Discipline, discipline, discipline...
Whew, typing that word is extremely hard! LOL!
So the 1st step was recognizing what areas you needed to change. The 2nd step was deleting some old habits and people from your life. The 3rd step is DISCIPLINE. Just a disclaimer, it's rather hard for me to write about this step because I'm currently going through it so please bare with me.
Overall, as a society, we've become where we feel "entitled" to certain privileges. We all say that we're hard workers and that we're disciplined however when you look at our actions, we aren't showing it. We will grant ourselves luxuries just because we've had a hard day at work. We'll tell ourselves that because our life is hard, we deserve (fill in the blank here).
To add to our sense of entitlement, we've become a fast paced or "microwave" society. Our schedules are so jam packed that we have to schedule in time for life's necessities like spending time with our family and spouses or even sex (gasp)! We have to be at 5 places at once and thanks to technology, we can. Think about it....you're on the couch with your significant other but you're having a "watch party" of the latest tv shows via Facebook and Twitter. You "check in" on your smartphone app, attend church and can text and FB while you're waiting on the service to start. You can type an email while you're shopping in the mall looking for back to school clothes. Gone are the days of patience.
So when you combine our fast pace society with a sense of entitlement, you realize that we no longer have to be disciplined anymore. If there's something we don't like, we can google it, find a quick fix and be done with it. If there is an amazingly awesome dinner we have a taste for, we no longer need to prepare it, we can just order it. These modern day luxuries are nice (even I won't deny it). But too much of a good thing can hurt you...even kill you.
I can only speak for myself however, I'm a "planner/goal creater/list maker" so I tend to write down all the things I want to accomplish. There is nothing more exhilarating than making up a new list or goal of something that I really want! I get so excited and start planning out all the steps. I go out and buy all the necessities that's needed for my new adventure. I get the outfit for that new workout regimen. I get all the paper supplies for that vision board. I get all the picture frames for the pictures to put up. I buy ALL the scrapbooking essentials... and I'll even stick with it for a while. But then, I see or think of a NEW goal and thus it starts over again. No discipline. I enjoy the exciting parts of the beginning and the finished product...not so much the journey!
Step 3 is really important because if you don't have the discipline to execute your plan of attack, there will be NO PLAN OF ATTACK. I've learned that you must follow up and follow thru. However, if you don't exercise discipline, there won't be a follow up because there won't be a finished product.
Make your goal. Then be disciplined to tell yourself no. It's really something we've learned in elementary that will help us with this. Remember the slogan "Just Say NO!"? Now would be a good time to exercise that right to say no. Say no to yourself when you want to cheat yourself out of your goals. Say no when someone else wants themselves to take priority over your goals and your purpose. Say no when you've made a mess and just say "what's the harm in staying in this mess? It takes alot more effort to clean it up." You have to be disciplined and focused to live like no one else so later, you can live like no one else.
Don't think you have a problem with saying no and being disciplined? Allow me to share some examples:
I mean, do we really need dessert when we go out to a restaurant? Most of us eat out at least 2-3 times a week (at least). Do you realize how many calories that "once in a lifetime" dessert is when it's 2-3 times a week? How will you ever get to your weight loss goal if you're just having dessert "only on the special occasions such as eating out"?
Do we really need a savings fund? I mean, I can just charge it all and ruin my credit and then file bankruptcy. Or my mama can put this in her name. Or someone, anyone but myself will bail me out. Why don't I need to spend my ENTIRE paycheck on ME? I work everyday. Why can't you say no to your immediate wants and save towards your future?
OMG! Victoria's Secret is having ANOTHER sale this weekend! OOOOHHHH, I just have to have those new shoes. Our closet is so full from all of our "I GOT TO HAVE" shopping sprees and yet we still say "I don't have anything to wear." Do you really need to buy EVERYTHING on sale? Do you really need to have a shopping spree every 4 days?
How about saying no when that ex comes back into your life and says "let's just be friends." Then a week later tries to cross that friend line into lover territory. If you've said "no sex" then be disciplined, even with someone who can make your body tremble at the mere sight of them.
How about saying no when you know you don't have enough time but someone asks you for your help with something else. You put yourself last so everyone else can be first. You really inconvenience yourself so you can convenience others (I'm notorious for this).
Lastly, how about saying no to those bad habits or people? Why can't...no, why WON'T you say no to those fake friends who just love to see you down and out like them? Why do you owe them so much that you'd rather live a sorry life as opposed to a life full of potential. Yes, selling drugs will get you fast money. It'll also get you fast jail time and the fast road to death. I don't see any veterans of drug dealing...maybe I'm wrong. But show me someone who's had a prosperous 55 year career of selling drugs....yea, I'll wait.
Learn to say no and get real clear on what steps it'll take you to get to your goals. Be disciplined to work out, even when you don't feel like it. Be disciplined to eat right, even when you don't feel like it. Be disciplined to work a legal and tax paying job, even when you don't feel like it. Be disciplined to leave that ex alone so you can move on and find that husband/wife that God has designed for you.
When you focus and deny yourself of these added and unnecessary luxuries, you build character. You work hard for those goals so that when you do reward yourself, it feels so much better. When you are disciplined enough to save up enough money to have a secure nest egg. You work hard to get that body you desire instead of trying every unhealthy fad diet that probably has your body screaming for a break. You work out and eat right so when time comes to show off that body, you can't help but smile and flaunt it a little bit more. Also, since you've gotten that body by hard work, dedication and discipline you can have dessert and not starve yourself for days.
Being discipline not only includes hard work but also avoiding roadblocks. You know that you're not over your ex, so you check his Facebook page. I mean, it's not really a set back is it? Yes it is. Use discipline. Shut the computer down. If someone walks up to you talking to you about your ex, graciously say "that's great" and change the subject. If they continue, just say "I appreciate it but I don't really want to hear about him/her." If you're roadblock is making an excuse to workout, pack your workout clothes and take them to work. So instead of going home and getting comfy, you can change in your work restroom and go straight to the gym. If your roadblock is the mall, Ross, Walmart or any other shopping center, avoid it. If you can't avoid Walmart, then write your grocery list BEFORE leaving the house and then ONLY take enough cash so you don't over buy.
We all could be more disciplined. This step will take a little bit longer than most. This step is one that you'll always be tested in as long as you're weak in certain areas. But I can tell you that once you overcome your roadblocks and get focused to get disciplined, it's a rewarding feeling. That feeling will make this journey through life feel so much more awesome.
So instead of overwhelming yourself, make ONE goal. Then breakdown that one big goal into 2-3 steps. Focus on working towards the first step while keeping the big goal in mind. Get disciplined and imagine yourself reaching that baby step. Then once you accomplish that 1st step, celebrate! Don't do it too big though, you still have a few more steps until your goal. Once you become disciplined and achieve your goal, make your next goal. However, instead of making ONE goal, work up to accomplishing TWO goals! You can do it.
We need discipline in our lives. No matter where we are in our lives, we have to be disciplined. Throughout this journey in life, we need to stay focused and disciplined on our goals and our purpose in life. There is nothing wrong with denying yourself and being disciplined enough to say no to get to where you want to go.
No comments:
Post a Comment