TIPS FOR DEVELOPING "SELF-DISCIPLINE"
Self-discipline, of course, is not always a rosy and dream-filled experience. Sometimes, self-discipline makes us painfully aware of our own shortcomings.
You may also discover devastating triggers that derail your efforts and cause you to fall short of your goals. Understanding these weaknesses, however, won’t damage your self-confidence. On the contrary, knowing your weaknesses will help you develop a more realistic assessment of yourself. You’ll be confident in spite of your weaknesses. And you can always make a decision what to do with those weaknesses. You are in charge here, so you can ignore them, accept them, change them, develop or improve them – you can make decision now, remembering there is a consequence to whatever you do or don’t do. If you expect positive consequences then the positive action will need to come before.
Contrary to common belief, self-discipline does not mean being harsh toward yourself, or living a limited, restrictive lifestyle. Self-discipline means self-control, which is a sign of inner strength and control of yourself, your actions, and your reactions.
Self-discipline gives you the power to stick to your decisions and follow them through, without changing your mind, and is therefore, one of the most important requirements for achieving goals.
In the business world, self-discipline is one of the most important traits any employee or entrepreneur can have. It is a sign of self-control and most importantly, in the context of this book, self-discipline breeds more self-confidence, another important element of a successful person. Before you move to understanding how self-discipline breeds your confidence have a quick look on the following tips to improve your self-discipline.
THREE ESSENTIAL TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR SELF-DISCIPLINE
1. Remove temptations. It is a first important step, and as the old saying goes: “out of sight, out of mind”; get rid of your distractions from your environment. Ask your office intern to leave you off of the daily lunch order email or ask your colleagues to not come to your desk when you are busy. If you want to improve your focus while working, turn off your cell phone and remove the clutter from your desk. If you’re really having trouble, download the Self Control app on your computer to block distraction websites – Facebook, Youtube, even e-mail – for a set period of time. Set yourself up for success by ditching the bad influences.
2. Don’t wait for it to “feel right.” Improving your self-discipline means changing up your normal routine. This can feel uncomfortable and awkward. Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, explains that habit behaviors are traced to a part of the brain called the basal ganglia – a portion of the brain associated with emotions, patterns, and memories. Decisions, on the other hand, are made in the prefrontal cortex, a completely different area. When a behavior becomes habit, we stop using our decision-making skills and instead function on auto-pilot. Therefore, breaking a bad habit and building a new habit not only requires us to make active decisions, it will feel wrong. Your brain will resist the change in favor of what it has been programmed to do. The solution? Embrace the wrong. Acknowledge that it will take a while for your new regime to feel right or good or natural. Keep chugging along. It will happen.
3. Schedule breaks, treats, and rewards for yourself. Self- discipline does not mean your new regimen needs to be entirely hard core, or drill sergeant-like in execution. In fact, giving yourself zero recognition often results in failures, disappointments, and giving into your old ways. While practicing self-control, schedule specific breaks, treats, and rewards for yourself. Trying to work hard at the office avoiding all distractions? Treat yourself with a fancy massage after a week of the effort. Working on controlling your spending? Allow yourself some money splurge at the mall next to your office. (Leave the credit cards at home, and bring cash only). Self discipline can be hard. Reward your effort.
HOW YOUR SELF-DISCIPLINE CAN CREATE A STRONG SENSE OF SELF-CONFIDENCE
The Achievement of Small, Measurable Goals
Self confidence is something that is earned and developed over time. You cannot simply go to sleep and wake one morning with a renewed and strong sense of self confidence. Self confidence must be nurtured and fed, like a growing child. One way to provide continual sustenance to one’s sense of self confidence is to set small, achievable goals and then use self-discipline to achieve those goals. The process of regularly achieving the goals you set for yourself will help to create a strong sense of self-confidence. Start by setting a few goals that can be achieved in a single day. When your self-discipline has grown enough to meet those goals, try setting goals that take a week or a month to achieve.
Your Biggest Critic
Your biggest critic is, of course, yourself. People are hardest on themselves because they place unnecessary expectations on their own lives. They may set unreachable goals or compare their own lives to the lives of others. When you develop a sense of self-discipline, you will be able to stop disappointing yourself. The key, of course, is to set goals that you can realistically achieve. Shooting for the stars is great in theory, but practically it will only lead to disappointment and devastation. If you have low self-confidence, try exercising your self-discipline. Improving one helps to improve the other.
More Accurate Image of Your True Self
Self-discipline can help you create a more accurate image of yourself. Often, the real problem behind low self-confidence is an inaccurate or unfair self-image. When we practice self discipline, we are able to identify our strengths, talents, and skills alongside our weaknesses, trouble spots, and areas where skill is lacking. Having a realistic understanding of both characteristics will help you to establish a strong and stable sense of self-confidence.
Understanding Your Goals and Hopes
Self-discipline requires you to clearly determine your goals, hopes, and dreams. In order to create milestones for achievement, you must understand in what direction you are heading. Knowing this about yourself can also improve your self-confidence. Having clear visions and dreams can create confidence, especially when you start making progress toward those dreams. This is just another example of how self-discipline and self-confidence are inseparably linked.
Jakarta, 13th June 2020
Muhammad Hasan Mufid
HOW YOUR SELF-DISCIPLINE CAN CREATE A STRONG SENSE OF SELF-CONFIDENCE
The Achievement of Small, Measurable Goals
Self confidence is something that is earned and developed over time. You cannot simply go to sleep and wake one morning with a renewed and strong sense of self confidence. Self confidence must be nurtured and fed, like a growing child. One way to provide continual sustenance to one’s sense of self confidence is to set small, achievable goals and then use self-discipline to achieve those goals. The process of regularly achieving the goals you set for yourself will help to create a strong sense of self-confidence. Start by setting a few goals that can be achieved in a single day. When your self-discipline has grown enough to meet those goals, try setting goals that take a week or a month to achieve.
Your Biggest Critic
Your biggest critic is, of course, yourself. People are hardest on themselves because they place unnecessary expectations on their own lives. They may set unreachable goals or compare their own lives to the lives of others. When you develop a sense of self-discipline, you will be able to stop disappointing yourself. The key, of course, is to set goals that you can realistically achieve. Shooting for the stars is great in theory, but practically it will only lead to disappointment and devastation. If you have low self-confidence, try exercising your self-discipline. Improving one helps to improve the other.
More Accurate Image of Your True Self
Self-discipline can help you create a more accurate image of yourself. Often, the real problem behind low self-confidence is an inaccurate or unfair self-image. When we practice self discipline, we are able to identify our strengths, talents, and skills alongside our weaknesses, trouble spots, and areas where skill is lacking. Having a realistic understanding of both characteristics will help you to establish a strong and stable sense of self-confidence.
Understanding Your Goals and Hopes
Self-discipline requires you to clearly determine your goals, hopes, and dreams. In order to create milestones for achievement, you must understand in what direction you are heading. Knowing this about yourself can also improve your self-confidence. Having clear visions and dreams can create confidence, especially when you start making progress toward those dreams. This is just another example of how self-discipline and self-confidence are inseparably linked.
Jakarta, 13th June 2020
Muhammad Hasan Mufid
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