To be more successful do 8 things for superior discipline.

What is one thing every "highly successful" person has in common??Discipline!

Growing up I watched the Minnesota Vikings battle the remarkable teams of the NFC.?Among them, the Chicago Bears.?

One player stood out.?Walter Payton or sweetness as he was affectionately called.

Once the NFL season comes to an end, most players relax and let their bodies recover.?Not Walter Payton.?He trained year-round with maximum intensity.

This commitment to excellence began as a young man in the Mississippi summer heat. Payton would run sprints up the steepest hills along the banks of the Pearl River.

In Chicago, he found the steepest hill in the city and would run sprints in the off season.?He would often drag some teammates along.?Most would collapse as he repeatedly ascended the 92-foot incline now known as Payton Hill.?

For over 4 decades I have trained like a prize fighter 7 days a week year-round.?Some call it excess, I call it discipline.?Without it our big aspirations are doomed.

“A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.” Dalai Lama

Here are 8 ways we can learn to master the art of discipline:

Identity

Changing our behavior is the long-term objective that builds better discipline.?In the process, we build a better belief system based on a new identify that is irreplaceable.?Want to be more disciplined? Start seeing yourself as a disciplined person that refuses to do the things most people can’t resist doing.?????

Reminders

Once you begin seeing yourself as a disciplined person you start acting like a disciplined person.?That may require frequent reminders in the beginning.?Write reminders in your calendar.?Nonnegotiable reminders of a commitment you made to yourself.?Sticky notes on your computer.?Put your gym clothes by your bed. Whatever it takes to remind yourself of your brand-new identity.??

Uncomfortable

Want better discipline, learn to be uncomfortable.?I have run outside year-round for over four decades.?Minus 80 below wind chills and 110 heat indexes.??Extremes are good they make you tough and most people won’t nothing to do with it.?Read a book instead of playing on social media.?Take the stairs instead of the elevator.?Being uncomfortable doesn’t need to be extreme, just unfamiliar and more difficult.

Basics

When building better discipline start with the basics.?Better rest, nutrition and exercise are a great place to start.?Begin putting better daily habits in practice, a little at a time, and create a strong foundation consistent with success.

“The foundation of a strong self comes from small acts of daily discipline”.

Mindset

When building better discipline make your mind top priority.?Stanford University studies have revealed daily meditation increases mindfulness, boosted happiness, and improved emotional volatility.?There’s a variety of ways to meditate.?The purpose, quite your mind and strengthen your resistance to temptation.

Habits

Building better habits is critical for creating a more disciplined life.?Start small but consistently create new habits that promote a better identity based on discipline.?Floss your teeth each day and start drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water. ?Little steps add up and new habits make us more confident in our ability to make progress.????

Accountability

Reach out to a trusted friend and ask for accountability.?Someone that will join you at the gym, or new technology that will keep you committed to building better discipline.??There are countless apps that can assist with this.??

Process

Building better discipline is a process that takes work and commitment.?People frequently stumble when creating new routines, and many get frustrated and give up.?Push through the pain and embrace the process.?Also learn to appreciate imperfection.?Don’t beat yourself up over having a piece of cake. Realistic expectations are key.?

“Freedom is not attained through the satisfaction of desires, but through the suppression of desires.” ―?Epictetus

Sum it up

Any other suggestions for developing better discipline??Share your thoughts in the comments section and please like and share this article. I love learning from you as well.

About Steve:

Steve Wohlenhaus is CEO of Weatherology, the leading company in the world at disseminating audio weather information.??Steve began his career as a major market television weather anchor in Minneapolis, where he received several Emmy Awards for science programming.?Steve is an author and host of the podcast program Anatomy of Success.?Reach out and connect with me on LinkedIn.?Learn more about my work and grab the free Weatherology mobile app by clicking any picture in this article!