When I realized learning is imperative in order to succeed, I became an avid reader. From biographies to books, I read every recommendation and watched innumerable videos from TED, Alux, and other various publishers. My love for reading gave birth to my passion for writing. I have six published articles so far, but publishing a book is what inspired my passion for writing.
Dreams do come true; I am almost done with the manuscript of my first book. The book is titled Success Decoded: The Comprehensive Guide to Success. Just like many other people, my dreams still require me to learn how to succeed. This book is essentially a collection of several effective principles that I know of in terms of success. In a nutshell, the book emphasizes the importance of the process that leads to our goals and some of the “hows” to bring forth our A-game. One of the main principles expounded in the book is self-discipline.
Self-discipline can make a difference in one’s life. Growing up, I became an introvert because the things I wanted to do were different from that of the majority of the people around me. I don’t think I have to convince you that it takes consistent self-discipline to walk alone and stay focused for over a decade.
I am typing this at 1:14 a.m. on October 11th, mainly because it occurred to me on the morning of October 10th that I didn’t have any topic in mind for my third article for Das Tor. However, I challenged myself to write the manuscript by the end of the day. I was about to go to bed when I noticed I didn’t walk my talk. I had to get it done. I thought that this was the quintessence of self-discipline, hence this article.
Self-discipline makes a measurable difference, but it is consistent self-discipline that differentiates people. It takes self-discipline to be consistent, and consistent self-discipline to make a huge difference. In order to be disciplined consistently, it has to be habitual. The hard truth about creating impactful habits is that they are not easily developed, explaining why many people give up.
I want to use this opportunity to share “The Four Agreements” I learned from one of my favorite songs: be impeccable with your words, don’t make assumptions, don’t take anything personally, and always do your best. I believe the first and the last agreements are the keys to consistent self-discipline. Thus, always try your best to walk your talk.
According to Alux, the following 15 steps can help you to master self-discipline:
- Define a goal worth fighting for
- Deconstruct the Goal
- Make a daily plan that if followed will get you to your goal
- Remove temptations or distractions
- Prioritize the Goal before anything else
- Don’t wait for it to feel right
- Force yourself to do it
- Find role-models who inspire you
- Schedule breaks, treats & rewards for yourself
- Failure – even for one day – is not an option
- Keep track of your progress
- Set monthly milestones
- Self-analyze your process
- Remove negative habits
- Just keep pushing for 50 days straight
I would argue to go even farther than point 15. Just keep pushing for a year and see the magic of self-discipline. Happy Halloween in advance!