Self-discipline is the rejection of instant gratification in favor of something better. It is the giving up of instant pleasure and satisfaction for a good opportunity or reward that is far more important and valuable in the future.
Self-discipline was once the core characteristic of an American. It was for 300 years. And then it became a rare commodity. Losing that one trait will change the fate of a person or a nation...
In order to develop self-discipline, one must discipline themselves (or others) with intention and effort until the behaviors manifest and become self perpetuating...until it becomes self-discipline.
Did you go to the grocery store this week and get food?
In all likelihood someone in your home goes shopping every week. Let's say it's you.
You do it, you eat.
You don't... and you pay a price.
You go instead of watching TV or sleep or reading the comics.
How?
Well, you "just do."
And that's right. If you want to eat you simply have little alternative but to go.
You intentionally manifest the behavior of getting up, getting into the car and going shopping until it becomes a habit and is something you no longer think about. It's now as normal as anything you do. (Some people actually enjoy grocery shopping.)
Doing the target behavior, whatever it is. Everyday until it becomes second nature....habit...easy...
Self-discipline is a big part of what causes people to achieve.
Self-discipline is a CAUSE of success.
What is the attitude of the person with self-discipline?
"I do it everyday. I am in charge of my behavior."
Behavioral Destiny Control
That's the attitude of achievement. "I do it everyday. I control my behavior. I decide what I want in my life. I run my life."
Most successful people have coaches and mentors to help them along the way because some things in the equation of achievement simply meet with a lot of inertia. Those people are there to make sure you "stick to it" until you get to the point where you don't need that extra boost each week.
There are no beliefs "attached". There are no values "attached." There is nothing "attached" except doing it. That's it.
Keypoint:You become your behavior instead of your intentions, and by doing so become not only a better human being but an achiever...a high achiever.
Self-Discipline Required?
But, you can have self-discipline and fail.
You can have self-discipline and never do anything that matters.
Those are all possible results. But...
KEYPOINT...without self-discipline there is no achievement. There is no success.
You can win a game without self-discipline. You can't win a Super Bowl, the World Series, or the World Cup without it.
KEYPOINT: Self-Discipline is best wrapped up in one word: "Until"
You simply DO whatever it is...UNTIL it is done.
Self-discipline has no beliefs or values attached to it. It's just --- DO UNTIL.
Over the years, a lot of people have asked some variation of, "Kevin how do you get Coffee out every week when you have so much going on? What beliefs do you have that I can model?"
Yes, I'll show you them first, then offer a brief disclaimer.
Self-discipline was once the core characteristic of an American. It was for 300 years. And then it became a rare commodity. Losing that one trait will change the fate of a person or a nation...
