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Self-Discipline

by D Moses

Self-discipline, sometimes referred to as self-mastery or self-control, requires self-knowledge, and is the is the element of your character that allows you to stick to a task, hold back an inconvenient display of emotion, or persist in the face of discomfort.

Self-discipline is a characteristic all of us need for personal fulfillment in the long run. Though anyone can do something like wait an extra hour to eat, or push themselves to put in an additional hour or two at work, it takes more than that to maintain a consistent level of self-discipline in everything that we do. True self-discipline is the ability to control our actions, thoughts, and deeds so that we are able to sustain personal development and perpetuate personal satisfaction.

Here are some things that can stand in our way of self-discipline, realizing our full potential, and taking control of our lives:

Justification. We can justify anything if we think about it long enough. We can tell ourselves that we did not get our taxes done because they are too complicated, that we cannot lose weight because we are around people who eat too much, or even that we overslept because we worked to late. The situations that occurred may be actual, but you should be able to control your own responses. The next time you go to justify your actions, think about why you acted the way you did. Force yourself to think about what you did or did not so that caused you to fail.

Desire. Consider how your activities might be out of line with your desires. If you cannot seem to get that project done at work, are late to your night classes, or continue to forget the dry cleaning, you probably are not interested in getting it done. In these cases, you might need to think about looking for a more rewarding job, or reconsider your decision to earn a graduate degree. As far as the dry cleaning goes, maybe you should start to care for your clothes yourself and save the money if that is the issue, or buy clothes of a different material if it is simply a matter of not wanting to make the trip. The point is not to avoid things you dislike, but to decide how much you truly desire the elements of your life. Ask yourself if the elements of your life are those that you desire.

Undefined goals. Our dreams must be made concrete. We must make plans and set dates to them. It is difficult to have self-discipline in the face of abstraction. When you know exactly why you are making a sacrifice and can visualize the reward, self-discipline becomes a natural trait as we head towards the ultimate prize. Goals define us, provide motivation, and validate our dreams. Without goals, you have no destination. Instead, you drift out of control. If you do not know what your goals are, write down your dreams, and set dates for them. Begin with medium goals that can be reached within a relatively short period of time. When you reach them, keep in mind that the goal you reached was your dream, your date, and your desire. It can be quite motivating when you reach a goal for the first time.

Distraction. A lack of self-discipline is often a symptom of bad choices or unhealthy portions of our lives. What is distracting you? Take care of your health, relationships, and spiritual life so that you do not have points of weakness in your mind. Your mind needs to be clear in order to gather all the strength it needs to keep you on task and focused. Take an inventory of the things in your life that need fixing, and begin fixing them today. By removing the distraction of emptiness, conflict, and pain, you can more clearly identify a loss of self-control and get yourself back on the right track. While you are at it, decide what you will accept from others and what you must walk away from. Toxic people, those miserable people who want company, must be avoided. Any person with self-respect should not allow those who do not to ruin their focus.

Disorganization. It is difficult to maintain self-discipline in the midst of lack of control all around us. If we want to feel in control and learn to be in control, we cannot have things falling apart all around us. The inability to find a pen when you need it, a forgotten meeting date, or a missed bill payment—these all shout “you are out of control!” Our mind registers this communication as a sign that we are not disciplined and begins acting accordingly.

Bad habits. Seek to eliminate your bad habits. While it might seem that bad habits are caused by a lack of self-discipline, you could also say that bad habits make it impossible for us to develop lasting self-discipline practices. In most cases, bad habits form long before we realize that we have a need for self-discipline in our lives. You must take control of every part of your life starting at the most basic level. Habits like smoking, drinking, and being a slob make us feel down on ourselves, undermining our ability to discipline ourselves due to a lack of self-respect. Take steps today to identify and break your bad habits. You do not have to do it all at once; you can do it in small steps. The important thing is to follow through. As you make progress towards eliminating your bad habits, you develop confidence and as a result, the ability to maintain self-control.

A self-disciplined person lets go of mistakes, and apologizes and takes steps to correct the situation without dwelling on the failure.

A self-disciplined person gets things done.

A self-disciplined person understands and responds to his or her emotions.

A self-disciplined person is resolute.

A self-disciplined person takes responsibility for his or her own actions

A self-disciplined person controls the elements of his or her life, and does not allow distractions or bad habits to alter his or her journey toward self determined goals

The path to self-discipline can be challenging. It requires us to objectively examine ourselves and our lives, and then facilitate what is working by ridding ourselves of what is not. Once we take control of what is in our lives, we can take control of our minds.

Self-disciplined people earn a wealth of benefits—they have peace of mind, self-reliance, and the ability to live authentic lives.