Master Self-Discipline

Self-Discipline: It's Not as Challenging as You Think

Self-discipline is touted as a necessity for accomplishing anything in life. It is a powerful attribute to have, yet challenging to obtain.

Most individuals would love to be more self-disciplined, yet very few people actually take action to acquire it.

Perhaps you start your day with good intentions, but veer off as the day progresses due to challenging issues, stresses, or distractions. Thankfully, there are some strategies you can incorporate into your daily life so you can become a master of self-discipline and stay on task.

You even need self-discipline to improve your self-discipline. Lol. What's a person to do? And what exactly is self-discipline?

Self-discipline is the ability to do whatever it takes to overcome obstacles and reach your goals, even when it's inconvenient or uncomfortable. It may involve saying: "no" to things you want or saying: "yes" to things you hate, but with the power of self-discipline, it becomes easier to stand up for yourself. Self-discipline is the ability to exhibit a behavior that is not enjoyable at that time, without any outside compulsion to do it.

So, you would be able to get yourself to clean out the attic, even though you'd rather be fed grapes and feathered. And you would do it even though you really don't have to do it right then. You can get yourself to do it simply because it needs to be done. That sounds like a great trait; who wouldn't want that?

Try these ways to develop your self-discipline to enjoy greater achievement in your life:

1. Be committed to the cause. Are you truly unhappy being undisciplined? Is this something that you're committed to improving? Many times people claim they want to be more self-disciplined, but the truth is, they honestly don't mind being the way they are.

* Be honest with yourself. If this is something that you definitely want to improve in your life, it may take a bit of time and effort, but it can be done.

* The only way you'll succeed is by staying committed to the cause.

2. Write it down. The process of writing your ideas and goals helps you clarify the thoughts in your mind so you can come up with an action plan that you can stick to.

* Write down all the areas that you wish to improve - your finances, relationships, career, or anything in between. Include what changes you would like to see and how you believe will be the best way to make it happen.

3. Enlist the help of others. It's absolutely wonderful that you've committed to make a positive change in your life, but don't keep it under wraps. Tell others that you want to make a change and boost your self-discipline.

* Don't be ashamed that you weren't more self-disciplined from the beginning. The important thing is that you're now taking positive action! Those who love you will be there to support you and help you celebrate your successes.

* Your support group can also help you get through the bad days and put you back on track to achieve your goals.

4. Believe in yourself. Have faith in yourself and know that if you can master your self-discipline, you can do anything! There will be both good and bad days, but as long as you remain focused and committed, you'll be successful in strengthening your self-discipline.

5. It's important to keep your focus, like a Zen master. Why do monks have so much discipline? Part of the reason is they're great at staying focused on the task and keeping that inner voice that screams "Ugh" quiet. They simply do the work and don't think about how much they don't like doing it.

6. Recognize that you have control over your actions. You have free will; you can do as you please. So, you can choose to take part in an activity that needs to be done, even if you don't like doing it.

6. Keep the result in mind before you get started. If you're focused on the results, it's easier to get started. It's usually a lot easier to maintain working on a task than it is to begin. Focus on the benefits and the beginning will come.

7. Do your task when distractions are at a minimum. Buddhist monks are a good example. They can't touch money; they can't even shake hands with a woman; they may only own a couple of robes, a bowl, and a spoon. They aren't even allowed to prepare or store food. The primary reason is to eliminate all distractions.

* If you disallow yourself to worry about money, relationships, possessions, clothing, or food, your mind is free to focus on whatever you choose. So, plan your task when you're not likely to be distracted by other more interesting or enjoyable activities.

8. Eliminate the stuff from your life that isn't meaningful to you. These things take away from the quality of your life and your focus and serve as distractions from the things that are more important to you.

Self-discipline is like anything else; with practice, it becomes a positive habit. Self-discipline is developed one decision at a time. So take every opportunity to experience self-discipline count. It gets a little easier each time.

Practice every day. Take smaller tasks, like washing the dishes or folding laundry, and see how well you can complete them without being distracted. Set a timer. The faster you work on completing a task the easier it is to finish without being distracted.

Most importantly, acknowledge the times you are successful and show self-discipline. Any behavior that is rewarded is more likely to appear again in the future. Imagine how your life would be if you could accomplish your task list without procrastinating. People we consider highly successful have simply been able to get themselves to do things the rest of us don't like to do. Self-discipline is the key ingredient for reaching a high level of success in your life. Remember to focus on the big picture and concentrate on how your body, mind, and energy will change for the better when you stay committed. Many people admire those who are self-disciplined. These people can stay on a schedule and never seem to lose focus on what they need to accomplish. They make more wise decisions, act when they need to, and achieve their goals with relative ease.

Implement these strategies into your daily life and they'll soon become habits. Self-discipline can become your way of life - if you want it!

We CAN manage ALL the things, TOGETHER

Please join me on our Facebook "Married Mom and Mogul" and "Nian Dure"

Follow us on Instagram @marriedmomandmoogul and @niandure

Subscribe to our YouTube channel "Married Mom and Mogul"

Thank you for choosing www.NianDure.com