On Self-Discipline

On Self-Discipline 

" Discipline is simply choosing what you want most over what you want right now when they differ." 

This to me , makes self-discipline sound rational ( and it is ) . It also makes it seem like something easy enough to do if we can change our thinking or mindsets ( And , it often is ) But, there lies the challenge ! 

We are too often caught in a paradox . We ( in general ) live very much of our lives in the present and yet aren't truly present in it .
We become fixated on what we want now , dwell on the feelings we feel now , become consumed by them and yet,

our minds don't often expand to what's present around or within us in the present time . We don't look deeply and focus at all that is now in and around us. The trees or flowers we walk by or sit by are glanced at and casually observed rather than given our undivided attention . They are complex . How often do you look at the details of the tree's bark or the veins in the flowers for any amount of time ?

We listen, smell, feel , and taste this way too.
When we walk from our car to a store or anywhere most of the time we aren't fully focused or observant to what we are doing and the sensations in our body . That's only an example . That's the way we live almost our whole lives!
We instead are combining our current experience with thoughts and feelings of past and future. And , in order to do that we have to take the present out of focus . It becomes more blurry or distant .
Are you wondering what this has to do with self-discipline? Did you think I was going to be cliche and type 4 paragraphs that amount to nothing more than" just do it ? "

Being present in the present is called mindfulness .

I believe the more mindfulness we can practice the easier self-discipline is .

You can still plan , still think of the future, and daydream or visualize . You can still look through photo albums, reminisce, and reflect on the past . If you restrict it to designated times though ( discipline your mind) say , first hour of the day you plan your day or first of the month you evaluate last months spending , etc..If you focus on that when you are doing that and don't allow yourself thinking time about it when you aren't while, allotting past and future only reasonable amounts of time in relation to present, that is being present in the present even when it involves the past and future .
If you live this way you will eliminate the dread ( future distracting from present ) of doing what you don't want to , like with exercising perhaps, or doing laundry, or any and every other thing you do this with . And, you will eliminate the nagging doubts and upsets ( past interrupting the present ) of the past that depress you and keep you from self- discipline or that tell you you aren't good enough and can't succeed.
Starting a habit or ritual of going for a brisk walk after lunch instead of having your usual cigarette somehow becomes easier when you aren't thinking about missing that after meal cigarette throughout the morning or how you always feel tired after eating and not like walking . If you are in the moment tasks you are hesitant to do take up less of your time . Mental time is real time . And, it is no wonder people have a hard time applying self- discipline when the changes they want to make are so time consuming !

Be Well !