To Accomplish Success You Must First Be Self-Disciplined
Wondering how you can motivate yourself? Looking for steps to improve your self-discipline and also achieve your goals? Do you often look at people and everything they have accomplished and ask yourself how they do it? Ever find yourself asking, “how can I be more like those who are succeeding?
If any of these questions have ever crossed your mind, know that you are not alone. In fact, you probably think about your big dreams and aspirations quite often. Then find yourself in a stagnant place in life. Being stagnant often feels like someone has pushed the pause button on your life and your dreams.
My question to you is, “What are you willing to do to make your dreams come true?”
And the brief answer is — SELF DISCIPLINE.
Self Discipline is one of the greatest forms of Self-Love.
So, what exactly is self-discipline? In his motivational speech on self-discipline, Will Smith, defined self-discipline as the ability to gain control of your mind and command it to do what you need it to do every day.
2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us the Spirit of fear but of Power, Love and Self-Control.”
Self-discipline is about denying those things that are tempting to you so that you are able to meet your goals. It’s choosing what serves your own best interest. When it comes to self-discipline there is a requirement that you do things you don’t want to so that you attain a goal you desire. Self-Discipline asks that you do what is in your best interest whether you feel like it or not.
Even you are not motivated, you must find ways to be self-disciplined.
Hear me when I say this, “Motivation is Temporary.” So when the adrenaline that comes from having motivation simmers down that’s where self-discipline comes in.
Self discipline is the ability to pursue what you think is right despite your temptations to abandon it.
2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us the Spirit of fear but of Power, Love and Self-Control.”
And I certainly believe that in my weakness it is God that gives me strength. Because there are certainly things that I don’t always feel I have the will power to control and I know for certain my strength is not my own.
Discipline on it’s own is control which is gained by enforcing obedience or order. Discipline is also training that corrects, molds or perfects the mental faculties or moral character. So with self-discipline you are not always going to want to do certain things but your strength and character is developed by pushing through even when you don’t truly desire to do so.
So, if you are struggling with self-control here are 5 simple steps you can implement today to improve your self-discipline and achieve your goals.
1. Identify Your Area of Struggle.
Have you taken time out to consider the reason why you are choosing to avoid your issue or goal?
Is it because it is easier to pretend there is no issue?
Or have you tried to accomplish the goal before and gave up on it or failed?
Perhaps, it’s easier to talk yourself out of the idea and instead rely on the negative opinions of others? Or is it your own negative self-talk that is causing you to lose motivation maintain your willingness to stay committed to your goal?
Take some time to evaluate and ask yourself why you are avoiding the issue. This will allow you the opportunity to identify if you are stuck because of others or if it is actually YOU holding you back.
2. Identify Your Why.
Do you find it easier to pretend there is no issue?
Have you tried before and failed?
Have you talked yourself out of it or allowed the opinions of others influence your willingness to stay committed to your idea? Take some time to truly evaluate and ask yourself why you are avoiding the issue. By taking some time to do some self-evaluation, you allow yourself an opportunity to identify if your stagnation is because of others or if it is actually YOU holding you back.
3. Start By Setting Small But Achievable Goals.
You can start small. Start minute if you have to. But just START. It is not necessary for you to come up with an extravagant goal. You can choose something as simple as drinking more water, reading for 10 minutes each day, or walking for 15 minutes.
No matter what it is JUST BEGIN. Once you begin to set and achieve the small goals you can then create larger goals and work to achieve those.
4. Reward Yourself For Accomplishing The Small Things.
Achieving even the small things is an accomplishment. Once you get in the habit of setting, achieving, and rewarding yourself for the small things they will add up to great things.
Plus when you reward yourself you have something to look forward to. And what person doesn’t enjoy having something in store for them once a particular goal or milestone is reached.
5. Enlist the help of a friend or an accountability partner.
Confide in someone who will hold you accountable. It’s important that this is a person you trust and whom you know will not judge you or make you feel bad if you fall short. Having an accountability partner is another one of the steps to improve your self discipline and makes accomplishing the smalls things even more rewarding. And it also helps to have a support system that is going to push you forward. It definitely helps to have someone rooting for you who also wants to see you achieve your goals.
The steps to improve your Self-Discipline require consistency and a desire to continue a pattern of behavior that is aimed at serving your best interest.
So even when you don’t want to do it…DO IT ANYWAY!
Do the thinGs that others wouldn’t do so thaT you can achieve the goals that others only dream about.
Although self-discipline is hard, if the goal is one that you truly desire then get up each day and remind yourself of you want to accomplish and put in the work necessary to achieve your goals. Even when you don’t want, to or don’t feel like self-discipline requires that you do what you need to do FOR YOU!
