You are a skilled, talented, qualified, and smart person. You are working hard, putting in a huge effort, and constantly improving yourself by learning new skills. Yet, you are still not where you want to be. What’s the problem? What’s the missing piece?
The answer lies in one word: discipline.
It’s not just about hard work; it’s about being consistent and self-disciplined.
Let’s review the concept of self-discipline, explore its key role in achieving personal and professional success and identify essential habits you need to build unbreakable self-discipline.
Definition of discipline
According to the Oxford Dictionary, discipline is defined as ‘’the ability to control your behaviour or the way you live, work, etc’’
It’s all about self-control—the way you control and manage your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Discipline is embodied in overcoming laziness, procrastination and lack of motivation. It’s about fighting feelings like ’I don’t feel like doing it now, I’ll do it later’ and ‘I’m not in the mood for it’.
In accordance with the quote: “If you can’t control your actions when you’re feeling a different emotion, you’re always gonna be insecure.”
Why discipline is important?
The importance of discipline is manifested in different ways.
Firstly, discipline can shape your character and define who you are. When it becomes a habitual practice, it makes you a goal-oriented and pragmatic person.
Moreover, discipline is crucial not just for achieving success but also for maintaining it. As the quote states, “Discipline not only determines success but also determines how long you can stay successful.”
Lastly, the greatest feeling in the world is fulfilment. Discipline stimulates this sensation by driving you to accomplish your toughest tasks and overcome challenges, leading to a profound sense of joy, triumph, and gratification.
Ways to master self-discipline
Focus on the vital assignment
When you wake up in the morning, start by asking yourself: ‘’What is the most important and urgent task that needs my attention today?’’ Identify this task and make it your primary focus. Mentally prepare yourself to tackle it with full concentration and dedication.
Cut out all distractions
When focusing on your main task, avoid thinking about smaller tasks to prevent distractions. Also, learn to say no to temptations such as social activities, social media, chats, internet browsing, etc.
Create a cosy environment
Your workplace is your sanctuary, meant to inspire creativity and enhance productivity. Enhance it by optimizing lighting, heating or cooling, incorporating background music, and introducing pleasant scents for comfort.
Develop a growth mindset
There are two types of mindsets: a fixed mindset, which believes that abilities are innate and unchangeable, and a growth mindset, which believes that abilities can always be developed and improved.
Having a growth mindset is crucial for self-discipline because it involves believing that success comes through continuous learning, embracing challenges, taking risks, and viewing failures as opportunities for growth and improvement.
Embrace discomfort
Get familiar with the concept that not all situations or tasks are familiar and easy. Dealing with challenging and uncomfortable tasks is vital to open the way for progress and growth.
Focus on progress, not perfection
If you tend to be a perfectionist, discipline can be challenging because you might constantly wait for the perfect moment to start, closely focus on every step, and feel overwhelmed when obstacles arise, which can lead to losing motivation and even stopping altogether. In contrast, prioritizing progress means you concentrate on moving forward despite challenges. This mindset encourages resilience, as you learn from setbacks and keep advancing toward your goals.
Reward yourself
When you accomplish a challenging task, take time to celebrate this achievement and let yourself feel the euphoria of success. There are numerous ways to reward yourself: take a break from work and completely unwind, go for a drive, listen to your favourite music playlist, indulge in a hobby, watch a movie, or meet up with a friend. The key is to enjoy these activities with a clear mind and a sense of high satisfaction. By making this a habit, you reinforce discipline by acknowledging your hard work and maintaining motivation for future endeavours.