What is Self Discipline?
What is self discipline?
Self-discipline is the act of mentally overriding your own mood, or momentary desire, and making yourself do what you think you should do, as opposed to doing what you feel like doing.
In the sixties and seventies, and even today, Self-Discipline, is not a particularly popular idea.
Since the hippy era of the sixties, the prevailing attitude is to be led by your feelings; to express how you really feel; to stop thinking and go into a trance. The trend is to "take it easy" and to "chill out" and take whatever concoction of food, drugs and alcohol will make you feel good. Escape from reality with computer games and a beer, and do whatever you feel like, say whatever you feel like and, just relax.
That is okay. It sounds pleasant.
But there is a question?
Who is going to do the work?
Who is going to build the computer?
Who is going to build the satellite controlled navigation system, or build the cars, or designed the logic programme?
Who is going to make the progress?
Who is going to be the champion?
Who is going to lead the way?
There has to be a New breed of people, a class of people who take the opposite view to the "hang lose hippies".
There has to be a class of people whose prevailing attitude is to be Not led by your feelings, but by your goals.
Not to express your feelings, but rather to express the facts.
Not to try to stop thinking and go into a trance, but rather, try to improve thinking and go into a college.
Not to "take it easy" and to "chill out", but rather to "take it on" and "max out".
And not to take whatever concoction of food, drugs and alcohol will make them feel good, and rather, take the right concoction of amino acids vitamins and complex carbohydrates that will allow you to perform at your best.
This new breed of self-disciplined people have no intention of attempting to escape from reality and do whatever they feel like, say whatever they feel like and, relaxing. This new breed of self-disciplined people are building space ships that will escape from earth's gravity, they do whatever they set their minds to, and they work hard.
This new breed of people have developed the art of self-discipline. They override their own mood, or momentary desire, and make themselves do what they think they should do, even if they don't feel like it.
They operate according to their plan, not their mood.
We suggest that we should all operate according to our plan, not by our mood.
Be driven by our valuable goals, rather than by our momentary feelings.
This is the essence of self-discipline.
This is the essence of success.
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Definition: self-discipline
Self-discipline is a habit of personal effectiveness where you fix on a clear goal and make yourself act, even when mood or comfort pulls the other way. It drives you to begin and finish planned work, turn down quick pleasure that harms the plan, and repeat the right acts each day until success feels routine.
Show CG4D Definition
- Guides action by chosen goals, not passing feelings
- Makes you start and complete planned tasks on time
- Helps you resist short-term pleasure that blocks progress
- Runs on daily, repeat effort until the habit is firm
Article Summary
Self-discipline means you act on a clear plan, not a passing feeling; it turns effort into habit, fuels progress and separates the maker from the day-dreamer. Choose goals over mood and you unlock higher skill, income and lasting success.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.
What is self discipline?
Why does the article say self discipline matters for progress?
How is self discipline different from ‘take it easy’ culture?
What role do goals play in self disciplined behaviour?
Does self discipline mean ignoring feelings entirely?
How can a person start building self discipline today?
Is self discipline linked to success according to the article?
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Did You Know: Key Statistics
A 2024 University of Cambridge survey of 3,000 UK adults found that people scoring in the top quarter for self-discipline reported 28% higher life satisfaction and earned 15% more than those in the bottom quarter. Gallup’s 2024 Global Workplace Study shows workers who set and review clear daily goals are 23% more productive and 64% less likely to feel burnout than peers who do not.About the Author: Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.
Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.
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