What exactly does discipline mean? Simply, it is the measure of ability to stay the course until achievement is reached. Interested in improving your discipline ability when facing challenges? Try these three steps:
Step 1: Recognize this is a learned behavior
Discipline is like any other learned task in that it requires practice and repetition to experience improvements. Is this easy? No, but it is worth the effort. Once you get discipline working in your life you become the person who has better control over your life and its outcomes. Self-discipline may come easier to some, as playing a sport comes easier to some, but like sports you can improve your level of ability by working at it.
Step 2: Make the right choice
In my case, I know where my weaknesses are and work to make good choices to support my discipline development. When it is dark and cold in the mornings, I know I need an accountability partner who is expecting to meet me at the stop sign at 6:30 a.m. I know that with that extra commitment in my mind I will be there. And those are the type of choices you want to make where you feel your discipline is still developing. AA is there to help people make better choices. Personal trainers, the same. Look at the challenges you face. Where can you make a better choice, or get an accountability partner or coach to help you in your development of your discipline?
Step 3: Develop powerful habits and routines
As with all of the D’s (drive, determination and discipline) I’ve been writing about, you build on the success from the day before. Not all growth is perfectly linear. We all make steps backwards from time to time. I tell audiences you can change your history. Make today a better step and tomorrow your history got one day better. Build on your daily successes, and in a year you will be amazed at how far you’ve traveled on the road that is your personal success.