Self-Discipline as Self-Care
What do you think of when you hear the words “self-discipline?” Is it early mornings in the gym? Late nights studying? Putting your nose to the grindstone and getting work done?
Whatever your current thoughts are around self-discipline, I’d like to present a new perspective: self-discipline is a beautiful and powerful form of self-care.
What do I mean by that?
I mean that practicing self-discipline is keeping a commitment to yourself. It’s making a promise to the most important person (psst- YOU!), and following through with that promise. It is putting your life’s priorities at the forefront of each and every day and following through in a way that you never have before.
If you’re a person who thinks of the word “discipline” and views it negatively, today I challenge you to try viewing it differently. Discipline is about training, education, and regiment. You study different disciplines when you go to college. Discipline is used as a way to coach children around their behaviors. When used correctly, discipline is a powerful learning tool that shapes behaviors, actions, and habits.
This means that self-discipline is molding your own behaviors and actions around your priorities.
What are your priorities?
Your family?
Your career?
Your health?
Your social life?
Your finances?
Are your day-to-day actions in line with your priorities? If not, you’re not practicing self-discipline. Committing to self-discipline means committing to yourself. It means holding yourself accountable for acting in alignment with your values and priorities.
For example, let’s say you decide you want to go on a vacation to Greece in one year and you want to make this trip a top priority. After looking at your finances, you realize you need to adjust your spending habits in order to save up for your trip. You look at your finances and realize that by eliminating eating at restaurants twice per week, you can set aside $5,000 in one year. Self-discipline is holding yourself accountable for following through on not going out to those restaurants, even when it’s difficult. By being steadfast and sticking to your plan, you’re able to save up for your vacation to Greece. By being self-disciplined, you treat yourself to an unforgettable experience in Santorini. Now that’s what I call self-care!
Next time you’re struggling with self-discipline or self-accountability, remind yourself that you are keeping a beautiful promise to yourself by practicing self-discipline. A promise that is about loving yourself enough to make yourself a priority.
