The “ouch” task: Self-discipline

Last week I wrote about the importance of disciplining our children to help them become responsible and contributing members of society. Today the focus is disciplining ourselves.

OUCH!

Even though we don’t like the sound of that, we already discipline ourselves every day…

• We usually have a schedule to meet.
• We have obligations to keep.
• We have duties connected to family, friends, and coworkers that increase our responsibilities.
• And typically we have more, MORE, MORE tasks to complete that require a great deal of self-discipline on our part.

We discipline ourselves to meet our obligations to family and career. We discipline ourselves to try to make healthy choices in regard to what we eat, getting daily exercise, and avoiding harmful habits (i.e. smoking, substance abuse, reckless driving, etc). We discipline ourselves to follow through on the promises and commitments we make to God, country, and family.

But…sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes we struggle to get it all done. Sometimes we don’t take care of ourselves (healthy eating and exercise) as stress overtakes our lives and self-discipline, in regard to our own good health, takes a back seat.

We can glean wisdom about self-discipline from the Letters of Paul:

Have an organized plan to keep your promises and commitments. Set goals. Start small, but work steadily toward your bigger goals. 

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. they do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. I Corinthians 9:24-27

Sometimes when we’re “running the race of life” (just trying to get our everyday stuff done), the important thing isn’t to “win the race”, but just to finish it. We can use self-discipline to assure that we finish our tasks.

Don’t focus on past failures, but instead, affirm your progress (even the small steps) toward achieving your goals.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

Every morning is a new beginning. Every day is an opportunity to work toward the goals that we have set for ourselves. We don’t have to finish everything in one day, but we can finish some things each day.

Recognize that self-discipline can require us to make some needed changes to our lifestyle that can benefit our health and the health and well-being of our families.

You were taught with regard to your former way of life to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

Health is multi-dimensional and everything we do affects our health and that of our loved ones. When we self-discipline ourselves to complete obligations to family, career, and country, we are contributing to better health and improved well-being for multitudes of people.

We are not alone in this…

Jesus told His disciples:

If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever–the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:15

What better advocate could we have to help us make those right decisions, to help us walk the path of self-discipline so that we might serve our Lord and complete our obligations?

What strategies do you use in the often challenging task of self-discipline? Please share in the comment section below to help those of us who sometimes struggle with the “ouch” of self-discipline.

Wishing you blessings, my friends, and Joy on the Journey!