Developing Self discipline

 

 Self discipline is a type of selective training, creating new habits of thought, action and speech towards improving ourselves and reaching goals. Self discipline can be developed by practice. If one wants to get up early in the morning say 5 am, what is required is to make a beginning tomorrow. Research says that anything practiced continuously for 21 days, would become a habit.

The following are some traits to develop self-discipline:

Self Knowledge

Discipline means behaving according to what we have decided is best, regardless of how we feel in the moment. Therefore the first trait of discipline is self-knowledge. We need to decide what behavior best reflects our goals and values. This process requires introspection and self-analysis. It is highly recommended to write out the goals, dreams and ambitions. Even better, if we write a personal mission statement. It is found that writing such a statement results in greater understanding of who we are, what we are about and what we value.

Awareness

Self-discipline depends upon conscious awareness as to both what we are doing and what we are not doing. As we begin to build self-discipline, we may catch ourselves in the act of being undisciplined – e.g. biting nails, avoiding the morning walk, checking emails constantly. Developing self-discipline takes time and the key here is we are aware of our undisciplined behavior. With time this awareness will help us in disciplining ourselves. This also gives the opportunity to make a decision that is in better alignment with our goals and values.

 

Commitment

It is not enough to simply write our goals and values. We must make an internal commitment to them. Otherwise when the alarm clock goes off at 5am we will see no harm in hitting the snooze button for “just another 5 minutes”. Further, it is highly recommended to put in place a system to track these commitments. As the saying goes, “What gets measured gets improved”.

 

Courage

Self-discipline is often extremely difficult. Moods, appetites and passions can be powerful forces to go against. Therefore self-discipline is highly dependent on courage. Don’t pretend something is easy for you to do when it is in fact very difficult and painful. Instead, find the courage to face this pain and difficulty. As we begin to taste small victories, our self-confidence will grow and the courage that underpins self-discipline will come more naturally.

 

Self Coaching

Self-talk may be harmful but it can also be extremely beneficial if we have control of it. When we find ourselves being tested, it is suggested that we should talk to ourselves, encourage ourselves and reassure ourselves. After all, it is self-talk that has the ability to remind us of our goals, call up courage, reinforce the commitment and remind about the task at hand. “The price of discipline is always less than the pain of regret”. Let us keep this quote in our memory and recall whenever we are being tested. It would surely change our lives.

A disciplined life will surely improve the way we think, the way we behave, the way work and the way we achieve the goals.