Scribbled Thoughts #10

Let's talk Discipline! 😏

Photo by Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash

Hey there!

I know it’s been 27 days since I last wrote to you. 🤧 But trust me, you’ve been on my mind. I promise. 😬

If I must be honest with you (which I’m going to be), 2023 has been, well, for lack of a better word, “a ride.” I mean it’s just January, but the number of things I’ve learned, the challenges (some tables have been shattered lol), the opportunities that have come my way, the favor, mercies, and blessings of God I’ve received and enjoyed thus far show me that there’s so much more to expect in the year.

Now the purpose of this letter is to share one thing I’ve learned so far this year: discipline. Remember the goals and resolutions you made at the beginning of the year? If you’re like me, you may already feel overwhelmed and want to give up. But that’s why I’m writing this: to tell you that it’s still possible to achieve those goals and resolutions this year. And I will tell you how (you’re welcome, what are friends for right?)

A few years ago, I came across something that made so much sense to me, and it went thus:

Discipline is doing what you have to or need to do when you should, whether or not you feel like it.

This is very similar to the way Elbert Hubbard described self-discipline: “Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.”

I know it’s easier to scroll through social media than to actually read a book, or to binge-watch that Netflix series than to read your Bible or do some exercise, and that’s where the whole discipline thingy comes in. It may be hard and unpleasant, but that’s something about discipline.

About 2 weeks ago or so, while I was in a cab, I had a random thought pass through my mind:

“The beauty of discipline is in its pain.”

I’m almost certain that this statement sounds weird to you (and trust me, it sounded crazy to me as well), but take a moment to think about it. Because, while I wondered what kind of thought it was, it all began to make sense. Like, it made sense because then I realized that discipline isn’t so easy, but the results of discipline are beautiful.

A good example of this is a student who’s studying for exams with the aim of achieving an excellent result. In the process of pursuing that dream, it takes discipline to sacrifice that extra hour you would ordinarily use to catch up on the latest shows on Netflix because you want to make excellent grades. And when the results have come out and you’ve achieved that, you have all the time to do the other stuff. Another example is a military man rising through the ranks. The discipline at the beginning seems overwhelming, but as he endures, he rises and gains more respect and even more money. or an athlete preparing for the Olympics. The discipline of not eating just anything, strict exercise routines, and proper and sufficient sleep may seem like too much, but wait till the athlete wears the gold medal.

There are so many sides to the topic of discipline, but the main point is that discipline is what makes the difference between a lot of people in the world. All the great people you admire have applied the principle of discipline at one point or another. So here’s my challenge to you: In 2023, choose discipline. I’ll be doing the same too.

As always, I’m rooting for you.

All my love until next time.