Discipline as a way of Living - What is Discipline and How to cultivate Self-Discipline?

Discipline is an important aspect of everyone's life. Being disciplined does not mean that you must cut yourself from the world. Neither it forces you to disengage from fun activities and be serious all the time. Discipline can be put in simple words as prioritizing things that matter the most at any given point of time and saying a big no to other things. It is a choice that one makes in life, we need to remember that choices are never forced upon us.

For example, while you are practicing for an upcoming match, your friends ask you to hang out, then giving priority to your practice is what explains discipline. Let's take another example, if you are mentally stressed and you need rest, then you should leave everything and just rest so as to boost yourself, that's what is discipline. 

Definition of Discipline

Discipline can also be defined as a tool to regulate behavior, order, or control. It can be forced upon by someone and can be chosen by oneself. Self-discipline means controlling your mind and rejecting impulses.

Many famous personalities have emphasized self-discipline as a means to achieve goals- materialistic or spiritual. Discipline also helps in bringing out the best version of you. It is important in every phase of life- student, adult, and old age. It builds your ability to control your desires and helps you focus on what is important to you at a given point of time.

Discipline in daily routine like following healthy food habits, exercising daily, practicing meditation, focusing on your goals, etc. helps you remain healthy - physically and mentally. You can make various goals in your life but to achieve those goals discipline is important.

How can one cultivate self-discipline?

1. Become self-aware; realize your strengths and weaknesses.
2. Eliminate the addictions - social media, web series, etc. Change your environment, prioritize and eliminate.
3. You should be very clear in your mind about what you want to achieve. Set your goals right and work with an execution plan.
4. Change your habits - one step at a time. “Rome was not built in a day”, so set small goals like waking up early, eating healthy, starting work early, etc.
5. Believe in yourself - Change the way you think about yourself. Trust your willpower. You have unlimited willpower and energy.
6. Create a backup plan considering the worst possibilities like a pandemic, or any other calamity.
7. Keep moving ahead. There may be times when you would not be able to achieve your daily goals, at that time forgive yourself and move forward.

Famous Quotes on Discipline

Here are some quotes on discipline by famous personalities:

“Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.” – John C. Maxwell

“If the self-discipline of the free cannot match the iron discipline of the mailed fist-in economic, political, scientific and all other kinds of struggles as well as the military-then the peril to freedom will continue to rise.” – John F. Kennedy

“A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.” – Dalai Lama

“We must all suffer one of two things:  the pain of discipline or the pain of regret and disappointment.” – Jim Rohn

“True freedom is impossible without a mind made free by discipline.” ― Mortimer J. Adler

“Self-discipline is when your conscience tells you to do something and you don’t talk back.” –  W. K. Hope

“Always Remember to take your Vitamins: Take your Vitamin A for ACTION, Vitamin B for Belief, Vitamin C for Confidence, Vitamin D for Discipline, Vitamin E for Enthusiasm!!” ― Pablo

“Discipline is just choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” – Augusta F. Kantra