It is you being the author of your own life.
“He who cannot command himself must obey.”
-Friedrich Nietzsche
Self-Discipline Coaching
Changing yourself and your life is very hard.
Changing reality around you is even harder.
Without self-discipline, it is just wishful thinking.
For most people, self-discipline doesn’t come naturally. Having an accountability coach who himself is highly self-disciplined can make the whole difference, and shortcut the learning process for you.
That is why I offer special Self-Discipline Coaching sessions.
This is one of my favorite topics, and something I’m very passionate about.
I live a self-disciplined life, and this skill has given me countless benefits.
My coaching will help you to:
Overcome negative scripts and beliefs regarding self-discipline
Create and follow an empowered routine that sets you up for the day
Break down larger projects into smaller goals and daily actions
Stay on track with goals and routine, regardless of motivation swings
Bounce back and forgive yourself whenever you make mistakes or stray
Break bad habits, stop impulsive behavior, and increase self-control
Manage emotional obstacles such as boredom and frustration
Use your environment to your advantage, when building a routine
Stick to your resolutions, goals, and values
Stop distraction and procrastination
Develop mindfulness around your urges and compulsions
Strengthen your willpower
In this world of easy-instant gratification, having self-disciplined is more and more rare—and also more needed. The world will belong to those who have it. The disciplined shall inherit the earth.
“You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.”
— John C. Maxwell
Your Next Steps
If you feel that having more self-discipline would make a big impact in your life, then sign up for a free coaching call and let's talk.
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