If you look up the meaning of self-discipline, you’ll see it says, “Self-discipline is the ability to control yourself and to make yourself work hard or behave in a particular way without needing anyone else to tell you what to do.”
It also says, “The disciplining or controlling of oneself or one’s desires, actions, habits, etc.” So, self-discipline is where you take control of your own actions. You are able to focus on what needs to be done, and you do it without needing to rely on someone else to make decisions or set boundaries for you.
A person who has well-developed self-discipline is less likely to be tempted or distracted and to remain focused on tasks, behaviors, and outcomes.
Why Do Some People Have Less Self-Discipline Than Others?
There are many reasons why you may be lacking self-discipline. You may have a fear of failure, a lack of willpower, or you may be a procrastinator. Perhaps you don’t have any goals you’re striving for, or that provide enough motivation to induce self-disciplined behavior.
There are many more reasons, but these are some familiar traits or situations that many people can recognize within themselves.
No-one is born with a quota of self-discipline, it is a trait that needs to be developed and practiced, and practice makes perfect, or as perfect as can be. Practice is what makes some people exhibit unbelievable self-discipline.
You only have to look at high-performance athletes to see self-discipline in motion. Their willpower and self-control are unbelievable, and it is to be admired. They cannot give in to laziness or put off what they need to do right now, or their performances will suffer.
They do what has to be done, and they stick to their routine regardless of obstacles thrown their way. They can’t make excuses.
Self-Discipline Affects Happiness and Productivity
If we all had this type of power, we would all be better able to achieve our goals, with much less hesitation or fear.
Those individuals who have some degree of self-control and self-discipline have been found to be happier in life than those who don’t. This is usually because of their attitude, which influences their success and happiness outcomes.
If you have self-control, you probably have a more positive outlook on life, compared to someone who has no self-control and is wallowing in negativity and their own self-pity. They may have a more ‘woe is me’ type of attitude.
Self-disciplined individuals are better at dealing with life’s obstacles. They are the type of people who don’t easily succumb to self-distracting behaviors when times get tough.
Most of all, self-disciplined individuals have better control over their habits. Their life habits contribute to their ultimate goals and successes they may be striving for.
How to Become More Self-Disciplined
This all sounds great, but how do you become a self-disciplined individual? You practice, and you practice daily in all areas of your life.
Self-discipline itself is a habit. Like every other worthwhile habit, it is most effectively formed by creating action plans and carrying them out, every time.
Relying on chance, opportunity, inspiration, or motivation will mean only spasmodic improvement, as compared to the diligent following of a well-made plan.
If you set long term goals that have long term responsibilities, you’ll need to make long term commitments! If you want to stick to your commitments, you have to be accountable for your actions, and you have to take action. This will help you to become more self-disciplined.
Set routines and habits. If something isn’t right, what actions took place that were responsible for the problem? Was it your lack of commitment or something else? What actions need to be improved or corrected?
It is only when you hold yourself responsible for the things that you do that you are able to develop self-discipline and most effectively work towards achieving your goals in life.
Self-Discipline is a Habit, Not a Gift
Without training and practice, self-discipline will rarely grow by itself. It is far more natural to gravitate to short-term gratification rather than undertaking the extra initial effort that self-discipline demands.
Many people, by virtue of their upbringing and childhood training, including social and cultural expectations, have well-developed self-discipline by the time they reach childhood. Of course, some of these ‘skills’ might have been a result of harsh environmental or family circumstances.
Many other people may not have had much in the way of training or circumstances that required developing their self-discipline. This can certainly cause a large dose of ‘culture shock’ in some cases when they move into other circles through work and social needs. Remember, it’s never too late to learn and make changes to become a better you.