Importance of Discipline in Life – Essay

Importance of Discipline in Life – Essay !

If there is a single element for ensuring success, that element can be summed up in one word: discipline. Discipline, by its very nature, runs opposing to the human nature, which gravitates towards indiscipline and carelessness.

To be disciplined, we must ‘drill’ into our habits that will cause us to obey thoughts and take actions that will lead us towards our desired objectives. To ‘drill’ the right habits into our mind, we must bring under control all thoughts and actions that prevent us from moving in the right direction.

But this is easier said than done. Discipline has more to do with ‘action’ than ‘talk’. No amount of positive affirmations or motivational and hidden tapes and seminars will make us disciplined. Anyone can set desired goals and have the motivation to achieve those goals.

However, only discipline can ‘take’ you to your goal. This may mean working consistently for long hours; doing tasks that you would rather not do, but which are essential in the attainment of your goals; foregoing or putting on hold current comforts and pleasures, etc.

None of us is born with inherent discipline. Discipline is acquired through training. We must train ourselves to take the right action at the right time and in the right way.

The keyword here is ‘training’, which implies that discipline is learned. But what makes this ‘training’ unconventional and more challenging than other conventional forms of training is because it must be drilled at the thought level.

It is in the area of thoughts that behaviours are born, and which in turn lead us to act in one way and not the other. If we can have die right thoughts, then we will behave in the right way and take the right actions.

It is the latter aspect of this process that will determine whether we are disciplined or undisciplined; whether we succeed or fail.

Nearly all successful people, especially the self-made super wealthy, can attest to the importance of discipline in the attainment of goals.

They stepped out of the ‘comfortable’ and ‘convenient’ and ‘trained’ their mind to take the right actions. To do this, they chose to ‘disobey the part of their mind that told them to ‘take it easy and let it be’ and ‘obeyed’ the part of their mind that insisted that they ‘take the right action’. They did not just make decisions; they acted on those decisions.

Acquiring Discipline

To just know definition to be disciplined is not enough; acquiring discipline is also important.

Passion:

This is what drives you; what makes you wake up everyday with expectation and hope. Passion propels you forward by enthusing you with a vibrant sense of awareness and conviction. If you can find what drives you, discipline will follow almost effortlessly.

Vision:

Disciplined people have a vision of where they want to be at a particular point in time. They never lose sight of where they are going.

Having a clear vision helps you maximise your energy and passion. It enables you to take massive, determined action and bring it to bear on specific goals.

Goals:

Discipline is the vehicle that moves you from the point of setting goals to attaining those goals. But goals have to be set first for them to be realised. The fruits of discipline are evident in the number of goals attained.

Consistency:

To do the right thing one day and then fail to accomplish the following day’s tasks sets you back three steps. To succeed, you must consistently do what must be done until your objective is realised.

Faithful:

Discipline requires that you be faithful and trustworthy enough to perform daily tasks comprehensively. Do not pretend that you will succeed when you know very well you have neglected to follow through with the plan. Be faithful; stick to the plan!

Timeliness:

You must be disciplined enough to drop whatever it is you are doing and accomplish what must be done, when it needs to be done. Disciplined people do not postpone tasks; for they know that to do so will delay their success.

Eliminate ‘noise’:

‘Noise’ here refers to irrelevant tasks, people, places and actions that do not feed into your goal. These are distractions that so often get in the way of your success. Noise is the number one enemy of discipline.

Assertiveness:

You eliminate ‘noise’ by being assertive; that is, by refusing to allow anyone or anything intimidate you to die extent that you fail to do the right thing at the right time.

Learn to say ‘no’ to anyone or anything that that has the potential to take your eyes off the goal. Also, learn to say no to your own desires if they are not concomitant with your goals.

Tenacity:

Discipline requires that you learn to hold on even when calamity strikes. Discipline ensures that you do not give up just because the battle has intensified. Instead, it helps you to be tenacious enough to weather the storm.

Alert:

Discipline will demand that you stay alert at all times. Guard your goals with vigour. This is not the time to slumber; you will have enough of that when you attain your goals.

Discipline is ‘knowing’ what to do and ‘doing’ it. It is not the ‘knowing’ that gets you there; it is the ‘doing’! Discipline requires an immense sense of control and self-restraint.

The good news is that it can be acquired and inculcated through learning. It may take hard work and patience, but in the end, its rewards are not only fulfilling, but also very enriching.