Many of the problems we have with discipline are caused by failing to realize the rewards that discipline can bring. We focus on the fact that discipline often means doing boring things that we don't want to do and fail to notice that eventually discipline empowers us to do what we do want to do. This article takes a look at some of the rewards of discipline.
Julie Andrews, the film actress and singer, is one person who realized the rewards that discipline can bring:
"Some people regard discipline as a chore. For me, it is a kind of order that sets me free to fly. "
For many people singing 'doh, ray, me" and other scales is a chore but it is a chore which will eventually bring the beauty of tuneful singing into their lives. This is something I have never achieved as my friends tell me!
Discipline also sets us free to be our own bosses. Mike Litman, as usual, has great advice on this which he found in a pre 1930 success book.
He came across the mind grabbing sentence: "Whatever cannot obey itself is commanded."
The author went on to explain the meaning of this cryptic sentence:
"The failures in life are the people who could not or would not obey themselves; they then became commanded by others. They could not hold to the course; they lost their grip. They did not do as they promised their own hearts they would do."
One of the major laws of success is to do what we plan to do i.e. to do whatever we command ourselves to do. If we cannot do this, we will end up in jobs and lives where we spend our time doing what other people tell us to do.
Another reward of discipline is being able to do what you could not do before. In some martial arts the ability to kick high is highly prized. It looks powerful and even beautiful and is a large part of the art in martial arts.
However, to be able to kick high, you need to have the discipline to spend time stretching. I find stretching a chore and although I have now reached as high as 5th dan in one martial art and 3rd dan in another, I still can't kick high. My ability in this has in fact decreased.
On the other hand one of my fellow students in Taekwondo, Steve Graham, faced up to this chore. When I arrived at a class, he would already be there sitting on the floor and stretching. As a result his kicks were lightning quick and as high as he wanted them to go. This must have given him immense pleasure over the years. In 1982, he was the British Taekwondo heavyweight champion.
Facing the chores of discipline can help you succeed and fly or at least kick high!
About the author
John Watson is an award winning teacher and martial arts instructor. He has recently written two books about achieving your goals and dreams.
They can both be found on his website http://www.motivationtoday.com along with a weekly motivational message and several other motivational books.
The title of the first book is "36 Laws To Ignite Your Inner Power And Realize Your Dreams Now! - Acronyms, Stories, Pictures And Quotes...Easy To Remember And Use Everyday To Grab Your Life And Soar With The Eagles"
The book can be found at this URL
http://www.motivationtoday.com
The book uses acronyms, stories, pictures and quotations to help readers remember 36 laws that can gradually transform your life if you apply them.
Ezine editors / Site owners
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site but please include the resource box above.
professional maid services Deerfield ..The Enlightened Warrior's 'Keys to Success' Through the Power of... Read More
Measure twice, cut once Just as in carpentry, making sure... Read More
Too many times in the pursuit of our dreams, we... Read More
OK, so here we are. We've switched the calendars out... Read More
They say that if you really want to stretch yourself... Read More
To achieve what you want, what you desire, needs a... Read More
I recently was made aware of two comparative statistics that... Read More
What do we want most from life? Certainly, we all... Read More
About six years ago I began to study tai chi.... Read More
This summer (2005) huge crowds in England and Australia have... Read More
"See, I told you so," she emailed me, "it turned... Read More
Have you failed before and wished the earth could open... Read More
Make a game out of reaching your goals Go to... Read More
Most sports are full of lessons for the discerning. Tennis... Read More
Nobody becomes a success alone, period. There is no such... Read More
If you are wishy-washy and undecided about you want and... Read More
In individualistic success models, success is not due to the... Read More
Choose "impossible" goals When faced with a hard-to-reach goal, your... Read More
If you want to be rich and famous, you have... Read More
Most people want to be successful in life. But success... Read More
So you want to expand your horizons by securing a... Read More
We have all read about people who are successful briefly.... Read More
Decide which game to play. Is winning that... Read More
If you discovered your speaking career depended on how organized... Read More
Start a "round robin" goal letter with others who need... Read More
quick home cleaning Lake Forest ..Lots of people network but few reap the rewards of... Read More
Fear, or negative anxiety, is the modern day bubonic plague,... Read More
There are "How to" seminars on virtually every business topic.... Read More
Pops first set the goal in high school, but when... Read More
George Burns' career could have ended as early as 1958,... Read More
A farmer in Pennsylvania decided to sell his farm, but... Read More
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in... Read More
No one becomes successful by accident. Success requires making a... Read More
Personal power is an INSIDE JOB. It doesn't mean getting... Read More
Recently, I have been riveted by the amazing reality show... Read More
"Enthusiasm is worth any pot of cream ever offered."Can you... Read More
Most dictionary entries would define failure as the simple lack... Read More
There is one big "secret" to success that can help... Read More
e-Learning is doubling yearly. Classes, e-courses, e-books on how-to and... Read More
When you are in business every person you hire gets... Read More
The very first "motivational speaker" I heard as an adult... Read More
Get ready to sail the Seven C's - the Seven... Read More
1. Any work activity, unless initiated at the earliest will... Read More
The Winner's Walk is a key strategy in the sport... Read More
One of my absolute favorite quotes is from Dwight D.... Read More
Being organised is a major step to success and the... Read More
This revelation hit me the other day while I was... Read More
Success can easily be compared to the "genie trapped in... Read More
I was talking about my business to a stranger the... Read More
Far too many of us struggle through life despite more... Read More
Success |