They said, “Be disciplined”! But what exactly does discipline mean?
They said, “Be Disciplined!”
No, no, no, not again! 🙈
This is what my mind used to shout as a child, whenever my parents asked me “to be disciplined”!
If I am not wrong, most of us hated this word! 😂
But now, I expect every team member of mine to be disciplined. 🤨
I expect my 9-year-old to be disciplined. 😀
The truth is, I expect everyone else to “be disciplined”.
Honestly, I still don’t like it if anyone asks me to be disciplined. 😁
We are fully aware that discipline is the common denominator among all successful people and if we are committed to excellence, then discipline is the place to start from.
But wait. Wait!
Let’s confront one simple question.
The Simple (but Complex) Question
What does discipline really mean?
Can you make an attempt to come up with one practical (and useful) definition of discipline?
Consider you are on the Hot Seat & I am your Quiz Master. 😎
The question is “What do you mean by Discipline”?
Try it.
Waiting for 4 options?
But, there aren’t 4 options. 🙂
Come on, try it!
You can take 10-15 seconds to come up with at least one answer! ⏳
Time’s up. Let’s explore 3 possible answers!
Let’s look at the first answer.
If you google ‘discipline’, it gives the following result:
It says, “Discipline is the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience.” Source: Oxford
It’s a really dreadful one, isn’t it? 🤪
No wonder, why most of us hated this word. 🙈
Now, let’s try and explore some constructive and helpful meanings.
Let’s look at the second possible answer.
I found this on google again. 😉
It says, “Discipline refers to a set of rules and regulations which are to be followed while undergoing any task or activity.”
Still, it’s quite boring, isn’t it? 😵
We all know this. Nothing new.
Let’s unfold an interesting third answer.
Now read this one carefully.
Consider that “Discipline is the ability to make yourself do, what you should do when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.”
This is a quote by Elbert Hubbard.
I love this definition of discipline. 💪
It’s quite an insightful, powerful & practical one. 🤝
The Life before realization
Until I stumbled (and hard-wired) this world-view of discipline, I struggled to understand and practice discipline in it’s true sense. I used to drift from my work the moment I didn’t “feel like” doing it. I used to wait for the “zone” to arrive.
And to fill up my schedule, I would subconsciously choose to do some menial and insignificant things and make myself busy to complete my day.
Have you ever been there?
Why “Just do it”?
In my view, the one whose action is based on moods & feelings, cannot unlock the full potential of his or her life. It only leads to inconsistent & sub-optimal actions.
One has to rise beyond moods & feelings and operate from a space of commitment & integrity.
What needs to be done, should be done! No excuses. No reasons. No procrastination. Just do it.
Ok. But what next?
Well, unless you can become 10% more disciplined today than you were yesterday, what’s the point of having this insight?
The key to create 10% more discipline is reflection exercise below.
Life Introspection (Discipline Context)
Here is one reflection exercise that shall help you rise above moods & feelings and shape your life from the space of solid discipline & commitment.
Also, it shall
- Provide you a helicopter view for each area of your life
- Create a roadmap of actions to be taken for elevating the quality of each area of your life
- Discover & destroy inner resistances that stop you from taking action
The Climax
- Discipline is doing what you should do, whether you like it or not. Period!
- If there is a civil war in your mind between moods & your commitment, then choose commitment. Always!
- No excuses. No justifications. No procrastination. Just do it.
Thanks for reading.
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