ARTICLE: THE LIBERATING POWER OF (SELF) DISCIPLINE
...if you really desire success, that is. By discipline I'm referring to the quality, habit or mindset, of doing what you have to do, whether or not you feel like doing it.
Very soon, we'll enter the last third of the year 2010. Is there still a gap between where you intended to be at the beginning of the year, and where you are at the moment?
Have you taken action consistently, to bring you closer to your goals, since the start of the year? Or have you slacked off, or become discouraged by the outward appearance of things because 'nothingseems to be happening, so it's no use'?
Very often I find that when someone has a gap between where they'd like to be and where they currently are, a major reason is that they have not applied discipline in one area or another.
Sometimes people treat the word 'discipline' as though it's a dirty word. It's got negative connotations in the mind of many. That's because of its association with punishment of some sort. Discipline is not punishment. The two words have different meanings, and the sooner you start to associate discipline with good outcomes for yourself, the better.
Discipline is a liberating force: it frees you to achieve most any goal you set for yourself.
Discipline is a bridge: it provides a link between your dreams and their realisation.
You can't escape this fact. Nothing great was ever achieved without a measure of consistently applied discipline.
My desire for you is that from today you embrace this concept of discipline and start to apply it in every area of your life. There's still time this year for you to start applying discipline and to see some results from this way of living. Discipline yourself in the (seemingly) small things, to help you form the habit, so that you'll find it easier to apply discipline to the bigger things.
The attitude of discipline includes the following:
- Doing things NOW, whether or not you feel like doing them (the opposite of discipline is procrastination - a close buddy with 'failure')
- Saying 'no' when you mean to say 'no' - and feeling good about it.
- Saying 'yes' when you mean to say 'yes' - and feeling good about it.
- Keeping your thoughts focused on your desired outcome, and letting this be your driving force, your internal motivation - rather than focusing on the process that gets you there...
This week I want to draw your attention to the last point mentioned above: 'disciplining yourself to keep your thoughts focused on the right thing'. You see, when your thoughts are mainly on the goal you're looking to achieve, the rest of the points above become easier to do. That's why you've the phrase 'keep your eyes on the prize' exists.
So this week I wish to draw your attention to the most important facet, the true foundation, of all empowering, self-discipline.
I'm talking about Thought Discipline.
Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying all you have to do is think positive and your dreams will come true. Matter of fact you can think positive until you are blue in the face, or until you get brain cramps - nothing happens until something moves. Appropriate Action seals the deal. However, thought disipline is where it all begins. You see, the right thinking patterns keep you in the right mental state, and the right mental state influences your behaviour or actions.
Thought discipline means the following: Action Points
How To (Discipline Yourself To) Focus On Your Vision: Thought Discipline in Action: 5 top tips
Start deliberately disciplining your thoughts today by acting on what you've just read. Be consistent. Refuse to quit or give up. Learn from the farmer, who plants a seed and then patiently waits for his harvest, nurturing the soil in the meantime. He doesn't get impatient if he hasn't got a full blown plant by end of the week. Nor should you.
Now go make it happen for you!
Blessings to ya!
Very soon, we'll enter the last third of the year 2010. Is there still a gap between where you intended to be at the beginning of the year, and where you are at the moment?
Have you taken action consistently, to bring you closer to your goals, since the start of the year? Or have you slacked off, or become discouraged by the outward appearance of things because 'nothingseems to be happening, so it's no use'?
Very often I find that when someone has a gap between where they'd like to be and where they currently are, a major reason is that they have not applied discipline in one area or another.
Sometimes people treat the word 'discipline' as though it's a dirty word. It's got negative connotations in the mind of many. That's because of its association with punishment of some sort. Discipline is not punishment. The two words have different meanings, and the sooner you start to associate discipline with good outcomes for yourself, the better.
Discipline is a liberating force: it frees you to achieve most any goal you set for yourself.
Discipline is a bridge: it provides a link between your dreams and their realisation.
You can't escape this fact. Nothing great was ever achieved without a measure of consistently applied discipline.
My desire for you is that from today you embrace this concept of discipline and start to apply it in every area of your life. There's still time this year for you to start applying discipline and to see some results from this way of living. Discipline yourself in the (seemingly) small things, to help you form the habit, so that you'll find it easier to apply discipline to the bigger things.
The attitude of discipline includes the following:
- Doing things NOW, whether or not you feel like doing them (the opposite of discipline is procrastination - a close buddy with 'failure')
- Saying 'no' when you mean to say 'no' - and feeling good about it.
- Saying 'yes' when you mean to say 'yes' - and feeling good about it.
- Keeping your thoughts focused on your desired outcome, and letting this be your driving force, your internal motivation - rather than focusing on the process that gets you there...
This week I want to draw your attention to the last point mentioned above: 'disciplining yourself to keep your thoughts focused on the right thing'. You see, when your thoughts are mainly on the goal you're looking to achieve, the rest of the points above become easier to do. That's why you've the phrase 'keep your eyes on the prize' exists.
So this week I wish to draw your attention to the most important facet, the true foundation, of all empowering, self-discipline.
I'm talking about Thought Discipline.
Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying all you have to do is think positive and your dreams will come true. Matter of fact you can think positive until you are blue in the face, or until you get brain cramps - nothing happens until something moves. Appropriate Action seals the deal. However, thought disipline is where it all begins. You see, the right thinking patterns keep you in the right mental state, and the right mental state influences your behaviour or actions.
Thought discipline means the following: Action Points
- You have a goal (if you don't have one written down, write one now! Make it big enough to inspire you but not so big you're overwhelmed into paralysis. Give it a deadline or time frame for achievement. Make it specific. Make it your goal, not someone else's. Make it measurable so you can assess your progress.). A goal gives you direction in life. Gives you a reason to jump out of bed each morning, raring to go, go, go make it happen.
- You have a vision of your desired outcome. If you don't have one, set some time aside to create one. A vision is like a mental movie with you as the main character, director and producer. It's a powerful tool in the whole goal achievement process, as every top performer in athletics and other fields, knows. So create your mental movie. It should make you feel inspired, hopeful, confident, happy and grateful. If not, rewrite the script.
- You have a system for holding fast that vision of your desired outcome.This is where discipline really comes into the picture: you've got to focus on your vision while the outward appearances are different. Hold on to your vision even when things look to be going in the opposite direction. This is the test of your faith. This is where discipline starts.
When you hold fast to your vision with faith, gratitude and expectation, you are empowered and motivated from within, to do what is necessary, to bring it to pass.
Right here is where many people stumble. They meet discouragement and start to think about the setback - thus taking their eyes off the goal. Thus they shift their focus from the desired outcome, to an undesirable outcome. Don't do this, otherwise your actions will correspond, and you will move away from your desired outcome, rather than towards it.
What you focus on really does expand, because your thoughts set in motion events and actions that magnetize you to the object of your dominant thoughts.
How To (Discipline Yourself To) Focus On Your Vision: Thought Discipline in Action: 5 top tips
- Go to the movies: Discipline yourself to watch your mental movie at least twice each day.
- Affirm your goals either in writing or by speaking it out, at least twice each day. With today's technology, eg the iphone, you can record yourself reading out your affirmation list onto your voice memo, then play that back to yourself several times each day.
- Vision boards are a great tool for helping you stay focused: find images that reflect/communicate your desired outcome and stick them on the vision board. Put the board where you can easily see it several times each day.
- Practice daily gratitude for your desired outcome - this automatically forces you to think about what you're being thankful for, raises your level of positive emotion ("vibration") about it, which in turn motivates you from the inside, to take the necessary ACTION to make it happen. This is part of how 'attraction' works.
- Choose your associations carefully. Don't hang out with nay sayers, dream stealers and other negative influences, as you may find yourself thinking like they do - you cannot afford to be detracted from your vision if you are serious about making it happen for you.
Start deliberately disciplining your thoughts today by acting on what you've just read. Be consistent. Refuse to quit or give up. Learn from the farmer, who plants a seed and then patiently waits for his harvest, nurturing the soil in the meantime. He doesn't get impatient if he hasn't got a full blown plant by end of the week. Nor should you.
Now go make it happen for you!
Blessings to ya!
CONTACT DR KEM TODAY!
I believe in taking Appropriate ACTION.
The only reason I write these articles is to give you information that can change your life for the better - IF YOU ACT ON IT, that is. I also realise that it is often the bit about taking action that gets many people stuck - you either don't know exactly what you should be doing, or you are so stuck in your bad habits you don't know how to change tracks.
This is where I come in. I can help you get unstuck, take action and stay disciplined so that you actually achieve your goals. It's not rocket science: action leads to results.
Knowedge is not powerful until you ACT on it.
So contact me today and let's schedule a Complimentary 15 minute session to talk about YOU and what you need to do, to take your life to the next level. You won't get to the next level by doing the same things you're doing at this level.
Contact me using the form over at www.doctorkem.com, to book your 15 minute phone/skype gift session. It could be all the coaching you need!
The only reason I write these articles is to give you information that can change your life for the better - IF YOU ACT ON IT, that is. I also realise that it is often the bit about taking action that gets many people stuck - you either don't know exactly what you should be doing, or you are so stuck in your bad habits you don't know how to change tracks.
This is where I come in. I can help you get unstuck, take action and stay disciplined so that you actually achieve your goals. It's not rocket science: action leads to results.
Knowedge is not powerful until you ACT on it.
So contact me today and let's schedule a Complimentary 15 minute session to talk about YOU and what you need to do, to take your life to the next level. You won't get to the next level by doing the same things you're doing at this level.
Contact me using the form over at www.doctorkem.com, to book your 15 minute phone/skype gift session. It could be all the coaching you need!