Discipline is The First Discipline
If you’re going to be successful, the first thing you need is discipline. Discipline is what separates wishes from eager dreams.
Are you someone who just builds foundations? Do you start a project or undertaking only to just sorta forget about it a day or a week later, only to look back and see scattered, crumbling foundations with no structures on top? Is it easier to just wish than to turn around and confront your sea of failure? It may be easier, but you will never have the house you want if you just drift from foundation to foundation.
I had to face this about myself. I had to say “I am not someone who says what they mean or does what they say. I am someone who talks a lot, but never puts the money where the mouth is.”
But I solved it, and it was such a relief. Here’s how I did it:
- Decide right now that you have no responsibilities or plans. You don’t have to go to work tomorrow, you don’t have to work out this evening, you don’t have to do anything.
- Take out a blank sheet of paper. This is now what your life consists of: nothing. It is as clear as the sheet of paper.
- Write down your responsibilities. Are you going to work tomorrow? Are you going to start walking the dog around the block every evening. Write it down, what are your new repsonsibilities and disciplines?
- Read the paper twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening. Say aloud: “this is my life, these are my responsibilities and disciplines. I will do what I say I will do.”
There you go, now you can stop thinking about all those crumbling foundations and focus on building your first structure.
