Have you ever considered becoming the person you admire?
You might think that these qualities are innate and beyond your reach. Think again! You have the power to turn yourself into the person you admire by demonstrating willpower, effort, and self-discipline. Granted, it's easier said than done, but remember it's NOT IMPOSSIBLE, as proven by the successes of the people you admire!
Why self-discipline?
Most of us tend to leave what we need to do today for tomorrow. This attitude of procrastination leaves us with a feeling of failure and frustration, and we feel that we cannot get out of this vicious circle. And all this is due to a lack of self-discipline.
Self-discipline is a pivotal skill that enables the acquisition and development of other skills such as perseverance, resilience, commitment, stamina, self-motivation, self-confidence, rigour, organisation, autonomy, and so on.
It is, therefore, The fundamental skill for success.
And the good news is that this skill is developed and perfected through practice. Regular practice every day until it becomes a habit, an unconscious attitude.
Scientific view on Self-discipline
Self-discipline appears to be a more reliable predictor of success than IQ (intelligence quotient). A study by psychologist Angela Duckworth showed that people with greater self-discipline are more likely to persevere with their long-term goals, even when they encounter obstacles or failures.
In addition, self-discipline is also essential for maintaining long-term motivation. When we try to develop new habits, such as sports or eating more healthily, maintaining these habits in the long term is often difficult.
Studies have shown that once you create a new pattern of behaviour, going out for a run or resisting the temptation of having a bar of chocolate becomes as automatic as any other habit.
People who have a greater capacity for self-discipline are, therefore, more likely to maintain new habits in the long term.
And according to a 2013 study, they will be happier than others too. The study found that self-disciplined people found it easier to avoid unhealthy behaviours and did not waste time second-guessing their choices. Once they had weighed the pros and cons, they decided to implement positive behaviour and stuck to it without being influenced by their emotions or desires.
How to develop self-discipline? The 3 essential steps
1.Be aware of your motivations
Self-discipline needs fuel to work, and that fuel is your intrinsic motivation. With it, you can focus and stay consistent in achieving your goals.
First, identify the "why" to your goal, your belief, and the force that makes you want to push yourself.
Start by asking yourself what you want to be or achieve, what habits you want to develop or what behaviour you want to change.
The more you identify your reasons, the more motivated you will be to consistently complete a particular activity or practice a new habit.
Maintaining healthy energy levels and a strong commitment is essential to staying self-disciplined.
2.Define clear goals
Having identified the right reasons, you now need to set clear and specific goals with realistic deadlines and milestones to measure your progress.
Start with small steps. For example, you can start by getting up a little earlier each day to give yourself more time to focus on your goals for the day.
If you find it hard to concentrate, use the Pomodoro technique; assign yourself 25 minutes to finish a task and then take a break of 5 minutes, allowing you to move forward in stages without becoming unfocused and discouraged.
Think of self-discipline as a mental muscle that can be developed and strengthened over time progressively.
3.Create routines
Routines help to establish habits that reinforce your self-discipline.
A well-planned routine helps to set habits and automatic patterns that will make it easier to achieve your goals.
To do this, plan your days and follow a daily routine to help you stay focused and motivated.
Start by making a plan for each day of the week, listing all the important tasks and sticking to them. Be realistic, make a list of 3 priorities per day and start working on the most important things. These small daily achievements will give you the motivation to progress.
Reframe your goals if necessary; stress and mental pressure are the enemies of self-discipline. Be positive in your intentions and their achievement.
Take full responsibility for all your actions, both your failures and successes. Learn from your mistakes to correct them and do better again and again.
Plato said that "victory over oneself is the greatest victory".
So what are you waiting for? Go on and develop those qualities that you admire!
