Bridge | Reward | Regret

Last week, I celebrated two women I love and in doing so discussed the topic of feminine and masculine energy. This week I will focus on masculine energy: discipline.

A couple of weeks ago, I asked my coachee what could get in the way of what he just set himself to do. He jokingly said “[his] bike and the good weather”, or in other words, distraction diverting him from his goal. He laughed as he understood straightway his own shortfall.

In exactly a week we officially enter summer and I thought it would be good to share some thoughts on this topic of discipline 

Today, I am sharing a transcript of Jim Rohn’s speech on the topic. Jim regularly appears in these letters and for good reason. I particularly love this speech, which I have read and listened to several times.

 So, this is what Jim has to say about Discipline…

“Of all the subjects we cover [in personal development], none is more important than covering the discipline for success. What is at the core of achieving the good life? The major key to the good life? The major key is not in learning how to set goals. It is not in learning how to better manage your time. It is not in mastering the attributes of leadership. 

Every day in 1000 different ways we are trying to improve ourselves by learning how to do things. We spend a lifetime gathering knowledge in classrooms, in textbooks, and in experiences. Now if knowledge is power, if knowledge is the forerunner to success, then why do we fall short of our objectives? Why, in spite of all our knowledge, and in spite of our collective experiences do we find ourselves aimlessly wandering, settling for a life of existence rather than a life of substance? 

There may be many answers to this question. Your answers may be different from your associates or your spouses or your friends. While there may be many answers to this question, the fundamental answer is the absence of discipline. Applying all that we know, that's the keyword discipline, self-discipline. We might add one more word here. Consistent! Consistent self-discipline. 

It doesn't really matter how smart you are or how much you know if you don't use it. It doesn't really matter that you graduated Magna Cum Laude if you're stuck in a low-paying job, it doesn't really matter if you attended every seminar that comes to town if you don't apply what you've learned. 

Better than knowledge is applied knowledge and once we've applied our knowledge, we must study the results of that process, apply our knowledge, study the results, and refine our approach. Finally, by trying and observing and refining and trying again. Inevitably produced worthy results, admirable results, and with the joy and results of our efforts, we continue to apply to learn to observe, to fuel our ambition with the positive reinforcement of continued progress. 

Pretty soon will find that were swept into a spiral of achievement. A vertical rise to success and the ecstasy of that total experience makes for a life of triumph over tragedy, dullness, and mediocrity. But for this whole process to work for us, we must first master the art of consistent self-discipline.

It takes consistent self-discipline to master the art of setting goals, to master the art of time management to master the art of leadership, master the art of parenting and relationships. If we don't make consistent self-discipline part of our daily lives, the results we seek will be sporadic and elusive. 

It takes a consistent effort to truly manage our valuable time or will be consistently frustrated. Our time will be eaten up by others whose demands are stronger than our own. 

It takes discipline to conquer the nagging voices in our minds. The fear of failure, the fear of success, the fear of poverty, the fear of a broken heart. 

It takes discipline to keep trying. When that nagging voice within us brings up the possibility of failure. 

It takes discipline to admit our errors and recognise our limitations, the voice of the human ego speaks to all of us. Sometimes the voice of Ego says that we should magnify our value beyond our results. It leads us to exaggerate and not be totally honest.

 It takes discipline to be totally honest, both with ourselves and with others. Be certain of one thing, every exaggeration of the truth, once detected by others, destroys our credibility and makes all that we say in do suspect. As soon as a business colleague figures out that we tend to exaggerate, guess what? They'll always think we exaggerate, and they'll never quite hold us in the same regard again. The tendency to exaggerate, distort or even withhold the truth is an inherent part of all of us. And only an all-out disciplined assault can overcome this tendency. 

It takes discipline to change a habit because habits are formed a little bit each day, every day. Once habits are formed, they act like a giant cable. They act like a nearly unbreakable instinct that only long-term disciplined activity can change. We must unweave every strand of the cable of habit, slowly and methodically, until the cable that once held us in bondage becomes nothing more than scattered strands of wire. 

It takes the consistent application of a new discipline a more desirable one to overcome one which is less desirable. 

It takes discipline to plan. It takes discipline to execute our plan. It takes discipline to look with full objectivity at the results of our applied plan, and it takes discipline to change either our plan or our method of executing that plan. If the results are poor. 

It takes discipline to be firm when the world throws opinions at our feet. It takes discipline to ponder the value of someone else's opinion. When our pride and our arrogance lead us to believe that we are the only ones with the answers. 

Discipline is a constant human awareness of the need for action. And a conscious act by us to implement that action discipline is an awareness of the constant need for action and a conscious act to implement that action. If our awareness and our implementations occur at the same time, then we begin a valued sequence of disciplined activity. 

Now here's the other side of discipline. 

If there is considerable time that passes between the moment of awareness and the time of our implementation. Then, that is called procrastination. Doing it tomorrow instead of today. 

Procrastination is almost the exact opposite of discipline. The voice within says. “Get it done”. Discipline then says “do it now! Do it to the best of your ability today, tomorrow, and always!” until finally, the worthy deed becomes instinctive.

Procrastination says “later, tomorrow, whenever I get a chance.” Procrastination also says “do what is necessary to get by or to impress others.” “Do what you can, but not what you must.” 

In every circumstance we face, we are constantly presented with these two choices. Do it now or do it later. Discipline and procrastination?

A choice between a disciplined existence bearing the fruit of achievement and contentment or procrastination. The easy life for which the future will bear no fruit. Only the bare branches of mediocrity. 

The rewards of a disciplined life are great, but they are often delayed until sometime in the future. The rewards for the lack of discipline are immediate, but they are minor in comparison to the immeasurable rewards of consistent self-discipline. An immediate reward for lack of discipline is a fun day at the beach. A future reward of discipline is owning the beach. 

For most, we choose today's pleasure rather than tomorrow's fortune.

So how can you get rid of the easy distractions? How can you keep your mind on what you're trying to do? How can you keep an attitude of doing it all and doing it now? How can you make the choice of discipline over procrastination? How can you stay focused on your ambitions? How can you avoid conversations at the water cooler?

You can keep your focus on your work. You can get it done today instead of tomorrow. You've got to really work on your consistent self-discipline on a daily basis or you'll find yourself distracted. Distracted by negative thoughts, people. Distracted by water cooler chatter, and pretty soon depending on the type of people you've associated with, distracted by your doubts within yourself. Never underestimate the power of influence and associations. And never underestimate the power of your own consistent self-discipline. 

Now let's take a closer look at discipline. True discipline is not the easiest option.

Most people would rather sleep until 10 o'clock than get up at 6. It's easier to go to bed late, sleep late, show up late, and leave early. It's easier not to read. It's easier to turn on the television than to open a book. It's easier to do just enough than to do it all. Waiting is always easier than acting. Trying is always easier than doing. 

Imagine what life would be like if we didn't have to make our bed in the morning or keep our garage clean or pay our taxes or show up for work tomorrow. Wouldn't it be fascinating if we didn't have to do these things? Wouldn't it be fascinating? What do you suppose would become of us? You're right. Not much. 

For whatever the reason the system we live in and contribute to is designed to make the easiest things in life the most unprofitable, profitable seems to be the most difficult. Our world is and always will be, a constant battle between the life of ease and its momentary rewards, and a life of discipline and its far more significant rewards. Each has its own price, the price of discipline or the price of regret. We will pay one or the other! What we wish we had done, is the voice of regret speaking in a sorrowful tone at a time when there is no going back. This is regret. No second chance. No, “What would I do differently?” 

Choose one or the other, but both will have their price. The price of discipline, or the price of regret. One costs pennies, the other a fortune. 

Dostoyevsky said, “There are hundreds of young men who would die for the truth, but very few who would spend five years studying to know what the truth is.”

Each time I read it or hear it, I find new motivation and go back to work with more energy and determination, again and again!

Question:

What more consistent self-discipline in your life* could bring you?