The Balanced Life, Huntsville Alabama

Have you ever told someone that you need to be more self-disciplined?  I believe we've all said these words.  Whether it's studying for a big exam, completing a big work project, or diligently working towards a personal health goal, the struggle for self-discipline is real. 

Speaking from experience, I am currently in the midst of a diet and exercise program called the 21 Day Fix. The program simply suggests that by eating smaller, healthier portions and exercising 30 minutes a day, one can see weight loss results by the end of the time period. Sounds simple, right?  Like you, I am fully aware that programs like these sound great on the forefront, but prove to be very difficult to continue and maintain for their duration.  During this process, I have been aware of my own shortcomings in personal self-discipline and want to share a few of my thoughts.

            As a therapist, I continually associate the word discipline with a negative connotation. In working with children, we consider the word discipline as a synonym to a consequence put into place by parents when the child’s behavior is not appropriate.  However, I am convinced that discipline can be a positive term and one that helps us feel motivated to achieve our goals. One article I found defined self-discipline as a correction or regulation of oneself for the sake of improvement.  The one word that stuck out to me in this definition was the word improvement--  It made me realize that in a positive sense, self-discipline is the reason behind successful self-improvement in areas of life. While embarking on my small journey towards the improvement of my health and wellness, here are a few tips I'll give you on maintaining that discipline:

Be patient. 

            It’s easy for us to want immediate results, but we’ve all heard the saying that habits aren’t created overnight. It takes just the same amount of time (if not longer) to undo bad habits, than it does to put into place good habits. 

Look for small results.

            Whatever your goal, you should realize that there can always be small victories. If you are struggling to continue, look at some of the small changes/improvements that you have seen along the way.

Don’t wait until you “feel” like it.            

            As I express in counseling, feelings are different than behaviors. If you wait around for the “feeling” to do something, it may never come.  Behaviors are something we can control and take action on regardless of what we feel.

Stop making excuses.

            Excuses follow us everywhere.  It’s so much easier to make up a reason not to do something, than to just go ahead and do it. 

 Finish what you start.

            If we put action to our goals, we are intrinsically rewarded at the end with completion.  The sense of accomplishment is a powerful feeling when completing what we set our mind out to do.