Discipline - a strong word for a strong action. The word as a noun is defined as 'The practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour, using punishment to correct disobedience' (Oxford Dictionary), 'control gained by enforcing obedience or order', 'a way of behaving that shows a willingness to obey rules or orders', 'a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity', (Merriam Webster Dictionary).
Self-discipline is the ability to make your-self do things that should be done.
When you have a vision, I am finding that one of the toughest challenges to making your vision become a reality is discipline and in particular self-discipline. I am yet to come across lessons from successful people that did not include being disciplined. To achieve anything worthwhile in life requires you to be self-disciplined.
As I strive towards achieving my vision of becoming a successful writer, I had to learn self-discipline - to develop the ability to get things done. I have realized that self-discipline does requires a pattern of behaviour, maintaining control, setting yourself some rules and being ready to be trained. If you have a goal you have set for yourself you need discipline to keep going until you achieve it.
It is very easy to procrastinate or give up. I have heard people talk about their dream and have seen those dreams continue to be dreams. I have heard people promised to do certain things, to date I'm still waiting for them to fulfil their promise. I have heard of many businesses that got started and never got off the ground. All...because of lack of self-discipline.
Sometime ago, I had to counsel myself on this. I found myself getting distracted and procrastinating on my writing. It was not because the words were not there (in my head) but to get up, stay up and write became a challenge. I started giving excuses - I am fasting and need to conserve energy; I write better in the morning and it's night time now - will wake up very early tomorrow; It is still dark outside and I need to sleep well because I have a long day ahead.... Before I knew it, one month had gone with no progress, then two, then three with little to show for it. Thank God for His Spirit that lives in me, I got the revelation that you can't succeed without self-discipline. Now, I am training myself and enforcing some rules to change my behaviour.
Every day, I strive to get up at least one hour earlier before I need to start getting ready for the day, open my computer and write. It does not matter how many words or how many pages...just write. Words become sentences and sentences becomes a page and before I know it the book would be finished. It is working but it is hard and you need self-discipline to keep going.
How about you? Is there a goal you want to achieve in life? Self-discipline is one of the key things you need to make it a reality. Get going!
It is very easy to procrastinate or give up. I have heard people talk about their dream and have seen those dreams continue to be dreams. I have heard people promised to do certain things, to date I'm still waiting for them to fulfil their promise. I have heard of many businesses that got started and never got off the ground. All...because of lack of self-discipline.
Sometime ago, I had to counsel myself on this. I found myself getting distracted and procrastinating on my writing. It was not because the words were not there (in my head) but to get up, stay up and write became a challenge. I started giving excuses - I am fasting and need to conserve energy; I write better in the morning and it's night time now - will wake up very early tomorrow; It is still dark outside and I need to sleep well because I have a long day ahead.... Before I knew it, one month had gone with no progress, then two, then three with little to show for it. Thank God for His Spirit that lives in me, I got the revelation that you can't succeed without self-discipline. Now, I am training myself and enforcing some rules to change my behaviour.
Every day, I strive to get up at least one hour earlier before I need to start getting ready for the day, open my computer and write. It does not matter how many words or how many pages...just write. Words become sentences and sentences becomes a page and before I know it the book would be finished. It is working but it is hard and you need self-discipline to keep going.
How about you? Is there a goal you want to achieve in life? Self-discipline is one of the key things you need to make it a reality. Get going!
No comments:
Post a Comment