| Many people relate to the word discipline
as a punishment or form of punishment. The Webster’s
definition for self-discipline is: Correction or regulation
of oneself for the sake of improvement.
We all have either the knowledge or access to the information
and training we need to be more successful. In the late
nineteenth and early twentieth century, Andrew Carnegie
began building public libraries and encouraging others
to help in the establishment of the public library system.
In those libraries, which exist still today, there are
books and information on countless thousands of topics
from sales techniques to personal or professional success.
The information you need to learn about almost any subject
is available free and contained within the walls of
your local public library. Yet today, less than three
per cent of the population has a library card. (Hopefully,
part of the reason for that low percentage is the development
of the Internet as the research tool of the 21st Century.)
It is not a lack of knowledge that causes a person’s
failure. It is their inability to apply self-discipline,
to implement and use the ideas and to use the knowledge
they already have. The accessibility to the information
and the knowledge is there and free. What is missing
is the self-discipline to go to the library and read
the books, or to perfect your “search” skills
on the Internet, so as to locate similar materials online.
It requires self-discipline to turn off the television
set, get on the Internet or go to the library and access
such audio, visual or print-media materials.
It also requires self-discipline to apply the information
you have learned. It is easier to say, “I will
begin tomorrow,” than it is to begin today. It
requires discipline to act. The mind tells us we should
take action; discipline tells us to do it now. We have
the plan to achieve more personal and professional success,
and what we need is the self-discipline to do it today.
It is a proven fact that the mind is most receptive
early in the morning. It requires self-discipline to
get up earlier and to read or listen to audiotapes instead
of the radio. As “discipline starts the night
before,” it requires self-discipline to go to
bed early enough so that you can wake up and be alert
in the A.M. It requires self-discipline to make the
time to study when all your friends and family are placing
demands (some of them unreasonable) upon your time.
And, it takes even greater effort to remain disciplined
when all those around you lack such a level of discipline.
The Bible teaches us that there is an appointed time
for everything and a time for every affair under the
heavens. Our teaching and training prepares us to recognize
the time for an action, and self-discipline teaches
us to do it now.
The difference between successful people and unsuccessful
people is the formers’ ability to take action
when necessary. Successful people make a habit of taking
action right now; unsuccessful people allow procrastination
to control their actions.
Successful people do things that are unpopular and
difficult. Unsuccessful people put off the deeds and
take the path of popularity and least resistance. The
things unsuccessful people do on a regular basis are
the same things successful people would enjoy, but self-discipline
tells them to work towards remaining successful.
Discipline yourself today. |
