Cultivating Good Self
Discipline G. Ravishankar
The root word for both discipline
and disciple is
discipulus. A disciple learns self-
discipline by observing a
disciplined teacher. Similarly, employees learn about discipline from their
supervisors. What the
supervisor chooses to train them is a choice; he can
model respect, compassion and responsibility, or he can behave in an arrogant,
demeaning and insulting manner. Either way, the supervisor is similar to a
parent who teaches through example far more than with inspirational slogans.
Self discipline needs to be cultivated by following
steps: Acceptance, Willpower, Hard Work, Industry, and Persistence. If you take
the first letter of each word, you get the acronym “A WHIP” — a convenient way
to remember them, since many people associate self-discipline with whipping
themselves into shape.
Each day of the series, I’ll explore one of these
pillars, explaining why it’s important and how to develop it. But first a
general overview….
What Is Self-Discipline?
Self-discipline is the ability to get yourself to
take action regardless of your emotional state. In other words, there’s no
compulsion or punishment to certain things.
People are self-motivated.
Imagine what you could accomplish if you could
simply get yourself to follow through on your best intentions no matter what.
Picture yourself saying to your body, “You’re overweight. Lose 20 pounds.”
Without self-discipline that intention won’t become manifest. But with
sufficient self-discipline, it’s a done deal. The pinnacle of self-discipline
is when you reach the point that when you make a conscious decision, it’s
virtually guaranteed you’ll follow through on it.