Thursday, March 4, 2021
The word discipline can conjure up images of rigid behaviors that involve a lot of hard work and willpower. But at the heart of the word discipline lies the word “disciple,” which conjures up a slightly different kind of image. A disciple is a follower, usually of a person, or of a philosophical belief structure. Discipline doesn’t have to be something that implies a strict control over one’s behavior. It doesn’t mean you’re a slave to a regimen or set of actions, either. Discipline, if looked at from its root word “disciple,” has a different connotation. It implies that one follows that which is best for them, even if hard work is involved.
Discipline involves a devotion to the small steps and actions that lead to a goal. To become disciplined, become a devoted follower of your passions, your desires to do better, and your willingness to help others. Be a follower of a greater purpose in life, not just of routines and rituals. Follow your higher calling. You’ll find life to be much more pleasant if you “follow” the proper actions, attitudes, and habits that lead you towards self-improvement. Too many people are slaves to the obsessiveness and compulsiveness of the mind that insists things be this way or that. You are not a slave! You are a disciple – free to follow a much better belief structure and one that benefits you and those around you. You’re free to follow your passion and your heart – not to be dragged off by the demands of the worrisome and complaining mind! The real root of discipline is love – love for yourself to do better, to know better, and to lead a healthier, more prosperous lifestyle.