Essential Life Skillz: Self-Discipline

Polishing off a tub of Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough as I write this.

Discipline. Not just dished-out discipline, but self-discipline. Self-imposed. If you're thinking hey this has got nothing to do with me, you couldn't be more wrong. Though it is more commonly associated with the military, it is nevertheless prevalent in normal everyday society. Things like washing your face and brushing your teeth in the morning, doing up your homework, getting to the office on time, finishing up the ice-cream before getting a new tub, and many more instances. It's becoming more apparent that discipline is an integral part of daily life, isn't it?

So what exactly is discipline?

Discipline isn't doing things that you like, but things/tasks that you do not. It is very subjective - determining if a task requires discipline, I mean. Take for instance, walking the dog. Sure, it doesn't seem much to ask to take the dog out for an hour every evening, does it? Especially if you enjoy doing so. If you got your pet before promising to set aside time to take care of it - you are a bad owner - please give your pet to somebody else. But occasionally there's this project to complete, or a deadline to meet. Is poor poochie pooch to be left at home to chew on an old slipper? Don't assume your dog wants a spare tyre just because you sport one. (could this be why pet dogs often look like their owners?) I don't know what's the right thing to do in this case. I'd probably go out for an hour to relax and clear my mind. This way I can work more efficiently later.

There has to be a better scenario.

Okay. Got it. The competitors, in Contender: Asia have been training hard for the past year. It requires a hell lot of discipline to continue with a regime day after day, probably for the rest of their fighting career. Eating well, sleeping well, giving the best in their training. One of the competitors made a point not to drink any alcohol. In order to give this contest his best shot, for the last 4 months, in addition to his training, he did not consume a drop of alcohol. It so happened that they were taken out for a night, to relax and party at Velvet Underground. This competitor steeled himself and politely refused when offered any alcoholic drink. Why let 4 months of hard work go down the drain in the span of one night? Besides, he had a fight the next day. Even though he eventually lost the fight (in a fight, anything can happen), I really respect him for that show of self-discipline. People at the club would surely have thought: How can he party and not drink? What a wuss. How many of us can really say that we would not have succumbed to peer pressure, or the fear of people perceiving us as a 'wuss'. You know, we always say that we don't give a hoot what other people think of us, but how true is that, really? In his position, would we have the discipline to stay away from alcohol? Just look at it this way: He would have been more of a fool to stay off alcohol for 4 months, and blow it in one night. That's much more idiotic than not drinking at a party.

So you see, there's much more to discipline than following rules and obeying higher authority. Self-discipline stems from a personal decision/conviction, and the strength of your mind to follow through. Which is truly in control? The mind, or the body?

To live without discipline is to die without honour.

You'll never get anything done without discipline, and you'll never go far without self-discipline. Be it building up a relationship (you have to put in effort when the going gets tough, its never a smooth journey), building up your health (eating and sleeping well, exercising regularly), building up a business (you have to put in both time and effort), or even quitting smoking (alot of effort for this one, or so I'm told).

Do or do not. There is no try.

What does it say about you, when you give in after 2 days of abstinence, during which you proudly proclaimed that you've quit? Talk is cheap.

After saying this much, I want to remind myself that this is definitely one skill I need to work on. I know - I won't press the 'snooze' button on my alarm clock (handphone) more than 6 times starting tomorrow. No, that's too difficult... Set realistic goals, kevin.

Aight. Got it.

I'll start on a tub of Haagen Dazs tomorrow. Promise.