Self-discipline is an essential ingredient for life satisfaction. Without self-discipline we would only do the things we wanted to do when we wanted to — giving us short bursts of satisfaction. Top achievers have the ability to do the things they know should be done, even when they don’t want to do them. Why?
Exactly that — they have to have a strong why. Self-discipline comes from having a strong why in relation to the reason we do things. This comes from clarity around our values.
One of the top values that my clients consistently share is about health. That’s no surprise. What is surprising is that although health is a high value, it is very often low on the To Do list. The top priority is getting low action. There is an absence of a compelling reason, the why.
Self-discipline comes as a result of finding our why. Self-discipline becomes the driving force towards reaching our desired destination — after we have decided what really matters. Any discomfort associated with doing the action takes a backseat.
Scenario: It’s morning — the alarm goes off! You turn it off. Decision time. Get up and at ‘em or start making excuses like, “I’m tired, I’ve got to get to work, my body is sore, it’s raining, it’s too hot, it’s too cold, I’ll start next week, I have to get the right gear first … “Sound familiar?
• The undisciplined says, “I don’t want to — so I won’t.”
• The disciplined say, “Even though I don’t want to I’ll do it anyway.”
The self-discipline muscle can be strengthened with frequent use. Like any exercise, if you stop you will lose the muscle. How are you exercising your self-discipline muscle?
Find your why and you’ll find your self–discipline.
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