DAY 3: Commit to Be More Disciplined

One of the biggest problems Americans have is we lack self-control. We like comfort we despise self-denial. I think we don’t realize how much we just allow our feelings to control us instead of working harder to control our feelings.

Some people wake up and just decide they don’t feel like going to work, even though they are in debt up to their eyeballs. Many people get divorced because they don’t feel like working on their marriage anymore. People even use their feelings to decide what to eat instead of eating what their body needs. And, we often quit working out because it’s hard and we just don’t feel like it anymore.

Sadly, many people lose friends, jobs, marriages and even their life over words or actions led by temporary emotions. This is why we are supposed to discipline our body, and keep it under control. Left to itself, our feelings will destroy us.

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:27

Just think of how much further ahead we’d be if we disciplined our body and kept it under control. Whether it was controlling our tongue, our temper, our laziness or our actions – we would be a much better version of ourselves if we practiced self-control.

Improvement is a victory

While it’s not realistic to think we will just suddenly control our bodies and lead a more disciplined life, it is very realistic to think we can make improvements. Any attempt you make this time to be more disciplined is improvement.

Discipline doesn’t just happen. It is practiced. Part of it will be forced in the beginning and some of it may be forced your whole life. Most acts of discipline come from practicing good habits. Like many tasks, things that took great discipline to do when we were young (like brushing your teeth or having “bath time”) are now just a habit. We rarely even think about it or question it. As we mature, some tasks get more challenging. Whether it is staying disciplined with your weight, or the way you just live your life, success requires a life-long commitment to practicing discipline.

Make that commitment today

Instead of just committing to reaching a specific goal, commit to practicing discipline every day. Make a list of the things you want to improve on that are most important to you and commit to keeping those things as top priority practices and focus in your life.

When it comes to your fitness or weight, commit to just showing up and putting in the work whether you feel like it or not. Commit to giving your body what it needs, not just what your tongue wants to taste. Commit to relying less on “feeling motivated” to get you to the gym, but simply making better decisions. Let the results motivate you – not your feelings.

Feelings come and go, but the facts remain facts; if you put in the work, you will get the reward.

Action Steps:

Make a list of the things you want to be more disciplined in.
Post your list to remind you what you are committing to working on.
Tell at least one person about your decision.
Set guidelines to help you get things done. For instance, if your goal is to workout as soon as you wake up, make a rule that you can’t check your email or facebook until you workout. If you can set guidelines, it’s much easier to stick to your plan and “play by the rules”.
Schedule a reminder every Monday to assess your progress and set new goals. Set new disciplines each month and continue weekly reminders and time for self-examination.

Scripture of the Day:

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:27

Mantra of the Day:

Just Show Up! Not because you feel like it. Not because you have the energy. Not because you have the time. But, because you are committed. You want the results. It will be SO worth it!