Discipline: because being a wild, carefree rebel just isn't for everyone.

Discipline: the word that strikes fear into the hearts of procrastinators everywhere. I mean, seriously, who wants to be told what to do and how to do it? It's like, hello, we're adults here. We don't need some stuffy old philosopher or religious text telling us how to live our lives.

But alas, it seems that discipline is an important part of life. Without it, we'd all be a bunch of aimless, directionless slackers. So let's take a look at what some of history's greatest thinkers have to say about discipline.

First up, we have Thomas Aquinas. According to Aquinas, discipline is the virtue that helps us to regulate our actions and passions in accordance with reason. In other words, it's about exercising self-control and acting in a manner that is in line with our values and goals.

Sounds great, right? Except, let's be real, who actually has the self-control to do all that? I mean, come on, it's not like we're all paragons of virtue. Some of us (ahem, me) struggle just to resist the siren call of Netflix and junk food.

Next, we have John Locke. Locke saw discipline as a way of training and educating the mind and body. For Locke, discipline was about developing the habits and skills necessary to lead a productive and fulfilling life.

Again, this all sounds very admirable. But let's be honest, who actually has the time and energy to develop all those habits and skills? I mean, between work, family, and trying to maintain some semblance of a social life, it's a miracle if we can even brush our teeth regularly.

Now, we come to Friedrich Nietzsche, who had a somewhat different view of discipline. For Nietzsche, discipline was not about self-control or virtue, but rather about the will to power. According to Nietzsche, discipline was a way of shaping oneself in order to achieve one's goals and overcome challenges.

Okay, now we're talking. The will to power? That sounds way more up my alley. Except, let's be real, how many of us actually have the will to power to get off the couch and do something productive? I mean, it's not like we're all superhumans with boundless energy and drive.

Finally, let's take a look at what the Bhagavad Gita has to say about discipline. For those who aren't familiar with it, the Bhagavad Gita is a Hindu text that addresses the importance of discipline. In the Gita, discipline is seen as a means of attaining self-control and enlightenment.

Okay, so far so good. I mean, who doesn't want to be enlightened? But let's be real, how many of us are actually disciplined enough to achieve that? I mean, it's not like we're all paragons of virtue. Some of us (ahem, me) struggle just to resist the siren call of Netflix and junk food.

But according to the Gita, discipline is about more than just self-control. It's also about developing virtues like courage, compassion, and selflessness. And let's be honest, those are some pretty lofty goals. I mean, who among us can claim to be completely selfless and compassionate all the time?

And it's not just about developing virtues, either. The Gita also talks about the importance of self-control and concentration in achieving enlightenment. But let's be real, how many of us can actually concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes at a time? I mean, between social media, email, and all the other distractions that constantly bombard us, it's a miracle if we can even focus on a single task.

So what's the takeaway from all this? Well, it's clear that discipline is an important part of life. Developing virtues like courage, compassion, and selflessness, and cultivating self-control and concentration are no small feat. But hey, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. So the next time you find yourself struggling to be disciplined, remember that it's okay to stumble. Just keep trying, and you might just achieve enlightenment. Or at least get a few things done.