Oftentimes, people associate the words “self-discipline” with hard work and how long it will take to achieve the things they want to do. But, for some, it can be associated with “self-power” – having a strong will to stick to their commitments. Having self-discipline should not be your enemy.
The Art of Self-Discipline
Self-discipline is real self-care; sometimes, face masks and bubble baths are just not enough to make you feel better and whole. Creating boundaries in your life for a goal that you are aiming towards requires personal commitment. Having a strong mindset results in fulfilling your commitments in the long run. Self-discipline allows you to build a life you should not feel the need to be escaping from.
Changing your lifestyle from self-care to self-discipline allows for a positive reinforcement within yourself to be able to focus on what your needs and intentions are and constantly reminding yourself of your worth and capabilities in order to meet your end goal. Although self-discipline is a skill developed through practice, there is always more room for improvement!
Consistency is key for practicing self-discipline. Having discipline creates habits, those habits turn into routines, and those routines become who you are everyday. It can be challenging developing more self-discipline, and, most times, people will start becoming more aware of life challenges while trying to overcome them using short-term gratification such as “self-care” techniques that are just temporary pleasure in the moment. Focus instead on the long-term impact these challenges are causing and the long-term benefits you are receiving.
Actions you can begin with
Try eliminating doing some things that are an unwanted use of your time in your day. Simply ask yourself if what you are doing is benefiting you and giving you any successful results. Eliminating such activities will give you more time to focus your energy on being more productive and self-disciplined. You will find yourself finishing tasks quicker and with more efficiency.
Have strong valid reasons to keep reminding yourself why you want to develop a better self-discipline lifestyle. Ask yourself what you would like to achieve in your life and what more you want in life. Then, ask yourself if what you are doing at the moment is helping you reach your goals and what things you would like to avoid having in your life. Constantly reminding yourself about the negative things you do not want can be a push to motivate you to keeping you aligned with your commitments.
Fully committing to a task that you are working on will allow you to become much more involved and interested in the activity. You may begin to notice negative thoughts dissipating. The short-lived struggles are worth the time and energy in return for the benefits that you will gain in the long run.
Staying persistent with your self-disciplined actions will allow you to achieve things you have always wanted to do but never got yourself to do. Having a clear and direct will can give you self-empowerment to achieve the goals you are aiming for. Pay attention and focus your energy on what you truly want to create out of your life. Some days can be more difficult than others, but staying consistent and committed will help you reach your goals!