Flexing Discipline

All too often I hear the excuse, “I can’t do that, I am just not that discipled.” It is a cop-out phrase usually referring to something that someone knows they should do – maybe even that they must do – but are unwilling to commit to. So, instead of committing, they give themselves an out, an escape clause. It then becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Discipline is not something anyone is born with or “gifted.” It is a character quality that must be first acquired, then developed and finally, exercised. Saying you cannot commit to something because you are not disciplined is like saying you cannot lift weights because you are too weak. Your weakness is precisely why you need to get into the gym! And in the same way, your atrophied discipline muscle must be stressed in order to grow stronger.

Disciplined people do not do difficult things because of their discipline. They become disciplined because they commit to and execute difficult things. They exercise their discipline and it develops to become even more robust. Action comes first; discipline follows.

Discipline is a muscle that we all have, but it becomes weak and fragile because of lack of use. Like a muscle, it must be exercised to grow. It requires training. It must be stressed and stretched. It is a painful process at times, but not as painful as the alternative: a life lived without discipline.

No more excuses. You do have discipline; it just may need consistent exercise.

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