In situations of “discipline” or lack thereof, we find ourselves aiming/wanting to either:

  • beat our personal best (competition & motivation)
  • stick to certain goals we’ve already set (consistency)
  • create new goals we wish to reach (worthwhile challenge)
  • do it because others are doing it (environmental/external factors)

The easy part is setting the intentions and/or goals BUT, what comes after can sometimes be testing and this can put you in a position of wanting to just quit! Now, I’ve always believed quitting is okay (and a must have skill) if you don’t find the goal you are working towards challenging, fulfilling or if it doesn’t add to your skill set/values. However, what’s not okay is how long you remain in the state of stagnancy and therefore you are too afraid to either quit or start.

Improving discipline will therefore require you to embrace:

1.Breaking it down step by step
Think of a spelling bee competition — when a contestant steps up to spell a word, they often ask for it to be broken down i.e. they request for a definition, examples in a sentence and/or the origin of the word. Similarly, when you were in primary school and were learning to spell, you were taught to sound, break the word into syllables and then put it all together. For example, to spell “hippopotamus”, you are taught to break it down like this: HIP - PO - PO - TA - MUS.

This step can be replicated when it comes to improving your discipline because it’s better and less stressful to simplify (the task/what you need to do) than to over complicate it. This way, you are able to take the necessary steps forward to reach your end result as the whole (your goal), can ONLY be formed when the parts (broken or separate pieces) are put together.

2.Repetition
To get to intermediate, advanced or expert level in a particular field or craft, repetition will play a key role in both the preparation and execution of whatever talent or skill you are building on.

I see repetition as programming! For instance, when we practice words of affirmation, we repeat it numerous times and this is what instills into the subconscious from our conscious mind and so; it creates a reality on the variety of things we feed it...from our beliefs to the information we take in, what we tell ourselves, the environment we are in and much more.

In other words, when you repeat the tasks you do, it becomes your reality i.e. the tasks will:

  • be easier to do
  • require less effort
  • not feel like a chore
  • bring greater chances of mastering the skill/craft/talent

Whilst I understand that repetition can sometimes be boring, we can’t fail to ignore that there can almost, if not always, never be any learning without repetition — this is just a thought circulating my mind as I write this blog now.

Perhaps I’m wrong (I don’t doubt it) BUT, I do feel there’s a certain hint of truth in that statement because if we take it back to basics, you can’t pass your driving test without repeating the same initial steps from buckling your seatbelt when you get in, using your mirrors, reaching the biting point and actually starting off the car. In fact, there will be no moving off from Point A to Point B without using your mirrors...it just feels like an essential thing you must repeat no matter how many times!

3.Try for there’s no harm in doing so
If you don’t make the effort to do Point 1, Point 2 or anything else then you haven’t tried at all — there’s no harm in trying and this, in itself, is a form of discipline. James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, wrote a very insightful piece on the 1% rule which talks about an “accumulative advantage” in simply making an effort, no matter how small.

In my understanding of these words, I believe the message is that you don’t need to be the top, the best or even reach 100% full capacity… you just have to find a way to give yourself an edge (competitive or not) i.e. to be better than the “yesterday YOU” even if it’s by 1%.

Sometimes this 1% can’t be measured (or so I think) especially if it’s dealing with mental, emotional, spiritual health but it still doesn’t take away from how much small shifts can change entire perspectives, situations, goals and the way you choose to live your life...this shouldn’t be underestimated - click above to read the blog on the Incredible Impact starting Small Makes.

To summarise this blog on improving your discipline:

Thank you for reading.


Love & Light
Amida