Self-discipline : It’s just a list!

”Self-discipline can be defined as the ability to motivate oneself in spite of a negative emotional state. Qualities associated with self-discipline include willpower, hard work, and persistence.”

After reading this quote, maybe you have a better idea of why I decided to make a post on this word and what it implies. Basically, self-discipline is one of the greatest keys that will help you accomplish what you want in life. A lot (even myself) have been engaging into things thinking that the only thing they would need is the desire to accomplish something or remind themselves constantly what reward they’ll get in the end (which can be both classified in your motivation). Don’t get me wrong, these two elements are precious when it comes to realizing what you want. However, they’re not solid enough.

Discipline is often seen as a form of negative or pessimist word. Well, I think it can be associated with one of these simply because of the way we’ve been raised. When you weren’t allowed to chew gum in class or to talk to your friends while your teacher was giving explanations in front of the class, for some, it was one of the most frustrating things because these rules or disciplinary sort of kept you from ”doing what you wanted to do, when you wanted to them”. Growing older, we only have that same perspective of things : self-discipline is torture. Thus, we kind of run away from it. You definitely have to change your mind about that one because despite of how we see it, self-discipline is very important when you want to do something. If you go through something and the main idea you have in mind is that it’s going to be hard or that you’re not going to able to control yourself from falling into any kind of temptations that are being presented to you, it won’t work.

Self-discipline is being able to say yes or no to anything legitimately correct that will bring you one step closer to achieving your goal. Let’s take a banal example. You’re on a regimen to lose weight and there are certain type of foods that are restricted to you. One day, your friend invites you to McDonald’s. If eating McDonald’s is part of your restrictions and if you have no self-discipline, you’ll say yes right away and just forget about your goal.  If you say no because of your goal than you have self-discipline.  Basically, you have to see it as things you have to do in order to achieve what you want. You just have to set a list of do’s and don’ts and follow through with them. Usually, in whatever I engage myself into, I always follow these five simple steps:

1. Set the goal (it has to be something you truly want and meaningful to you or else, you’ll end up giving up)

2. Find a motivation (why you’re doing this, what reward you’ll get in the end, what changes it’ll bring to your life)

3. Self-discipline list (dress a list of things that you have to do, set restrictions and FOLLOW THEM)

4. Have a positive attitude (it’ll help no give up when obstacles come, because they will come!)

5. Be willing and put the efforts

If you thoroughly apply this, you’ll be winning, I assure you!