Discipline

There's this chalkboard/scrabble board combo that is in the communal area by the pool at our apartment complex.

Now why they call them apartments when they are all touching one another I may never know, but that’s beside the point. What I do know is that I have made this chalkboard my thought board where I share thought leadership with the community. I don’t know if anyone really pays much attention to it, but I believe that if I can inspire at least one person to move forward or get better in some way, shape, or form then it was worth the few minutes it took to scribble something up there. 

Most of the scribbling I do is not original. I borrow good quotes and ideas from those who came before me that were much wiser and far more accomplished than I, with the purpose of adding some inspiration and motivation to whoever passes by the chalkboard that day. Most of the time it is something I read out of a book that day or something that I may have heard in a podcast recently. 

This morning it was discipline. Jacko Willick’s famously coined catchphrase “Discipline Equals Freedom” to be precise.

"The secret to getting ahead is getting started" -Mark Twain

My alarm had gone off at 5 like it always does. Disciplined. My clothes were already laid out and my pre-workout was in it’s shaker. As Siri read my affirmation out loud I laced up my tennis shoes. I popped in my airpods and was out the door at 5:10. Off to a great start. 

It was 6:15 when I passed back by the chalkboard. Great pump. I glanced over at it to remind myself of the last thing I wrote and noticed that all that was there was nothing inspirational, just the score to a scrabble game. I knew almost immediately what it was that I was going to write because I had just listened to a podcast about it while getting in my workout. Today had started with a win. I had been disciplined. I felt great about myself, was confident in my abilities, had my day mapped out ahead of me and was ready to attack. I was off to a great start, but it isn’t always this way. 

"You will either suffer the pain of discipline or you will suffer the pain of regret"

This week discipline had been my motto up until Wednesday. Wednesday morning my alarm went off, and having been up until nearly two thirty the night before, I candidly hit the snooze. Before I knew it it was 7am and I had only 30 minutes until I normally left for work. Typically after a lift I have time carved out for my reading and coffee and more than enough time to get dressed but this morning I didn’t. 

It was finally 7:45 when I was walking out the door. I walk in the office at 8 on the dot. Late. I am mentally and emotionally disappointed in myself because I should have gotten out of bed and went through my routine. My mind is searching for when I can make up my workout and reading. Tonight? Too busy, too late, and too tired. Tomorrow? That sets me behind and means I don’t have an off day. Now I'm disappointed and distracted. I'm not in control of me or my day. I'm stressed and irritated, my discipline fades even further, so I make impulsive eating decisions at lunch and dinner because I'm already having an off-day. I spiral out of control. No discipline. 

Sound familiar?

When my alarm goes off I have a choice. I can answer the call and win the day or I can hit snooze and take a chance. This can be translated to any scenario or in any environment. When we maintain our own personal discipline we retain control of ourselves and how we move through our environments.

When we lose our personal discipline, also our choice, we give control away to other people, external circumstances, and the inevitable randomness of life. We drift and become "the plaything of circumstances." -Viktor Frankl, "Man's Search for Meaning" 

Discipline. 

What is discipline? Is it punishment, obedience, enforcement, rules? Is it always doing the right thing, or always the same thing? Consistency? Doing what you’re told to do? Do you have a choice or do you just comply?

While I was writing the word “discipline” on the board this morning I noticed that it looked awfully close to the word disciple and it got me thinking: why are discipline and disciple of the same origin? What does that really mean? 

After some research, I discovered that the word "disciple" comes from the Latin word discipulus meaning “student”. Most people believe a disciple is a follower, probably because of the religious context, but in reality it means student. A disciple is a mentee in the relationship of a mentee/mentor. It is the apprentice to the master; the padawan to the jedi knight. 

So what does this mean that discipline is? 

Discipline - dis· ci· pline: to train or develop by instruction and exercise especially in self-control.

What is discipline?

Discipline is not always following the rules. It is not regulations or punishment or compliance or enforcement. It’s not any of those things. It is not something that is done to you. Discipline is something you do to yourself. You can learn or receive instructions from others and gain guidance and perspective from them but at the end of the day the choice is yours. You have the will. You made the way. Discipline is within. 

Discipline is not hitting the snooze. Discipline is winning the day, once choice at a time. 

When you understand discipline as a choice, you are in control, not anyone or anything else. More discipline, more choice, more control. Less discipline, less choice, less control.

Now go be disciplined and win your day.