Self-Discipline: Paying Yourself Forward!

For many, the word "discipline" sounds like
punishment. Who would guess that such a word,
when applied to one's self, actually creates
unlimited rewards and freedom?

Self-discipline is the regulation one's Self.
It is a way of investing in your future - and
it is a key factor in helping you achieve all
you want in life.

Once upon a time, Americans were all about
self-discipline. George Washington made it a
personal challenge to rise before the sun did.
Benjamin Franklin said, "The person who has
self-discipline is very powerful." Countless
colonists read and followed the precepts published
in Poor Richard's Almanac, which was loaded with
advice related to the value of self-discipline
and which Franklin published every year between
1732 and 1758 (now that's self-discipline!).
Immigrants who came to and strengthened the fabric
of this great country were highly self-disciplined,
persevering through immense trials and tribulations.

So what happened since? Maybe things got a little
too easy for us and we settled into choosing comfort
over discipline. The good news is that I am seeing
resurgence in a desire to better oneself and
positively impact our world. Now more than ever
people want to serve others and leave a strong
legacy, and they realize that they need
self-discipline to do this.

Self-discipline is a habit anyone can acquire
with a little practice. Go easy on yourself as
you're building this success skill.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Self discipline can be best summed up in a
single word: UNTIL. You simply do whatever "it"
is until it is done.

2. You can BEHAVE your way to success. The key
is to focus on one area of improvement at a time.
Pick one target behavior, like getting up one-half
hour earlier than you do now to go for a walk or
write that book you say you'll write "some day."
Then do it every day until it becomes second
nature - a habit.

3. If you happen to be human, you will mess up.
Build this into your expectations. Don't buy into
all-or-nothing thinking, which leads to throwing
in the towel. Forgive yourself and start over. Go
back to item 1 and begin again.

4. Break down your goals. If you set a single
goal of completing a marathon and you only fit
in one-half hour of walking each day, you will
quickly get discouraged. If you set an initial
goal of walking for one-half hour each day, mixed
with running for one minute every 10 minutes, you
can steadily work up to this level and quickly see
results. Stop going for the home run and start
working your way around the bases.

5. Stay vigilant. When you find yourself beginning
to succeed, you also may find yourself saying,
"I wonder if I really need to ..." If so, STOP.
Recommit. Affirm your new habit with emotion.
Say it aloud! "Exercising each day makes me
feel great. Off I go!"

Most importantly, don't quit. You and your
dreams are worth fighting for. Keep going and
you'll quickly find that the temporary pain of
self-discipline will be more than offset by the
pride and pleasure of achieving your long-term goals