Unexpected Expressions Of Self-Discipline

Many people want to be more disciplined. They want to be more consistent, more focused, and to follow through on doing what they said they were going to do. Those who have the self-control to override feelings of laziness and fear, and get themselves into action, have a competitive advantage over the rest. 

When most people think about being disciplined they think it’s about what they do. But equally on the other side of the coin, the most self-disciplined people practice their self-control for things that they don’t do.

Saying “no” to a new opportunity or request is an expression of self-discipline. As fun, attractive, or appealing as something might be, if it takes you away from your core commitments then it’s a distraction. To be disciplined is to stay on track and to keep yourself from getting off track, which often happens when you give into the temptations and distractions of the world around you. 

Going to sleep on time is an expression of self-discipline. Sleep is time invested in your recovery where you can’t do anything else. And often as bedtime approaches, we feel the pull to wrap up one last thing for work, or get ahead for tomorrow in that small way, or finally have some ‘me’ time before the day ends… And all of it leads to more time doing things. But if you can reject all that and go to bed on time, you’re giving yourself your best chance to attack the next day by starting fast rather than constantly trying to play catch up.

And last, an unexpected expression of self-discipline is to control your thinking. We’re all hardwired with a negativity bias to see the threatening, scary, unfortunate parts of the world. It’s a perspective that also affects the way we see ourselves and our successes, highlighting the few things ‘bad’ in a sea of ‘good’. When we catch ourselves thinking in negative ways, it’s within our power to intervene and redirect our thoughts. We can replace our unconscious negativity bias with conscious empowerment, and ultimately shape the meaning of life events in our favor. 

But here’s the thing about discipline: It’s not strictly a matter of self-control. That’s actually only a minor part of it. What’s far more influential in the choices you make, and your ability to practice self-discipline, is your environment. This involves having systems, structures, and clearly outlined standards that make it easier to be self-disciplined. 

Being self-disciplined doesn’t need to be so hard… But if it feels hard that’s because your environment is not supporting you with it. If you’d like to change that and make consistency, high-performance, and disciplined follow through your new normal, then this is for you!