What
areas do you need to be more disciplined in? Exercise, eating
right, your thoughts, finances, or perhaps reading the Bible and praying.
Discipline
requires practice and repetition. Basically doing
the same thing over and over until you achieve your result.
It is not wise to believe that you can get disciplined
in an area of your life in a few short weeks. New habits can be formed and old patterns
of behavior can be broken with discipline. Is it hard work? Yes, but you can do
it!
I started training to be a runner over 3 years ago. I
will never forget the first several weeks and even months. I had to train
myself to get up early in the morning, as well as prepare myself before each
run with stretching. I first started with
a goal. I was going to run the 3 mile bridge close to where I live. Now
this was a bit of a challenge being that I never
ran before, however, I had made
my mind up; I was going to learn how to run. The bridge that I wanted to run is
also a draw bridge with a steep incline in the middle where the bridge is open
to allow boats to pass through safely. I tried for 3 months to run over that
draw bridge, but between the aches and pains in my legs and all the huffing and
puffing that I was doing; I just could not complete the bridge. I decided to be
realistic with my goal and to set a more realistic time frame for being able to
finish the bridge. I made my goals smaller and more manageable.
I eventually accomplished the large goal of completely
running over the entire bridge. After several months I finally made it over!
Then I was set for my next goal to make running a weekly discipline, and to
even enjoy it! Three years later and I am still running and have even completed
a 5k run.
When I first started running I hurt my foot and I was
not able to run for 2 weeks. I got very discouraged, but I had remembered that
I already set my mind that I would
exercise. I had to revamp my schedule of doing things because I could no longer
run on my painful foot. When things do not work out the way you had planned, do
not give up! I brain stormed some other ways I could still exercise without re-injuring
my foot. I began to incorporate other forms of training such as biking, swimming,
and walking.
When
you begin to be more disciplined in whatever areas in your life, you will have
some challenges and setbacks along the way. The key is to persevere.
10 ways to becoming more disciplined in any
area:
1. Set
a goal for yourself. What do you want to improve? Ask the Lord for His help.
2. Set your mind ahead
of time that you will follow through even with setbacks and challenges.
3. Have
a support system for encouragement for those times that you may get
discouraged.
4. Set
small, realistic goals after setting your large overall goal.
5. Remove
temptations. If you are trying to eat healthier, replace chips and cookies with
healthier snacks.
6. Do
not wait until you “feel” like improving in an area. It will feel uncomfortable
and awkward, but move past the feelings.
7. Make
sure to reward yourself when you are completing your short goals.
8. You
will have ups and downs, failures and success when changing, but keep going and
become determined that you will succeed.
You will have “off days,” but do not let that stop you.
9. Try
to have a consistent routine, this is particularly important if you are
beginning an exercise program.
10. Have
a free day. You should have one day where you are not focused on your goal.
This is the time to sit back and enjoy your progress.
The
best quality to have when disciplining yourself to change is to be determined.
Determination
is a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is
difficult.
Do
you know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?
Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games
exercises self-control in all things. And everyone who competes for the prize
is temperate in all things…But I discipline my body and bring it into
subjection…1 Corinthians 9: 24-23 & 27
As the Apostle Paul discussed that we have to train
like an athlete for our spiritual disciplines such as prayer, and reading the
Bible. The most important discipline we can have is spiritual discipline,
making the time for Jesus first. Before I run, I “run” to the Father. He comes
first.
*Check out my book for an additional resource on
discipline, “Disciplining Your Mind, 30Days to a Better You.”
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