talking2myself

Discipline

As in my last post, I mentioned the lucky so and so’s who have the ability yo self motivate, to inspire themselves with no external influences. All of us can do this but usually only for things we like doing or easy and quick things to do. We also can do it if the consequences of not taking action may be painful – as in doing your job!

Whilst reflecting it came to me that what I lack is discipline. To change, to take action and to do so voluntarily with no external motivation requires discipline. Now I have heard this a number of times before, to gain discipline requires that you start with small, regular tasks, preferably tasks you don’t like for example taking out the dustbins every week. You have to do the tasks well and regularly.

Apparently this feeds into confidence levels and you can then start adding more tasks and managing them within you time. All of us have chores we do not like doing – paying the bills, cleaning the garden and going to the gym! However by not managing them, we find we end up fire fighting and the lack of control perpetuates the dislike for the task. By taking it into our control, doing it regularly and getting it out of our way helps us deal with even the bigger things we need to do.

Add the fact that if you do something regularly and absorb it into your schedule, it gets easier and quicker to do leaving more time for the things you want to do. You can spend more time on those things without feeling guilty about the stuff you haven’t done.

Discipline has become a dirty word in this day and age. We seem to relate it to harsh and painful processes, in my case, the headmaster’s cane! Our kids do not relate to this word and its partner, responsibility.

So one of the things I need to reflect on in the next few sessions is how I build discipline to deal with the things I just have to do to have more time to write blog posts!

May you find the balance.