INSIGHT
Discipline: The Golden Key to Your Success
Why motivation is not the answer you think it is
Discipline is an essential component of the formula to achievement. Every goal we set comes with its own unique requirements that must be met in order to be realized or achieved. All goals require effort to some extent. Some require a great amount of effort, and some not as much. All require a discipline that assures the force of action is initiated and effective follow-through is achieved.
No personal success, achievement, or goal, can be realized without some measure of discipline. It is singularly the most important attribute needed to ensure we consistently move toward achievement or personal excellence of any type — athletic, academic, virtuosity in the arts, or a number of other initiatives that require high-performance standards. Without discipline — no matter how great or small — you will undoubtedly fall short of achieving your goal.
Among the various forms of discipline (academic, team, etc.), self-discipline is the one you have the most control over. Self-discipline is the suppression of base desires and is usually understood to be synonymous with restraint, self-control, and a laser-like focus. It is created by a desire to achieve and is fueled in a number of ways, chief among which is a crystal clear vision of a goal or objective. Self-discipline is, to some extent, synonymous with self-motivation because of its ability to keep the momentum of our progress moving forward when you encounter the inevitable times where motivation is scarce for whatever reason.
Self-discipline is a technique we used to convince ourselves, through reason, to do the right thing or determine the best course of action regardless of our desires or influences to do otherwise. This discipline drives us forward when we need a good swift self-kick or an accelerator in our action plan. It’s what keeps us moving forward and compels us to do the right thing which may sometimes be the opposite of fun. It is what provides the ultimate reward in terms of the achievement of our goals and aspirations.
OK, fine, discipline is required in order to achieve our goals. So how do we develop it?
See the Goal —
Visualize your goal. Tie it to an experience. Among all the awesome sensory components you possess, your ability to visualize how you will feel when you realize your goal is perhaps the most powerful tool you have to convince your subconscious minds to align with your conscious determination to achieve success. What emotions are tied to your goal? Answer the 5W’s that connect you to your goal.
Why — Start with WHY! It is your WHY that drives you in everything you do. Most people think it is your WHAT that drives you. They declare things like, “I want to be rich” or “I want a promotion” or “I want a meaningful relationship.” These are all great goals or desires but are nothing if they’re not grounded by WHY you desire them in the first place. They clearly define WHAT you want but don’t describe WHY you want them.
Your WHY drives you. Once you figure out WHY you want to be wealthy or WHY you desire a meaningful relationship, you will have tied it to a compelling reason to achieve it. Define your WHY and you’ll be unstoppable. Question: WHY do you want your goal?
What — It’s important to know exactly WHAT you want when you draft a plan for achievement. Vague generalities won’t cut it. This step has a direct correlation to your ability to see or visualize your goals with clarity. Anything less results in confusion, frustration, and futility.
Questions: Do you know precisely WHAT you want in terms of your goal? Can you describe it? WHAT does it look like? WHAT experiences does it hold for you?
Where — Use this component of the 5W’s to your advantage. Although not considered to be a “critical” component, your WHERE is tied to the experience in terms of WHERE you see your goal taking you. Is it a physical destination or experience you seek? Is it a change in social status or an increase in responsibility? Will your goal put you in a position to lead or positively affect the lives of others? Is it associated with happiness?
Question: WHERE will your goal take you? What experiences can you tie it to that will compel you to achieve it?
Who — This multi-dimensional component of the 5W’s requires you to consider WHO from a few varying perspectives. First, WHO will you become as a result of achieving your goal? Second, WHO must you ally with in order to bring your goal to fruition? And finally, WHO will be affected by the achievement of your goal aside from you?
All too often we consider the achievement of our goals from a purely selfish perspective — we limit the WHO to just our self. But this is a false reality. As we already know by now, achieving goals takes discipline. Discipline often calls upon the cooperation and understanding of those around us — our family, friends, co-workers, or teammates — in addition to the self-discipline we must consistently bring to the equation.
Questions: WHO else, besides you, do your goals and aspirations affect? How will this component affect the approach you take?
When — Every goal should have a deadline that is supported by incremental milestones. Knowing WHEN you expect to reach your goal gives you something you can set your sights on. It is the essence of goal setting and an essential part of the goal achievement process. Milestones help you measure progress and make adjustments that may be required along the way. Without knowing when, you essentially remove the urgency that keeps you moving forward.
Question: When will you achieve your next goal?
Set the Goal! — Once you see your goal you must set it and get moving. Movement (action) is the only way you’ll ever see the light of day shine upon your goal. Oftentimes, just getting started can be the hardest part. Getting started takes a certain discipline — a discipline to overcome a natural desire to wait or delay for…“just a few more minutes.”
Ever felt like this first thing in the morning when the alarm goes off at your bedside? Overcome it and you’ll find a new, more powerful you. This I promise.
While getting started is a powerful step in the right direction, it’s just the beginning of what it’ll take to realize the achievement of your goal. This is where self-discipline really comes into play and is the difference-maker between those who do and those who dream. So, decide right now which approach you will take. Either get in the game or get out of the way. Sorry if that seems a bit harsh, but it’s a cold hard reality that if you’re indecisive now, you’ll likely allow that trait to derail you along the path to your goal. Don’t be that person!
“The way you do anything is the way you will do everything.” ~ T. Harv Eaker
We look to discipline to provide a reliable foundation for the training of our mind, which ultimately shapes our character, our habits, and our determination.
Discipline is obedience to a set of rules that govern the natural laws that are in place to affect outcomes. In other words, our choices and behaviors govern the results we realize. Given an orderly behavior that’s in alignment with the natural laws, helps us to reach — and very often exceed — our goals and aspirations. This is the essence of discipline.
Discipline doesn’t equate to living a limiting or restrictive lifestyle. Nor, does it amount to giving up everything you enjoy, or, to abandon fun and relaxation. It does mean that you’ll learn to focus your mind and energies on your goals and to persevere until they’re accomplished. Discipline also helps to develop a mindset where you are ruled by your deliberate choices rather than by your emotions, bad habits, or the sway of others. Self-discipline allows you to reach your goals in a reasonable time frame and to live life according to the terms you set.
The Basics of Self-Discipline
1. One Step at a Time — No meaningful process takes place overnight. Just as it takes time to lose weight, build muscle, and condition your physical body, so too does it take time to develop habits and rituals supporting a self-disciplined lifestyle. Is your goal worth a gradual change in your rituals? If you cannot answer an emphatic “yes” then perhaps you should reconsider your goals.
The more you train, the stronger you become. In exercise, if you try to do too much at once, you could injure yourself and have a setback, or worse…quit. Think of training your mind in much the same manner as you train your physical body.
Take things one step at a time in building your self-discipline. Begin by making the decision (the power of choice) to go forward by learning what it takes to get there. Begin by creating small rituals you can fit into the day that helps to bring you closer to your goal. But be sure to do something every day to move one step closer.
Note: Don’t wait! Do it now. Start. Do something… anything that you can declare as a beginning away from what is to what will be.
2. Finish What You Start — Follow-through is the physical proof that backs the sincerity of your commitment to achieving. You can make all the declarations you want, but without action, followed by a commitment to consistency, the best you can expect is fragmented unreliable progress.
Whatever your goal, your ability to remain committed by consistently following your plan of action will always yield results. Stay consistent and never ever give in to things that will come across your path that are designed to steal your goal — fear, doubt, setbacks, and fatigue among them.
3. Eliminate Excuses — “I don’t have time.” “I’ll begin after football (baseball, basketball, soccer) season.” “You just don’t understand the pressure I’m under.” “It takes money to make money.” Any of these sound familiar? If you have used any of these excuses — or anything remotely close — you’re not alone. In fact, we all naturally look for ways to make life easier. It’s somehow programmed into our DNA. The irony is that, while looking for the easy way, we sabotage ourselves and the very goals we seek to achieve and, therefore, end up doing things the hard way. What a dichotomy!
Instead of making excuses, try a new approach — honesty. As soon as you conjure up your next excuse to put off your goal one more time, try being honest about what you’re really saying. Instead of saying “I don’t have time,” try being more honest by saying “I have no intention of making any time for my goal today because it’s just not that important to me.” Wow! Now that’s a lot more difficult to swallow, isn’t it? Chances are you’ll reassess your priorities and get busy doing the right thing by finding the time to begin your journey.
4. Keep Your Eye on the Goal — There’s nothing more gratifying than accomplishing your goals. Practice the technique that high achievers and top athletes practice. Project yourself into the future and visualize the experiences associated with your achievement. Feel how rewarding it is. Visualize the countless benefits you’ll enjoy.
If one of the benefits of your goal is to help others, visualize the looks on their faces and the changes you see in them as they are blessed by your generosity and influence. If it’s a promotion, see yourself as already possessing the responsibilities and prestige that are part of the promotion. If it’s a new car, place yourself into the driver’s seat. Smell the new leather interior. Feel the grip of the steering wheel in your hands. Turn on the eight-speaker stereo. Feel the bass surge through your body and experience the exhilaration as you drive your brand new vehicle through the familiar streets of your town. While you’re in this state of mind, be sure to remind yourself what it takes to get there. And never, ever let it go until you have achieved it and have set your sights on your new goal.
If you are to be the master of your own destiny, you must develop the discipline it takes to achieve your dreams, goals, and aspirations. By focusing on the long-term benefits instead of the short-term discomfort, you can encourage yourself to develop self-discipline.
You‘re now faced with a choice —
- stick to your old ways of doing things, knowing deep down you’re not doing everything it takes to achieve your goals because you haven’t developed the discipline you’re truly capable of. Or…
- make a commitment to yourself right here and now to take the first step toward the life you know you rightfully deserve.
Need help? If you’d like to know more or are interested in personal coaching, reach out to me in the comments section or through my website at the link below.
