Life of Discipline: The Key To Great Achievements

Discipline is one of the most valuable assets anyone can have. This is because almost everything one needs to achieve in life requires discipline. To avoid presumptions, it is necessary to give a concise definition of the word discipline. This definition will guide us throughout this write-up and help us to get a better understanding of ideas that will be discussed.

Definition of Discipline and Life of Discipline.

The concise oxford dictionary (PC version) defines discipline as “The practice of training people to obey rules or code of behaviour. It can also be defined as controlled behaviour resulting from such training.” Discipline means being conscious of every action or behaviour in order not to break rules (personal and societal) or act in an undesirable way.

Discipline means creating rules or guidelines for action and abiding by these rules no matter the situation. A disciplined man takes time to decide what he will or will not do. He also makes an extra effort not to change his mind even if there are factors tempting him to do so. A disciplined man takes time to set goals for himself, take the necessary steps to achieve the goal, and finally, achieve the goal.

The life of discipline is one characterized by firm actions and unwavering decisions. Sometimes, it may seem unfavourable to friends and neighbours, however, it gives the disciplined man his prestige and respect. People recognize a disciplined man wherever he is and trust his words for what they are.

The life of discipline may not necessarily be a life that is characterized by rules and regulations. It could be one that is striving to focus on goals and avoid every other side distraction. Most people who achieved great things in history were known to live disciplined lives. They took the pains upon themselves to undergo all the processes required to achieve their goals.

How to Live A Disciplined Life

There is no particular way to live a disciplined life. So many people apply discipline to one or more areas of their lives when there is a need for it. This means that discipline can be applied to different areas of our lives in order to produce the best results. Academic success requires disciple, spiritual progress requires discipline, financial success also requires discipline and so many other areas.

The starting point to undertake discipline is usually from taking decisions about how one wishes to live and what one wishes to achieve. When an individual begins to think of taking control of his life and being in control of the things that happen in his life, discipline begins to build up gradually.

Sometimes it is not a conscious effort to become disciplined, but a conscious effort to become more responsible and accountable for one’s life that leads to discipline. The decision to bring a change in one’s life makes him act in certain ways that encourage the envisaged change. This is where discipline comes in because the individual also desists from certain actions that discourage the desired change.

What Hinders Man From Discipline

The quest to be free is a strong driving force in man. No matter how free he is, he desires more freedom. The desire for pleasure and bodily comfort discourage the life of discipline. Man wishes to always give in to his animalistic tendencies. The body is unwilling to take up any restraints that will discomfort it. As soon as it longs for anything, it wishes to have it instantly. The life of discipline, as one that does not give in to these demands of the body, says NO to the body over and over again for the sake of a greater good.

So many are unable to handle the cravings of the body and subdue them. They give up and allow the body to call the shots day in day out. This hinders the life of discipline because control of bodily pleasure consists of the first steps in living a disciplined life. The faculties of the intellect and will develop and get stronger with every act that is carried out in accordance with prior decisions and undertakings. This aids the life of discipline and makes it possible to undertake more difficult tasks of discipline.

Another factor that hinders the achievement of discipline is lack of consistency. A disciplined man must be ready to repeat the same act of discipline over and over again no matter the situation. There should be no room for relaxations in certain environments or conditions based on desires to ease off for a while or desires live differently for a moment. The act of letting go of one’s principles even for a second can destroy days or years of work in discipline.

A disciplined man is conscious of the decisions he takes in life and knows that they are for the best reasons. He accepts his decisions and considers it the best way to live his life. With this, he has no desire to return to his previous lifestyle or act differently anymore.

Life of Discipline and Virtue

Aristotle defines virtue as a habitual disposition to do good. Virtue is not intrinsic but acquired through continuous repetition of virtuous acts. It requires discipline for one to undertake the task of acquiring any virtue. It is obvious that to acquire virtue takes time and discipline. It is only a disciplined man that can continually take time to perform virtuous actions for the sake of acquiring virtue.

Without discipline, the task of trying to acquire virtue will only be a struggle. This is because the indiscipline man is prone to give up the task as soon as he has begun. However, a disciplined can easily take up the task of acquiring virtue and will succeed because if he is able to do what is required to live a disciplined life, then he is able to do what is required to acquire virtue all the same.

Some people may regard discipline as a virtue and wonder why we are discussing discipline side by side with virtue. The inevitability of a life of discipline in the acquiring of virtue cannot be overemphasized because it is taken for granted that everyone who sincerely wishes to acquire any particular virtue is consequently ready display the necessary discipline required.

Discipline and Great Achievements

There is an undeniable relationship between discipline and success. When we take time to analyze the activities of people who are considered successful, we find out that these people displayed discipline in one way or another. It requires discipline to focus on a particular task and see it completed. It requires discipline to go through the process of bringing one’s ideas into reality.

The disciplined man will eventually be a man of great achievements because he is able to do things that so many others cannot do. The reason why the disciplined man is viewed as different from other people is that he is able to undertake tasks that other people shy away from. The disciplined man does not consider any task as difficult or impossible but takes up the required mental and physical strength required to see it completed.

The association of discipline to great achievements is a revelation that can help us achieve so much more in life by paying attention to our level of discipline. We can consider ourselves as agents of change in society. People who are able to accomplish whatever they set their hearts and minds to. With this kind of mindset, it will be easy to achieve the tasks we have in mind and also motivate others into achieving their own goals.

I’ll like to hear your thoughts on this article. Comment below and share if you like it.