I was thinking this morning about my long and tormented relationship with discipline. I used to say I lacked discipline, in a way that almost felt like it was a good thing. I consider myself to be a free spirit of sorts, and not being disciplined meant not having limits and rules and boundaries. I wanted to do what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it.
Now I see that nothing worthy can really be accomplished without exercising discipline. Years ago when I began my coaching practice, I knew there were certain actions that I must take in order to gain and keep clients. I knew it, and didn’t really like doing those things. So I chose not to do them. Consequently, my practice flopped around like a fish gasping for breath on the sand. When I decided to treat my business as a profession rather than a hobby, and stopped talking myself out of doing those business building things I wasn’t doing, my practice began to flourish. I did things I didn’t necessarily feel like doing, and my practice doubled.
Was there another way to double my practice? Sure. And without exercising discipline in certain areas, sustainable growth will not occur.
Over the years, I’ve had a desire to eat better, move more, and get more healthy. It wasn’t until my recent health crisis that I was properly motivated to look at my lifestyle choices and create something different. During this transition, I’m very aware of the need to have discipline around my eating and moving practices. I’m grateful that I have found within me enough desire for the outcome that the discipline comes naturally.
The great Zig Ziglar said “It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through.” And David Campbell said “Discipline is remembering what you want.” Both statements ring true.
For me, discipline has paved the path to freedom. I’ve decided what I want to create, and committed through action to create it. For the first time, I feel liberated from the voice that says “I can’t.”
What are some ways you can integrate more discipline in your life?
Coach Charrise
