If self-discipline feels difficult, then you’re doing it wrong. You are not alone in this struggle, and there is a lot that you can do to overcome the difficulties. The first step is acknowledging that there are problems and something needs to change. Once you’ve acknowledged the problem, it’s-developing a plan of action is important. This should include goals and timelines for when each goal will be achieved, as well as strategies for overcoming any roadblocks along the way.
What follows are four tips on how to live a disciplined life:
- Be aware of your emotions and reactions. When you’re under stress or emotional turmoil, you’re more likely to lose focus and make poor decisions that might compromise your goals or lifestyle choices. It’s important to be vigilant of these moments so that you don’t let them get the best of you unnecessarily.
- Develop a plan for when things get tough. Having an alternate strategy in place will help ease the burden during times of difficulty rather than struggling headlong into uncharted territory with no idea what could happen next. This doesn’t mean giving up on your dreams completely – have something set aside( cash saved, friends heeded) so that if push comes to shove (or toothache kicks in), you’ll still be able to reach your long-term objectives without having too much invested emotionally right at this moment in time.
- Stay positive and motivated even when things are going wrong. Just because something isn’t working out as planned doesn’t mean all hope is lost – sometimes, there’s a lesson waiting just around the corner that can teach us invaluable lessons about ourselves or our situation.
When Willpower doesn’t relay to self-discipline
While it’s undoubtedly true that hard work and dedication are key ingredients for achieving success, it’s also important to keep in mind that Willpower is a finite resource. If you’re not continually training your Willpower, then over time, it will become weaker and harder to use. As such, the best way to improve your chances of success is by setting small goals (rather than thinking about larger tasks) and rewarding yourself after each successful task is completed. This helps promote positive self-esteem and builds momentum for future endeavours.
According to self-improvement author and speaker Tim Ferriss, the best way to do this is by practising intermittent fasting (IF). This technique involves periods of eating only between 12 pm and 8 pm each day, which helps in increasing focus and enhancing productivity.
Furthermore, IF has been shown to improve overall health by reducing inflammation and improving gut function. Research published in The Journal of Nutrition found that those who practised IF were more likely to have lower blood pressure readings and better cholesterol profiles than those who didn’t practice it.
So if you’re looking for ways to achieve success professionally and personally, then incorporating IF into your arsenal may be the perfect strategy!
Additionally, make sure to avoid temptation by creating rule systems that govern how you spend your time (for example, no watching television during working hours). These rules should be made clear from the outset so there are no surprises or excuses later down the road. And finally, stay disciplined throughout the entire process – even when things get tough!
The process to approach Self-Discipline
To successfully overcome self-discipline challenges, it’s important to understand the three stages of Willpower. These are:
1) Prefrontal Cortex – This part of the brain is responsible for cognitive tasks such as thinking and reasoning, decision-making, and problem-solving. It also controls impulses and regulates our emotions. When we experience a willpower challenge, this part of the brain will often become involved in resisting temptation or achieving a goal.
2) Amygdala – The amygdala is responsible for processing emotion, so when dealing with temptations or goals that feel challenging or daunting, this area can get activated, leading to impulse control issues.
3) Subcortical Areas – Located below the cortex layers in your cerebrum (the main part of your brain), these areas play an important role in executive functions such as planning/sequencing events & controlling impulsive behaviour; they’re also involved with regulated moods & stress levels. By working together, these three parts of the brain help us make better decisions under pressure & stay on track towards our goals!
Shame Fucks You Up
When it comes to our mental and emotional well-being, nothing is more important than learning to control our thoughts and emotions. If we cannot manage these two core components of our lives, everything else suffers.
The first step in this journey is acknowledging that we have a responsibility to care for ourselves physically and mentally. This includes ensuring that we are healthy enough to face life’s challenges, eating nutritious foods that fuel our body rather than contain toxins, exercising regularly, getting sufficient sleep each night, etc.
Next, learning how to identify negative thought patterns (conscious or unconscious) and change them into positive ones is crucial. Once we can do this on an ongoing basis throughout all aspects of our lives – personal relationships, work environment, spiritual pursuits –becoming less reactive will be much easier. And finally, recognize when shame enters play — because, as mentioned before, feeling shamed puts tremendous pressure on the heart. When this happens, try not to judge or react immediately but instead impulse write down what you’re feeling with questions such as “What does worry/anxiety feel like? What does guilt look like?” Then give yourself some time (write out your answers multiple times over different days if need be) until you start recognizing these feelings objectively instead of Subjectively, which usually leads towards resolution(s).
Always remember, If someone crosses a boundary that makes you uncomfortable, speak up! You need to take care of yourself first, not hurt anyone else.
Self-Discipline Through Self-Acceptance
Self-discipline is a key part of any healthy lifestyle, and it cannot be easy to develop independently. Fortunately, there are many resources available that can help you learn how to set goals and stick to them. One good resource is the book “The Mind Workbook for Disciplines” by Dr Sean Pamphilon. This book guides exercises that will help you learn how to develop self-control, master cravings, and increase Willpower in other areas of your life. It also deals with self-acceptance – at the heart of all disciplines – and provides practical strategies for incorporating it into your everyday routine.
Here are five ways that self-acceptance can help with self-discipline:
- Recognize that self-discipline is a skill that can be learned and improved over time.
- Build healthy relationships with yourself by recognizing your strengths and weaknesses and embracing who you are as a whole person.
- Take the time to reflect on your actions and how they impact your moods and productivity in the short or long term.
- Be honest about why certain situations arise, and then choose an action plan based on those reasons instead of just running away from them altogether.
- Reinforce positive behaviour through praise, acknowledgement, and recognition whenever it occurs–even if it’s simply saying “you did good” aloud to yourself!
Self-Discipline and Willpower Confliction
Self-Discipline Without Willpower explains this better: “Willpower is like a muscle – it gets stronger with use but can also be fatigued by overuse. Like any muscle, when you’re trying to rely on your Willpower too much, it can start to feel exhausted and ineffective. Over time, if you try persistently enough but find yourself failing again and again because of lack of self-discipline, your belief system will gradually change so that failure becomes less painful.”
In other words, without proper self-disciplined practice (which involves developing strong habits), relying on Willpower alone will eventually lead to exhaustion and defeatism – which defeats the whole purpose!
However, there are ways to overcome this obstacle.
- One key strategy is to build a strong foundation of self-love and respect. This means that you should feel good about yourself in order not to rely on external sources of motivation such as Willpower or punishment.
- Additionally, it’s important to create achievable goals that will provide noticeable long-term benefits. When your goals are meaningful and relevant, it becomes easier for you to stick with them through tough times.
- And lastly, establish healthy personal boundaries so that you don’t overextend yourself unnecessarily.